Meet MNEK: The Londoner Who's Worked With Madonna, Beyonce & Kylie

The UK star MNEK (aka Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike) is bringing sassy back. Indeed, the singer, songwriter and producer has queered up urban/dance/pop with Tongue – the first taste of his long-anticipated debut album, Language, due in September. But, while this bop-of-bops has a sassy beat, the lyrics are about the apprehension associated with declaring love and desire.

The statuesque Emenike recently visited Australia for a lowkey promo tour – OG Flavas meeting him in a swish Melbourne boutique hotel. A musical prodigy, he was raised by his Nigerian parents in South London. Emenike latched onto '80s electro (he adores FREEEZ of IOU fame) and '90s R&B (he namechecks a myriad artists, starting with Adina Howard). By nine, he was composing in his bedroom. Emenike circulated tracks widely. Xenomania's Miranda Cooper approached the teen to create bops in the fold's studio – and he co-wrote The Saturdays' All Fired Up.

Today Emenike is among Britain's most copious – and influential – hit-makers, working with an A to Z of pop, urban and dance acts. He has collaborated extensively with Rudimental. Then he's credited on Stormzy's Gang Signs & Prayer and Anne-Marie's new Speak Your Mind. What's more, Emenike has liaised with pop's greatest female icons – our Kylie Minogue included. Facilitated by Diplo, the Londoner contributed to Madonna's Rebel Heart – co-penning Hold Tight.

"It was cool," Emenike spills. "I went to the studio, I met her, she gave me some peanut butter chocolate snacks, I sang some BVs [backing vocals] – and that was really all that was. I mean, it was based off a song that I'd written for Diplo. She'd worked on it by herself and brought me in to do some extra vocals. It was cool. She was always really lovely. She invited me to her birthday party that year, but I couldn't go, ultimately. Weirdly enough. I was like, 'Oh, that's awkward!'" Later, Emenike co-wrote Beyonce's Hold Up for her conceptual opus LEMONADE. "She's a perfectionist," he praises. "She's always been so complimentary to myself and my work… If the chance ever came again, I'd love to work with her again." Still, nearly a decade into his career, Emenike humbly deems his development as "holistic".

There have been reports of an MNEK album since 2014 – the singer shortlisted for the BBC Music Sound Of 2014 poll. Emenike aired successive singles via Virgin EMI – the first Every Little Word. An EP, Small Talk, surfaced in 2015. That year, too, Emenike enjoyed his biggest global smash – duetting with Scandi popster Zara Larsson on Never Forget You. He boldly covered Queen's Don't Stop Me Now for an ad campaign. Last year Emenike shared Paradise, sampling Ultra Nate's gay anthem Free. In fact, he found himself preoccupied with studio gigs for other artists. However, Emenike also realised that he wasn't ready for an LP.

"I think that I was still figuring out what my album was and some things just weren't right yet for me to release an album. So I took my time." Was there pressure? "I guess initially, yeah – but I think that pressure was more from me. The pressure has always been from me."

Emenike reasons that he was afforded space because the music industry is moving towards singles over albums, anyway. "But I really wanted to honour the fact I'd been signed to an album deal. I've always wanted to at least do one album; one body of work that I'm really proud of. I wanna have a long career and release several albums and do whatever I need to do, but I want to start with this." Like Queen Bey, Emenike is "a perfectionist", supervising the mixing of Language via FaceTime from Australia. "I'm across everything," he says. "I'm basically A&Ring it myself."

Language modishly dips into R&B, electro and UK garage. Body is synth-pop with Emenike's soulful chops. Correct recalls the '90s productions of Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs (Destiny's Child) and features quasi-rapping. And, with its female vocal swells, Somewhere In This Crazy World contemporises the gospel-house favoured by Frankie Knuckles. A label rep declares Language "unashamedly pop!!!" yet Emenike stresses its varied "vibes". He isn't "linear".

Lately, Emenike has lauded Cardi B's Invasion Of Privacy on Twitter – and he hopes to convey his own #sass through Language. "I love females with attitude – so I love Lil' Kim, I love Missy [Elliott], I love Cardi B, I love Rihanna…," he ponders. "But, then, you never see a sassy guy! Obviously, men are always seen as a powerful thing – but, then, the thing about sass is that there's a wink with it. There's something that's quite knowing, as opposed to it being just power. So that's another thing I've been able to explore on the album as well – there's a sassiness to a lot of songs."

Early on, Emenike was perceived as a mysterious figure – known solely for his studio prowess. But, in 2018, he's heralded as an advocate for LGBTQIA+ representation in urban music alongside Frank Ocean, Kehlani and Janelle Monae. Emenike has discussed coming out as a black gay man – or "a dual-minority". Tongue's choreographed video is a celebration of his sexuality. (Incidentally, Emenike refers to his boyf during the chat.) Language will reveal more of Emenike's story – and about his "growing up".

"I wanna show the different layers of who I am – I wanna show the sass, I wanna show the vulnerability, I wanna show the romanic as well," he says. "I'm willing to show myself." Ironically, helping strong female pop artists articulate their emotional experiences in song has taught Emenike the importance of expressing his individuality in a competitive industry that propagates tokenism. "The way I view the world is different to a Troye Sivan or a Sam Smith or an Olly Alexander, who we love, but we're just all different," he says. "It's accepting that and being like, 'Cool, let's make the most out of it and have the most fun.'"

Emenike is determined that this year he "prioritise" his solo output – and so he's declined writing projects. Nonetheless, the auteur is setting time aside for a favourite act: Dua Lipa. Emenike co-authored IDGAF, the latest hit from Lipa's eponymous debut – and is now involved with her follow-up album. "I've done some sessions. I went to Jamaica with her – and that was really fun. I think there's plans to go to Toronto at some point. I love working with Dua. She's great… I really like her as a person. I think she's really cool and really fun."

In the meantime, Emenike is scheduling live dates – headlining Parklife in the UK over summer. Could he perform in Australia? "I'm doing some shows this year and then, after the album's out, next year I would love to do some touring. If the success allows, then I'll tour. I wanna go around the world. I wanna see people. I can not wait to sing the songs from this album out live."