MNEK hopes to be role model for gay black artists

MNEK has said he hopes to be a role model for young black gay artists.

MNEK got his first break co-writing The Saturdays’ 2011 hit ‘All Fired Up’, and has gone on to work with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Beyoncé.

He also notched up two Top 5 hits of his own with ‘Never Forget You’ with Zara Larsson and ‘Ready For Your Love’ with Gorgon City.

“I said in an interview recently about me not having someone to look up to. As a black gay artist, I didn’t have a visual artist I looked up to.

“I feel like it’s my responsibility to do that now, only because I’m one of the very few out there doing it. I want to be the popstar I wanted to see on TV.”

While MNEK agrees that the likes of Sam Smith and Olly Alexander from Years & Years have helped the LGBT voice in pop, he’s right to call for more variation.

“I think there can be more diversity in showing that there are other kinds of gays and not just the white gay,” he said.

“It is getting better, and I think time will tell, and if everyone loves what I do so much and if this becomes a success, then yeah I guess it would be testament to how times are changing. But as of now, TBC.”

MNEK’s new single ‘At Night (I Think Of You)’ is available to stream and download now.