MNEK (real name Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike) is the British singer-songwriter and producer whose pen has shaped some of pop music's biggest records. He first made his name quietly, writing and producing hits for other stars, before stepping into the spotlight as a Grammy-nominated artist in his own right.
This MNEK biography covers his age, early life, songwriting breakthroughs, the "Never Forget You" era, his 2026 sophomore album BULLDOZER!! and the UK and Europe tour that was cancelled just days before kickoff. Keep reading for career highlights, songs and facts.
MNEK Early Life
MNEK was born Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike - known as "Uzo" to friends and family - on 9 November 1994 in Lewisham, London, England, to Nigerian parents, per reports. He is a British singer, songwriter and record producer who has been active from 2011 to the present. His stage name, MNEK, is a gramogram of his surname "Emenike", and he reportedly signed his first publishing deal at just 14, on the strength of demos he posted on MySpace.
MNEK Career Highlights
His songwriting breakthrough came through UK dance music. He co-wrote Duke Dumont's "Need U (100%)" with A*M*E, and then reached a new level in January 2014 when Gorgon City's "Ready for Your Love" climbed to No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, per chart reports. More hits followed as a writer and producer, including Oliver Heldens' "Gecko (Overdrive)", Joel Corry's "Head & Heart" and Little Mix's "Sweet Melody" (see also our JADE biography), all attributed.
His wider list of writing and production credits spans Beyonce, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, H.E.R., Jax Jones, Zara Larsson, Little Mix, Flo, Sugababes, Clean Bandit, Julia Michaels, Maneskin, Craig David, Christina Aguilera, Becky Hill, Selena Gomez, Years & Years, Kid Cudi, Hailee Steinfeld, KSI, Mabel and Twice, all attributed. Fans of his behind-the-scenes work may also enjoy our Becky Hill biography.
As an artist, his signature moment arrived in July 2015 with "Never Forget You" alongside Zara Larsson. The song was named Annie Mac's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1 and became a global success, per reports: Platinum in the UK, 3x Platinum in Sweden, 2x Platinum in Australia and Denmark, and Platinum in Norway and the US, plus three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs chart. His debut EP, Small Talk, arrived on 20 March 2015, followed by his debut album Language on 7 September 2018 via Capitol - a 16-track record featuring "Tongue", "Colour" (featuring Hailee Steinfeld) and "Crazy World". He has collected two Grammy nominations and a Brit Award nomination, and received the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2016, all attributed.
MNEK in 2026
September 18, 2026 brought BULLDOZER!!, his sophomore album, released via Universal with 11 tracks, per reports. The record was previewed by the singles "REVERSE!!", "OH NO!! ALL THE BOYS!!" and "MUSCLE MARYS!!", all attributed. Away from his own music, he executive produced and co-wrote Zara Larsson's 2025 album Midnight Sun (see our Zara Larsson's Midnight Sun lyrics page) as well as FLO's Access All Areas, per reports. That production work reportedly earned him two further 2026 Grammy nominations, including Best Dance Pop Recording for "Midnight Sun".
Weeks after the album's release, and days before the opening date in October 2026, he cancelled the entire UK and Europe run of 'THE!! BULLDOZER!! TOUR!!', citing poor ticket sales, per reports. Read our full story: MNEK cancels entire UK and Europe tour.
MNEK Personal Life
MNEK came out as gay at age 19, per reports. In 2019 he founded a songwriting camp for LGBTQ+ artists together with Pride in Music, per reports.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official video for MNEK's 2026 single "REVERSE!!" below.
Official video: MNEK - "REVERSE!!" (official artist channel).
MNEK Biography FAQs
What is MNEK's real name?
MNEK's real name is Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike, shortened to "Uzo". His stage name MNEK is a gramogram of his surname, Emenike.
How old is MNEK?
Born on 9 November 1994 in Lewisham, London, MNEK is 31 years old as of this post's publication in November 2026.
What songs has MNEK written?
Among many others, MNEK co-wrote "Need U (100%)" for Duke Dumont and A*M*E, "Ready for Your Love" for Gorgon City, "Head & Heart" for Joel Corry, "Sweet Melody" for Little Mix and "Never Forget You" with Zara Larsson.
What is MNEK's latest album?
His latest album is BULLDOZER!!, released on 18 September 2026 via Universal, with 11 tracks including the singles "REVERSE!!", "OH NO!! ALL THE BOYS!!" and "MUSCLE MARYS!!", per reports.
0 Comments
Please don't enter any spam link in the comment box.
Emoji