Interview: Getting to Know MeK

MeK is the solo project of London musician and producer, Faust. The debut single of MeK, ‘Unawaken’, is out now and in this interview we get to know the artist a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Thanks for having me!

I’m Faust, a London musician and producer of Spanish origin, and the person behind MeK, my solo metal project.

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up surrounded by all sorts of musical influences, eventually discovered metal, and that pretty much sealed my fate.

I’ve been active in the London metal scene for over 15 years. I’m currently the bassist in Damim and also perform as Lowen’s live bassist, while MeK is where I get to explore my own musical ideas without having to negotiate what a song should sound like.

MeK has been developing in one form or another for a very long time, so finally bringing it into the world feels like the beginning of something that’s been waiting to happen for years.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

That’s always a tricky one!

At its core, MeK is metal, but I tend to approach music without worrying too much about where one genre ends and another begins. There’s a lot of electronic, industrial and cinematic influence in there, alongside my flamenco and classical roots, sometimes even elements that might seem completely out of place until they somehow find their way into the same song.

I like music that feels immersive, unpredictable and a little unsettling. Something that can be brutally heavy one moment and atmospheric or almost hypnotic the next.

So I suppose the simplest answer is metal with a bit of an identity crisis. A fairly elaborate one.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

Quite a lot, actually!

I’ve just released Unawaken, the debut single from MeK, alongside its official music video, which was directed by Caitlin Simone Stokes and filmed in Turin, Italy.

It’s been a pretty intense period, especially because I’m handling most aspects of the project myself, from writing and producing the music to building the visual world around it and getting everything out into the world.

There’s already more music finished and waiting in the wings, so right now I’m focusing on developing the visuals and preparing the next releases. I’m keeping the details under wraps for the moment, though. Where’s the fun in giving everything away?

MeK is primarily a studio and audiovisual project, and I don’t have plans to turn it into a live act for the time being. That gives me the freedom to explore ideas without worrying about how I’d reproduce everything onstage.

Outside of MeK, I’m still involved with Damim, where we’re working towards finishing our fourth album, and I also perform as Lowen’s live bassist, so there’s rarely a dull moment!

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

I think the most exciting part is finally seeing something that existed almost exclusively inside my head for so many years becoming real, and watching other people discover it.

MeK has been a very personal journey, and for a long time I was creating music without really knowing when, or even if, I’d eventually put it out into the world. Now that Unawaken is out, there’s this strange feeling of having opened a door that I can’t really close again.

What’s particularly fascinating is seeing people from completely different parts of the world connecting with something that started as a collection of ideas in my little creative bubble. Some are discovering the music, others seem intrigued by the imagery and the mystery surrounding the project.

And the best part? I know what’s coming next, but nobody else does. That’s a rather entertaining position to be in.

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

An absolutely ridiculous amount of work, if I’m being completely honest!

MeK is something I’ve been building around my other musical commitments and everyday life for years.
Writing and producing the music is only one part of it. There’s also the artwork, the videos, the whole visual identity and the world that connects everything together. I have a fairly specific vision of how I want things to look and sound, which is wonderful creatively but occasionally makes me my own worst enemy.

I’ve also been fortunate to work with some incredibly talented people who helped bring Unawaken to life, including Matt Hyde, Scott Elliott, Joel Wanasek, Caitlin Simone Stokes and Ryan Molyneaux, who has been an integral part of developing the visuals, alongside the musicians who contributed to the recording. Having people of that calibre involved in something so personal has meant a great deal to me.

And because I’m funding and managing the project independently, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes that people never see. Sometimes it feels like I’m running a small company with a staff of one, and that one employee is permanently behind schedule.

But ultimately, that’s what makes it so rewarding. MeK isn’t just about releasing songs. It’s about finally giving shape to a creative vision I’ve carried with me for a very long time, and being able to share it without compromising what I originally wanted it to be.

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

I think music has always given me somewhere to put things that aren’t necessarily easy to express in everyday conversation.

