I started out writing and producing as a way for me to get the confidence to put out my own record and to learn and to really be a student of the industry.

I understand, as an artist as well as a producer, the need for there to be mystery and surprise.

I don't feel pressure, I think there's fun to have. And I want to show that being gay and of color doesn't have to be a sob story all the time. It can actually be really jokes and empowering.

I love writing and producing but I don't think a lot of people know my artist stuff.

I really like BTS' stuff.

I'm from Nigerian descent, and the classic Nigerian mentality is 'Stay in school! You're going to be a doctor, you're going to be a lawyer.' That is what it is. Thankfully my parents knew my situation was different because I definitely didn't want to be a doctor, I definitely didn't want to be a lawyer.

I naturally make commercial music: it's never been a calculated decision to make pop music. I'm a genuine pop music fan.

It's not that some songs are for radio and some songs aren't, I'm just making whatever I feel.

There's always so much stuff to do. I work best when my diary just says 'MNEK, MNEK, MNEK.'

My visual medium is my videos, and I've got to feel as though I can put my truth in that.

A lot of dance producers aren't really musical, they don't care much about detail.

I had so much fun working with the queens on 'Drag Race U.K!'

My real name is Uzoechi Emenike.

The thing about Auto-Tune is it can't fix everyone. It only fixes pitch. Everything else - the emotion and the attack and the energy? That's what a singer is.

For me, I've written and produced for pop singers, but, like, female pop - I love that. I think it's putting me in the game that I love girl pop. All my writing is inspired by it.

If I'm writing a tune with someone I'm making sure it's what they wanna say and it's articulating what they have to share.

There are so many amazing out, gay, black artists who are really great in their own fields, but they aren't necessarily trying to make pop music. I guess my thing is different because I am trying to be part of that world. But doing it my way.

I use Auto-Tune but it's not to mask anything. If you come to see me live, I can sing on the spot. Auto-tune is just for the recording. It keeps everything really precise.

I mean, London has shaped me as a person. My parents are Nigerian so I've had the luxury of blending different cultures together just through my everyday life.

I often make a joke of my parents, because I come from a Nigerian background and there's a stereotype in the Nigerian community that all of us are going to be doctors and lawyers, and that's just how it is. But upon reflection, my parents were always really supportive of me doing music.

I'm very conscious that a music video is beyond just a promotional tool for a song. It takes a song to the next level and it gives a song a new life.

I try to be regimented and try to stay healthy and work out and eat properly and go to sleep. And not get too caught up in the industry in my regular life, so I can save all my expression and energy for my art.

I've stopped wanting a home, I think, because I've been on tour all my life, basically.

I really just care about making music and how I can make it next.