INTERVIEW: mnek

OK. So over the past few weeks I've been arranging a number of interviews with some amazingly promising indie artists who deserve major label deals RIGHT NOW. Some of them were brought to my attention by a PR firm I recently got access to but the guy I'm featuring today first e-mailed me to review his songs months back. If you remember, I wrote about him here.

The guy's a genius songwriter so I picked his brains a few hours ago and here's what conspired:

1. What made you want to do music at an age where a lot of kids/people are still struggling with their identities and finding out who they are?

I've always wanted to do music, I've always been doing music. It's just at this point I'm taking it to the next level.

2. As far as influences go, who are they and why are these people the ones you look up to or listen to?

Ryan Leslie is a genius in my eyes and highly underrated. I love Frankmusik, Sam Sparro, La Roux, Whitney Houston - my mum is a huge fan, so when I was young I'd be used to listening to a lot of I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Saving All My Love For You. Xenomania, Calvin Harris, Blake Lewis. Just a lot of pop music.

3. If you were given a major label deal right now, what would be your reaction, will you accept it and what will you do once you have it?

ATM, I'm not really looking for a record deal. I've signed a publishing deal with EMI so now I'm a professional writer and producer, but I'm holding off on the artist thing.

4. So I know kids like us can't do certain things when it comes to music or writing because of our age or because of school but what do you do to further yourself and your music? How important is getting your music out?

Extremely important. There's no point making it if it's not gonna get out there IMO. If you love what you do, I don't feel anything should really get in the way, because it's your dream, it's your life.

5. How do you react to criticism?

Better than I did a few years ago. Now I know there's a difference between constructive criticism and criticism on its own. Constructive would be, "You suck, but here's how you can improve". While criticism on its own is just basically "You suck."

6. What makes a good song for you? Do your songs have all those elements?

A good song TO ME, is a song that is catchy and non-filler. Something in which not only the chorus captures, but the melody, the verses, the instrumentation, everything. I think all my songs have those elements. I like making songs that are great, but will get annoying after, lol!

7. Is school important to you? As in even if you're given the chance to break the industry, will you still make time to finish studying?

I genuinely despise school, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I, ironically, don't believe in being taught music in school. Being told to play this, like this and like that, that's not music. Music is one of those things where you can only go where your heart takes you, not where your teacher takes you.

8. If it's the only choice, will you join a reality show to get into the industry? Why or why not?

I wouldn't. I reckon reality TV shortens the chances of the artist having a long and fruitful career, with a few exceptions (Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson). And plus the label makes them who they want them to be which isn't cool.

9. At the moment, what's the 'ultimate dream' so to say? What do you think you want to do for the rest of your life?

The ultimate dream...I would say being a musician for the rest of my life. Being a RESPECTED musician.

Find him online:
MySpace
Twitter

Brilliance. With free downloads!

Apologies for the absence, have been busy with school and all. Let's get rolling, shall we?

Even if I'm actually one of these kids, I find it amazing how people my age who think they have potential and actually do can hone their skills and get their talents noticed via the internet. I love writing, so I blog and build up my resume but apparently, there are even some singers my age writing and producing actual songs. I got an email from this guy called mnek - a singer in London who's my age, asking me to check his music out. When I was scanning through the email I was happy that like me, there was someone my age pushing boundaries but when I actually heard his stuff, I was absolutely blown away.

Let me put this simply, if he was to release his songs officially - I'd buy them.

I know how much it means to kids like me when people tell us we're good, when they tell us we've got potential so I'll word my review very truthfully and not underestimate the music just because this guy is 14.

I'm impressed with a lot of things, but what I'm most amazed by is the fact that this guy WRITES his own stuff. There are major label singers at this age, a few songwriters but there are even less who can do both. He can write, and unlike a lousy American Idol contestant, he writes/chooses songs that fit his voice and give him an edge - all while being commercial enough to be scooped up by a major label right now.

I love the melodies he's created and I think unlike a lot of artists nowadays, he's not confused as to where he wants to go music-wise but he's not afraid to take chances with style, language and the over-all song.

I'm drawn to his music a little more because of his influences and who he wants to work with - he doesn't marginalize. Every genre's represented - from Lady GaGa to Usher to Whitney, and I think having likes that diverse will very much help define a unique identity and we all know how scarce those are nowadays.

What I'm afraid though is that if he ever gets signed to a label and gets the chance to make an album, the record company might want to take control and order him to make something that isn't him but sells. I DON'T want any more amazing talent sanitized, we've had countless artists already murdered by the commercial market and this guy certainly doesn't deserve to go the same way.

DOWNLOAD(highly recommended):
Devil In Pumps(She Dips)
If Truth Be Told

AND visit his MySpace.