A lot of what I write explores existential questions, uncertainty and the stranger corners of the human mind. Those aren’t necessarily subjects that come up over a pint on a Friday evening. Well, not unless you’ve had a particularly interesting Friday.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking an abstract thought or feeling and gradually turning it into something tangible. Sometimes the process is frustrating, sometimes it’s almost therapeutic, but it always gives me a sense of purpose.

I also think creativity allows you to explore darker ideas without necessarily being consumed by them. You can confront something unsettling, turn it into music and give it a completely different meaning.
For me, that’s one of the most valuable things about making music. It gives my imagination somewhere to go, which is probably a good thing for everyone involved.

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

I think one of the biggest challenges nowadays is that making music is almost the easy part. Well, relatively speaking!

When you’re an independent artist, you’re not just a musician anymore. You’re also your own producer, creative director, marketing department, social media manager, accountant and occasionally the poor unfortunate soul trying to figure out why something isn’t working at 4 in the morning.

And when you’re juggling all of that alongside a full-time job and other musical commitments and your life partner (and your cat), time becomes your most valuable resource. There are only so many hours in a day, and unfortunately, I’ve yet to discover a way of negotiating with the laws of physics.

The financial side is another challenge. Producing music and visuals to the standard I want takes investment, and being self-funded means having to make some fairly difficult decisions about where that money goes.

I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome all of these challenges. I’m still figuring things out as I go, but I’ve learned to be patient, work within my limitations and focus on making consistent progress rather than trying to do everything at once.

Ultimately, I’d rather take longer to release something I’m genuinely happy with than rush it just to keep up with the pace of the industry. Music should still be something you believe in, not just another deadline to survive.

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

Ah, the wonderful world of social media, where apparently being a musician also requires a degree in digital marketing!

Although the question refers to being in a band, MeK is actually my solo project, which means all the joys of navigating social media fall squarely on my shoulders. And I’ll be the first to admit that it’s definitely not my favourite part of the whole deal! I think the biggest challenge is finding a balance between creating music and constantly having to remind the internet that you exist.

With MeK, I’ve tried to approach things a little differently. Rather than simply posting clips asking people to listen to my music, I’ve been creating a series of short visual transmissions leading up to each release, gradually introducing people to the world behind the project. They’re cryptic, atmospheric and connected to the music, so creating them feels like an extension of the artistic process rather than just another promotional obligation.

Between releases, I’m still exploring how best to keep that connection going without falling into the trap of posting content simply for the sake of posting. I’d rather share something meaningful when there’s something worth sharing.

As for likes, views and followers, of course they’re useful indicators, especially when you’re trying to reach an audience independently. But I think it becomes dangerous when you start confusing those numbers with the actual value of your work.

I’d much rather have a smaller audience that’s genuinely interested in what I’m creating than thousands of people scrolling past without a second thought.

The trick, I suppose, is learning to use social media without letting social media use you. Although I’m fairly certain the algorithms have other plans.

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

I try to make it feel less like marketing and more like another creative outlet. Experimenting with visuals, atmosphere and storytelling makes the whole process a lot more enjoyable.

But the most rewarding part is when someone genuinely connects with the music. A thoughtful message from a listener means far more to me than a thousand meaningless likes.

And if I occasionally manage to confuse the algorithm as much as it confuses me, that’s a bonus!

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Give the music a chance! If you enjoy it, share it with someone who might appreciate it, add it to a playlist, subscribe, follow, like, comment and all that jazz that helps us mere mortals battle the mighty algorithm!

For an independent artist, every little bit of support makes an enormous difference. And if you fancy exploring the strange little universe I’m building around MeK, you’re more than welcome inside the Construct.

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

I love exploring new places with my partner (holidays are scarce but desperately needed!), exercising and doing a bit of yoga, because we all need to give the body some love too! Every now and then, I enjoy catching up with my London crowd, and of course, messing around with our cat.

Although I always seem to have a guitar within arm’s reach, so switching off completely can be a bit of a challenge. Even when I’m supposed to be relaxing, my brain usually has other plans!

12. Where can people find you?

You can find MeK on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and all the usual streaming platforms. Everything is conveniently gathered in one place: https://linktr.ee/mekproject

Come say hello, and welcome to the Construct!