In a small warehouse in southeast London, MNEK is seated on a bench in a makeshift locker room, surrounded by men who are partially undressed. One of them, a muscular man, adjusts his jockstrap suggestively, while another, tall and well-toned, takes off his vest and looks at MNEK with an intense gaze. The scene is being filmed for Muscle Marys, the third single from MNEK’s second album, Bulldozer!!. The album is his first solo record in eight years and its title is intentionally bold. MNEK explains that he chose it because, as a tall Black man, he is constantly aware of the physical space he occupies. "I often feel I have to shrink myself," he says, gesturing at the low-ceilinged room. "Can I even stand up straight in this space? That’s the reality of being as large as I am." MNEK has had a major influence on pop music, signing his first publishing deal at just 14 and working with high-profile artists like Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera. His songs have accumulated over a billion streams, and he was recently nominated for a Grammy for co-writing and producing the song Midnight Sun. However, his debut album, Language (2018), only reached No. 81 on the charts. "I lost a lot of confidence after that," he admits. "I know most of my income comes from being a writer and producer, but I still care deeply about my solo music. Often, I’m the only one pushing for it." The themes and visuals of Language were explicitly queer, and some critics have suggested that the album’s muted reception was due to homophobia and racism. MNEK says he began working on his second album shortly after Language was released, but poor mental health, the pandemic, and other work commitments made it hard to create something cohesive. A separation from his management helped. "It took me back to being 14, when I was just making music because I was excited about it, without any pressure." Bulldozer!! is MNEK at his most confident and powerful. The album blends high-energy grime, catchy hooks, club-ready beats, UK garage, and layered harmonies. It’s a bold expression of his personal and musical identity. The themes are just as large: The Wall!! deals with overcoming self-doubt, while Reverse!! and Dirty Little Secret!! explore encounters with men who keep their sexuality secret, often referred to as "DL trade." MNEK says he has experience with this community but it doesn’t reflect his current life. "Some people believe being gay is a sin, which creates environments where people hide their sexuality. I’m not trying to shame anyone, just saying I don’t have to be part of that." MNEK also addresses body image and desirability in the gay community on Muscle Marys. He recalls a time when a man he met online had tweeted, "This British musician is messaging me. I don’t think he’s that attractive, but should I do it just to say I did it?" MNEK finds this attitude hurtful. "There’s always some transaction in intimate settings, but you want to feel desirable." Body image has been a struggle for MNEK his whole life, but he says working out has helped him feel more confident. MNEK wanted to take ownership of the dance music he grew up with, including grime and garage. However, when he tried to sample Lethal Bizzle’s Pow! for Reverse!!, he was told it wasn’t possible. "They weren’t comfortable with the lyrics," he says. "Even though Pow! isn’t about morality, queerness is still a sensitive topic in some communities." Other samples were more successful, like Lady!!, which reimagines Geri Halliwell’s Bag It Up with a focus on gender fluidity, and Oh No!! All the Boys!!, which samples the Clash’s Rock the Casbah.