MNEK, the south London singer, songwriter and producer, is releasing his first solo album in eight years after years of greater success writing for other artists. Despite working with stars including Beyoncé and earning more than 1bn streams as a writer and producer, his own music career has been slowed by self-doubt, racism, homophobia, poor mental health and commercial disappointment.

His 2018 debut album, Language, reached No 81, damaging his confidence, while pandemic pressures and other commitments delayed its follow-up. Bulldozer!! embraces his identity as a fat Black gay man, foregrounding queer joy through grime, UK garage, club music and pop, and reflects his renewed desire to create music without external expectations.