MNEK, Oslo - music review

Teenage newcomer MNEK might share his management with One Direction but he’s no pop puppet. An hour in his company at this Hackney club made it clear that the 19-year-old from Catford is in complete control of his musical destiny.

In the couple of years since the budding songwriter took his moniker (pronounced Em-en-ee-kay) from his Nigerian surname, Uzoechi Emenike has had a hand in No 1 singles for Little Mix, Duke Dumont and Oliver Heldens. He’s also worked with Rudimental, Clean Bandit and Kylie.

As if that’s not precocious enough, MNEK’s aiming to become a British Pharrell: a hit-maker with a sideline as a solo artist.

Like Pharrell, MNEK had the headgear — a kufi cap perched on his hi-top fade haircut — but he was a far more ebullient character. Insisting it was a party rather than a gig, this multi-tasker sang and danced while taking selfies on fans’ phones.