JiNXX! on “RESTRICTIONS” and Breaking Creative Barriers With Their Music
- iamraeiam
- 6 days ago
- 15 min read
Get to know the members of JiNNX! in our exclusive interview.
Born from an online Instagram audition led by Virgo in late 2023, JiNXX! has become one of the coolest and most globally connected rising acts in pop today. Originally meant to be a casual singing hobby group, the project’s explosive early success quickly transformed it into something much bigger — a full-fledged musical powerhouse. Spanning five time zones and blending the creative energy of Brazil, New Zealand, the U.K., Australia, and Slovakia, JiNXX! brings together five distinct voices — Uju, Virgo, Becca, Jess, and Cellienne — each with their own flair, color, and confidence. What started as a spark of online collaboration has turned into a genre-bending collective built on passion, creativity, and unshakable team chemistry.
Since their official debut on February 3, 2024, with the self-produced EP DOUBLE UP!, JiNXX! has stood out for their fearless approach to music and striking self-expression. Their fandom, LOKKETS, takes its name from the ultimate “padlock” move in the childhood game Jinx, symbolizing fans’ unbreakable support and connection to the group. Whether it’s the hypnotic edge of “CAGED” or the electric confidence of “MULTITASK,” JiNXX! continues to prove they’re not just another pop group — they’re trendsetters defining what it means to create across borders and boundaries.
In our exclusive interview, JiNXX! dives deep into the creative process behind their latest single, “RESTRICTIONS,” released on August 9, 2025. The song marks a bold new chapter for the group, blending introspection with a sleek, experimental sound that captures their global spirit. From late-night writing sessions across continents to pushing past creative limits, JiNXX! opens up about how “RESTRICTIONS” reflects their evolution, resilience, and the unstoppable energy that keeps their world in sync.
Hi JiNXX! It’s a pleasure to meet you. To start, could each of you introduce yourselves, share your role in JiNXX!, and where are you from?
Uju: Hey! I'm so glad to be featured here. My stage name is Uju. I'm part of the rap team in our group, as well as a songwriter, graphic designer, and dancer! I’m currently living in Brazil.
Virgo: Hey! I’m Virgo. I’m the founder and leader of the girl group, JiNXX!, as well as a rapper, dancer, songwriter, and graphic designer for the group. I was born and raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and I’m super excited to be doing this interview for HELLOKPOP!
Becca: Hi! My name is Becca, and I’m a vocalist, songwriter, producer, composer, mixing engineer, and dancer in JiNXX!. I am from England and I am also half Bulgarian. I’m so happy that I was invited to do this interview!
Jess: Hello! I’m Jess, and I am a songwriter, producer, composer, choreographer, and mixing and mastering engineer within JiNXX! I was born and raised in Victoria, Australia. It is such an honor to be able to have this opportunity, and I am so excited to take part in this interview with HELLOKPOP!
Cellienne: Hey, my name is Cellienne. I'm a vocalist, rapper, songwriter, producer, composer, graphic designer, and dancer in JiNXX! and I'm from Slovakia!
The name JiNXX! is bold and striking—what’s the story behind the name, and what does it represent for you as a group?
Virgo: JiNXX! originally started out as a hobby group, meant purely for fun and leisure (after our debut absolutely blew up, we definitely locked in and started taking things a little more seriously). When drafting ideas for the name, I kind of dipped into the idea of “fun” and “games,” and the game “Jinx” was something that I typically grew up playing, and it ended up becoming our group’s name!
When talking about what it represents for us as a group, I like to think it keeps its original intention and meaning: “fun”. I very much enjoy being in JiNXX!. I love leading these girls, songwriting, graphic designing, choreographing, and more! Even though it tends to get a little hectic and sometimes even overwhelming, at the end of the day, I absolutely love having my little, fun group of 5 that I get to do my favorite things with!
Thinking back to your early releases like “DOUBLE UP!” and “MULTITASK,” how has JiNXX! evolved musically and as a team since then?
Virgo: Since DOUBLE UP! and MULTITASK I feel like we've improved so much in so many different aspects, not only have our skills improved in general, we've also learned so much from each other and keep working on getting better at communicating and working together every day, we obviously don't have the advantage of being together and being able to do all of this in person, but I feel like because we've taken this harder path of going about things, we will only keep getting better and better, and I hope that never changes.
