Entertainment

Hussain Manawer on his new single, starting a mental health festival and what inspires him

‘The Original Mummy’s Boy’ poet Hussain Manawer is no stranger to the spotlight whether it’s speaking at public events or sharing his poetry with the masses.

Hussain released his debut EP titled ‘Am I Going Too Deep?’ via Virgin EMI in 2017.

He has an Honorary Fellowship from King’s College London for his dedication to mental health and public service.

Earlier this year, he took to the stage at the O2 Academy in Brixton alongside Emeli Sande and Professor Green for the Global Citizen Live event.

Since then, Hussain has been gearing up for the highly-anticipated release of his new single ‘Mamma’s Kitchen’ and is ready to start an important conversation.

Describing the meaning of his new single, he said: “I am here to shift a cultural conversation that needs to be had.”

The video that accompanies the new single encompasses bright colours, culture and family and Hussain says that he made the video concept with his best friend.

He said: “All my life I found the kitchen to be a safe haven, a place of comfort, warmth and of course great food.

“I was blessed to have an upbringing like that, I wanted to use the kitchen as a platform to showcase the message of the track.”

Regarding his inspiration and how he got into poetry, he said: “School, year nine.

“The era of ‘Boy in da Corner’, ’21 Seconds’, ‘Dubplate Drama’ and ‘N-Dubz’.

“Reading Carol Ann Duffy, Shakespeare, and Rudyard Kipling and then going home to watch Channel U how could I have not got into words?”

Hussain said that if anyone wants to get into poetry that they should never stop writing.

Away from his work as an upcoming poet, Hussain is also an advocate for mental health and has been involved in creating the UK’s largest mental health youth festival.

The event proved extremely popular with its live stream reaching 5,000 people.

He said: “If I can afford to do it, it will defo be annual.

“It was moving, emotional, promotional and everything far and wide in-between.”

Asked what’s next for the Hussain’s House movement, he said: “A big headline show maybe”.

See the video for his new single here.

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