MNEK: ‘The tent thing is not going to happen’

The singer-songwriter shares his festival thoughts on Noel Gallagher’s questionable opinions on rap and height-related tent woes

You’re a tall man. How do you feel about sleeping in a tent?
It’s just not what I’m made to do [laughs]. It’s not practical. The tent thing is not going to happen.

If you dropped your phone down a festival toilet, would you attempt to retrieve it?
Abso-fucking-lutely. I love my tech. That’s the whole thing with camping, I’m too much of a millennial; I want my gadgets.

Rita Ora asks to use your last set of wet wipes after chomping a dodgy hotdog. What do you do?
Oh my God. I’d give her a wipe, I suppose. A person in need and all that.

If you could curate your own festival lineup using only former boyband members, who would be the three headliners?
Lee Ryan from Blue because he can sing his face off. I’d go with Dane Bowers. Now I need someone for the culture … Maybe Jade from Damage.

Noel Gallagher once said something stupid about hip-hop at festivals. Do you think his views have changed at all?
He comes from the mindset of [snooty accent] “Real music is rock’n’roll, what are these black artists doing?” That’s how I’ve viewed his rants.

Sam Smith is chilly. Would you lend him a jumper?
Yeah, but he’s always in suits! If anything, I’ll need his jacket. I’ll be the cold one because I’ll definitely be in something skimpier than him.

Your new single is called Tongue. Have you ever snogged anyone at a festival?
I snogged my ex, but I haven’t gone as far as ho-ing at a festival. Ho-ing? Just kicking up on every man, doing extracurricular festivities.

MNEK plays Mighty Hoopla, Parklife and RiZe

Contributor

Michael Cragg

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Mabel: ‘I find camping difficult. Someone pooed in my tent once’
The pop star on harrowing tent experiences, phone battery panic and other festival related fun

Michael Cragg

12, May, 2018 @1:00 PM

Article image
The UK’s eight best music festivals
From the Mighty Hoopla’s queer, pop-focused celebration to Download’s annual joyous metal onslaught, there’s an event this summer for everyone

Leonie Cooper

12, May, 2018 @8:15 AM

Article image
Charlie Steen: ‘No sleep, no food, losing relationships ... I am a human sacrifice’
Shame frontman Charlie Steen on his festival experiences - from Alexa Chung arguments backstage at Glastonbury, to horribly hot long drops

Harriet Gibsone

12, May, 2018 @8:30 AM

Article image
Dani Filth: ‘Marilyn Manson is a likable fellow, so I’d give him my wet wipes’
The Cradle of Filth frontman shares his festival stories - from tent peg nightmares to his dream boyband lineup

Michael Cragg

13, May, 2018 @8:00 AM

Article image
Liam Gallagher, Jack White, Damon Albarn: how to grow old in rock
Festival lineups are filled with middle-aged stars and former headliners. But how can musicians stay relevant in a millennial music age?

Sam Wolfson

13, May, 2018 @10:00 AM

Article image
Festival wellbeing: what does your yogi pose say about you?
Whether you’re an indie-loving Nodding Dog or a back-spasming dance tent Culture Warrior, there’s an appropriate yogic stance for you

Gavin Haynes

12, May, 2018 @10:00 AM

Article image
Kings of Leon to Kanye West: the cringiest festival TV moments
Festival season means live coverage of unpredictable, drunk or stupid stars on and off stage. It doesn’t always work out

Jack Seale

13, May, 2018 @9:00 AM

Article image
SZA, Brockhampton and Sigrid: 2018’s festival anthems
What makes a banging festival anthem, besides a simple chorus that vast crowds can belt out in unison? Here are the tracks you can expect to hear all summer

Alexis Petridis and Michael Cragg

13, May, 2018 @12:00 PM

Article image
Anne-Marie: ‘I’ve looked inside a festival loo before … not nice’
The chart-topping singer shares her festival experiences, from sweaty tent mornings to her hatred of long drops

Laura Snapes

13, May, 2018 @1:00 PM

Article image
‘Festival memories are hard to verify. Did I see a baby crowd surfing?' | Tim Jonze
Veteran welly-wearer Tim Jonze celebrates the pointless pleasures of festival escapism

Tim Jonze

12, May, 2018 @12:00 PM