Much of your music credits members as songwriters, composers, or arrangers. Can you walk us through how a JiNXX! How does the track usually come together?
Virgo: I genuinely believe that our group has one of the most unique approaches to writing music. Typically, a JiNXX! track starts with someone creating a melody, a beat, or even some lyrics. Since we can't work on a song together in person, we usually develop our ideas individually in our own time. Afterward, we come together to combine all these concepts. It's an interesting process; this unconventional, creative method allows us all to contribute our thoughts and ideas to a project. I think we've established a really effective formula for our circumstances, which is pretty awesome!
With genres ranging from trap and hip-hop to ballads and pop, how do you decide which direction to take a song in?
JiNNX!: It honestly just depends on the concept that we’re going for. We moodboard a lot of stuff on Pinterest, then take it from there. Sometimes, it just really feels like we’re on the same wavelength or something; the way that we work together so well.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a group so far, and how have you worked through it together?
JiNNX!: We're truly self-made. Everything is managed by us, every schedule, every release. These things would take months with a true record deal; we make it all work within the same time frame, even though we're in completely different parts of the world. It's still something that can't be solved simply, but we're always giving our best, and that's what gives us our charm in a way (laughs).
(Cellienne) You’ve been credited as both a rapper and songwriter. How do you bring your lyrical voice into JiNXX!’s identity?
Cellienne: I feel like ever since I've started writing and working on JiNXX! songs I've always tried to also write about my personal experiences within the group and in my own life, Since the beginning I've always felt like I was in the middle of two sides of the lineup because we didn't really have detailed roles assigned to us in the group, but because of this I feel like I have grown and learned so much, I've definitely improved in my rapping and vocal skills, and being in the group has encouraged me to push myself, to practice and improve so that I can write lyrics that resonate with the listener and also reflect how I feel as a member of JiNXX! and as an artist myself.
(Uju) As one of the group’s rappers, how do you channel your own energy and personality into JiNXX!’s tracks?
Uju: I've always had an unusual voice timbre/tone and never had the chance to play with it in a way that made me proud. In other words, I've always wished I had a more powerful and mysterious voice, (laughs). But working with JiNXX! as a rapper has completely changed my perception about
my tone and made me so much proud of my performance. That's what makes my delivery pop in a way. I try to be confident and charming.
(Virgo)You founded JiNXX!, can you tell us about what inspired you to bring the group together and how you first connected with the members?
Virgo: I’ve always wanted to do something music-based! Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to do something music-y but I knew those were really big shoes to fill. Plus, I grew up really, really shy (fairly ironic since I’m one of the more extroverted members on the team now), so doing it in a group setting was 100% the goal for me! Auditioning and getting recruited into a group (and a singing group of anything) is definitely a challenge in itself though; so 17-year-old me took the initiative and started her own little thing!
At the time we all met, all of us were in this little online singing community on Instagram (basically we were all just a bunch of singers and coverists). I made a cute, little audition thing for a 5-member hobby girl group and it ended up absolutely blowing up in our community (when I closed it, about two weeks later, it was at about 270 auditions!). Out of that 270, I ended up with these 4 - I made sure when picking the final girls, they were people I knew were talented, hard-workers. I hadn’t interacted with any of the current JiNXX! girls at the time but I honestly had such a gut feeling that these 4 would do something amazing; and my gut feeling was clearly right ‘cuz we’re nearly 2 years in now!
(Jess) You’ve arranged much of JiNXX!’s music. How does arranging influence the way you approach singing and songwriting?
Jess: When it comes to arranging a track, it can be a lot different from looking at it through a singing or songwriting lens. When I’m focused solely on writing a song, my focus is primarily on the chords, melody, and lyrics. Still, the arrangement process is a bit more complex, since you have to worry about selecting the right sounds, like drums or synths. Both processes can be very different, but at the end of the day, the fundamentals are still the same. You wanna have a good melody, good lyrics, and good chords! Overall, both processes are so much fun, and I am so glad that I get to be one of the producers within JiNXX!
(Becca) You’ve contributed to both vocals and songwriting. What inspires your writing process, and how do you shape a song’s emotional tone?
