MNEK has opened up about his mission to “make the industry more colorful and more proud”.
MNEK and Warner Chappell Music presents Proud Sound 2025, powered by Spotify GLOW has been running throughout Pride month at London's Miloco Studios, and its founder spoke to Music Week about the impact the camp is having.
“It’s about making the industry sound more exciting through the many colorful voices that are here,” said MNEK, taking a break between sessions on a day where the roster of talent featured the likes of Adam Lambert and Becky Hill.
“I think any platform that is willing to highlight queer voices is a friend to me,” he added, referencing the event’s partnership with the GLOW playlist brand.
“Spotify has been good to us, and it's amazing that they're part of this again,” he said. “There are so many artists that I've listened to on GLOW’s playlist where I'm like, ‘I rate that, that's really good,’ you know? I hope that there's more [companies] that are able to do things like that.”
"We’re delighted to be partnering GLOW with Warner Chappell and MNEK on Proud Sound for the second time,” said Goodness Victor, songwriter and publishing partnerships associate manager at Spotify. “This camp gives LGBTQIA+ writers, producers and artists a place not just to create but to build their community and network."
“GLOW is all about supporting LGBTQIA+ talent year round, both on the platform and with in person community events,” added Lara Baker, lead - songwriter & publishing partnerships. “Proud Sound is a perfect example of the latter; it’s amazing to see the energy at the camp and hear so many fantastic songs come to life.”
To find out more about this year’s camp and to look ahead to the future of Proud Sound, Music Week sat down with MNEK...
What were your objectives going into Proud Sound's third edition this year?
“On one hand, it would be really amazing to have a massive hit come from this camp. I've been able to experience going to a camp and making a hit, and then the camp going onto further things as a result. But while we're on that journey right now, what I really do it for is because I love this. I love being able to be in that room with people to make music and acknowledge and validate their talent. Some of them are working for pitch, some of them are with the artist in the room, some of them are artists themsleves. The level of creativity is just so vast and, really, it's just about honoring that. If a hit comes out of it, then it's a great bonus, but ultimately, it's about people being together.”
In the rooms, what has the vibe been this time round?
“I pop in and out of the rooms, I try to make sure that I go see everyone and be present. The conversations are a lot more soulful than [talking business], they're a lot more rooted in the shared experience that we have as queer people. We can reflect and be like, ‘the reason why we're all here is because we're queer, talented people,’ you know, that's the thing that links us. Some of the writers here have never been in rooms like these, some are very experienced, but there's a common thread between everyone. This camp exists for lots of reasons, we've always wanted to create a safe space for people to work together and continue to do so after this. With a queer room, people can then feel safe in it and meet people who are like-minded, who are other as well. They can work together afterwards, Proud Sound is always just about relationships and a safe environment.”
Proud Sound during Pride makes sense, but I'd love for it to be something that happens two or three times a year
MNEK
Do you feel people across the industry have taken notice of what you’re doing here?
“I don't know. I just don't care. The root of this was really that I came to Paul [Smith, VP A&R and global creative] and I was like, I just want to do this camp. I wanted this to be a recurring thing, and I wanted to just bring joy and make really great records. And you know, even if I'm not making them, to at least be a part of them. I mean, that's what we do this for. If people dig what I'm doing and they think that this is a really cool idea, and if they feel inspired to make another camp, or if they see this and want to bring more queer writers, then that's great.”
What kind of impact can Proud Sound have on young songwriters or producers from the queer community who perhaps are right at the beginning of their careers?
“I mean, I think that the tools of it are within this, as far as just knowing that there's other like minded people with varying degrees of experience. I really appreciate the people that we've picked, there's no ego. Sometimes an ego is often a result of insecurity, you know? I mean, even if we are insecure people in this place, we are not flaunting our egos to make it a harsh environment.”
Have you learned anything about yourself since you started running Proud Sound?
“I don't know if it's anything I've learned about myself necessarily. I think it's more just affirming. I find that I can be useful in a lot of rooms, and it's been great to be able to progress in this next stage of my career. Proud Sound goes along with everything I want to to be in the business of music, beyond just making records. I have my company Muzo By Uzo, where the publishing side is a JV with Warner Chappell. It's a different stage of my writing and production career and even executive career, as far as just being able to listen to songs and be objective and it's not even about me writing the song. It's all about, ‘how can you guys make this song better? What can I do to help you guys make this song better?’ I’m using my tools in a different way. And that is something I want to continue doing, whether it be the gayest camp in the world, or just, you know, any other session.”
Has your answer to the question of what constitutes the perfect song changed over your years in the industry?
“It’s so subjective. I think conviction is everything, you know. If any writer believes in what they're doing, and is really standing on it, then I can only appreciate it. What makes a good song is a song that I just the second I hear I want to hear again, and I'm there wishing I wrote it. Those are the hallmarks of a good song for me, but that could be different to all the people here. Some people find having a big chorus, a big pop chorus, is what makes an amazing record, some people prefer something more understated. To team those types of people together yields results that can only make music more interesting.”
Finally, what are your ambitions for the future of Proud Sound?
“I’d love for it to grow and yield hits and have a name that is famous for being gay and successful. And, obviously Proud Sound during Pride makes sense, but I'd love for it to be something that happens two or three times a year. It's all about taking it year by year and also enjoying it, taking the fruits of what we love about this and maintaining it.”
Photos: Kreating Kobe
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