Becca: I’ve been songwriting since I basically learned to talk, so I find it comes to me naturally. Once I manage to get in the zone, it just flows out of me like a sixth sense. I take a lot of inspiration from artists like Charli XCX, Adéla, Addison Rae, and beabadoobee when it comes to writing.
Let’s dive into your latest single, “RESTRICTIONS.” What was the inspiration behind the track?
JiNNX!: Ever since we started this project together, we feel like people have had their doubts about us and have had so many opinions about our work and music. We believe that, through this track, we want to prove that, with all the criticism and love we receive, we grow and learn, and will always push the boundaries the world wants to put on us and turn the negatives into positives by working hard together.
How did the creative process for “RESTRICTIONS” differ from your earlier songs?
JiNNX!: The lyrics had a much deeper meaning than our previous songs. We definitely experimented a lot more this time, both in instrumental production and lyricism. If you’ve looked at our discography, you'll see we’ve done lots of hip-hop and rap, and we wanted to try something lighter for a change while still keeping it sounding like a JiNXX! track.
The title itself, “RESTRICTIONS,” is powerful. What does that word mean to each of you personally?
Uju: I think we all share a collective understanding of what "restrictions" means, but, personally, it means cutting ties with everyone that brings you down somehow, getting rid of the restrictions they impose on you, and finally showing your true colors, meaning you're not afraid to be you anymore.
Virgo: I feel like, as a group, we’ve faced a lot of barriers together; one of the barriers being the people who doubted our abilities and didn't think we could make it. Personally, I think the title “restrictions” represents those people, and this is our way of showing that we're cutting off those people and disassociating with them —not allowing them to “restrict” us anymore.
Becca: To me, I feel like the word just makes me think about how sad it is that my girls and I can’t get together in person due to restrictions, so we have to work from all different parts of the world.
Jess: When I hear “RESTRICTIONS”, I think of breaking down those nasty barriers that have been created by others and really leaning into being who you truly want to be. In the past, we’ve had many restrictions that have kept us back and have tried to stop us from succeeding, but we've always found a way around them and succeeded. “RESTRICTIONS” is a song that packs so much meaning, and I think it really encompasses our journey as artists.
Cellienne: I think RESTRICTIONS is a representation of certain people in your life who want to make sure you don't succeed in your life's goals and dreams, and in this song is kind of like a punch back to those people; basically telling them that we'll continue working hard and getting better and better no matter what they say or do to stop that, and we won't adhere to those "restrictions" they want to put on us.
What do you hope listeners feel or take away the first time they hear “RESTRICTIONS”?
JiNNX!: We like how the dynamic in RESTRICTIONS works, the soft and emotional lyrics from the verses paired with the rising symphony that culminates in an explosion that, to us, is representative of breaking through these walls that restrict you. We hope all these elements prompt listeners to reflect on their own ties and, hopefully, feel strong enough to cut them in their own terms.
Which moment in JiNXX!’s journey so far has made you feel most proud as artists?
Uju: I feel like everytime we create a new beat and write new lyrics to it, I get prouder and prouder. But specifically, hitting 53K on Sacrifice and getting two radio plays has been one of our highest achievements and it makes me feel accomplished mostly because I think my girls really deserve everything good that's coming our way. We truly work hard 24/7!
Virgo: This is genuinely gonna sound so cheesy but I’m honestly non-stop proud of my girls. Ever since the JiNXX! line-up was sorted and announced, there has not been a day that has gone by where I wasn’t thinking about these guys (whether it be JiNXX! related or not; these girls are way too interesting to not be thinking of them 24/7). I feel proud every time we start a new demo, every time we release a new song, every time we get an email back from someone, every time we get a comment on our socials; even when we chat for hours and hours on our group chat, I feel so proud because I could’ve picked literally anyone and I managed to pull these absolute gems.
Becca: Our debut was really crazy to me because we received so much support, and I was shocked that people were actually listening to something we worked so hard on. I felt so proud of my girls and I for how much work we put in, and we were actually getting what we deserved.
Jess: Aside from the fact that I am constantly proud of everything that we do as artists, I would say the biggest moment that sticks out to me would be when we got to work with a very famous remixer in the K-pop community, ‘the revel’, to create our song “SACRIFICE”! It’s such a powerful song, and fans seem to really love it too. Like UJU said, we have 53K streams on streaming platforms and countless radio plays, and I think it’s a song that deserves its flowers. Everyone involved put their blood, sweat, and tears into this song, and it’s just an epic track!
Cellienne: I feel like for me every single day we keep going as JiNXX! and working hard to advance as a group makes me super proud of us, we all know it's hard to maintain a group together independently as it is, but also just considering the fact that we're doing all of this online and we still manage to have amazing teamwork is something I will always admire and be extremely proud of, so cheers to us!.
Outside of music, how do you stay connected as friends despite living so far apart?
Virgo: You’re underestimating how advanced social media is nowadays! We have a group chat on literally every social platform known to mankind right now (Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, iMessages, Discord, Snapchat, and more!). It’s almost impossible to go a day without getting a message or a call from one of the JiNXX! Girls at least once. We also grew insanely close, insanely quick (we’re pretty much sisters!); we’ve laughed together, cried together, vented together, talked smack together, been through breakups together, made giant life decisions together, and I know we’re definitely gonna get through more as the years go by. We’re practically living proof that physical distance is completely irrelevant when it comes to how connected and close you can get to a person (or 5 people, in our case).
Becca: We’re literally always talking to each other, either texting or calling. We have a group chat on literally every single social media + WhatsApp (and I play iMessage games with the girls). We also use Discord for group calls and playing games, so we’re always connected!
If each of you had to describe JiNXX!’s journey in just one word, what word would you choose?
Uju: Persistent. As a totally self-made group with no ties to any label, we take care of many, many areas—sonically and visually. So much hard work goes into the things we create, and we definitely wouldn't be here if we didn't love music and were persistent.
Virgo: Impressive. Very, very impressive. We’re gonna have to be one of the few music groups to get this far without anyone else's help. We built ourselves from the ground up, managed ourselves, made our own sound, songwrote our own tracks, edited our own graphics, built our own fanbase, and have genuinely come so far purely by ourselves, without the help of any big company or label. And all that while we’re on literal opposite sides of the globe from each other and with all 5 of us balancing this with school, work, and our personal lives.
Becca: Resilience. The girls and I have always been able to stand our ground with all these countless barriers in our way, and we’ve never let anything stop us.
Jess: It’s so hard to find just one word! If I had to choose one, I think it would be determination. We always strive to reach new heights with each release and get ourselves out there, and I don’t think our determination can or will ever die.
Cellienne: I would say synergy is a fitting word because we all really work together to keep everything going, and we certainly make a great team.
What are your hopes for JiNXX!’s future—both musically and in the story you want to tell as a group?
Uju: I'm truly happy that we've been building this sonically distinct identity, in which you know it's a JiNXX! song, but it's not tied to a specific music genre. I hope we can expand this and make more experimental tracks, exploring the nuances of feeling through both beat and lyrics.
Jess: I hope that as we continue on our journey, we can inspire many more young artists to pursue their dreams and share their music, even if they feel it's not good enough. The focus should never be on being "good enough"; it should be on putting yourself out there and taking any opportunity you can get. In our experience, each opportunity we have taken has helped us grow, strengthen our work ethic, improve teamwork, and so much more. I would love for us to serve as an inspiration for other artists or groups who want to express themselves, but might be feeling just that little bit too nervous!
Cellienne: I hope that moving forward, we can continue to grow and connect with our audience and establish JiNXX! in the industry. Through our music, I want us to help and teach others that they, too, can achieve their dreams. By working hard and setting an example for other artists, we can demonstrate that even in difficult situations, success is possible. I believe this will motivate those passionate about music and aspiring to make a career out of it to follow their dreams. I hope people see our hard work and feel the same happiness I do whenever we achieve another goal in our careers. I will always feel accomplished whenever someone tells us they were inspired to do the same because of us.
Finally, what message would you like to share with your fans who have been supporting you from the start?
Uju: I'm so glad you're here with us today! Truly, we would be talking to the walls without your support, our voice wouldn't be heard, and our stories couldn't be shared. LOKKETS make our dream come true every day!
Virgo: JiNXX! is so unbelievably lucky to have such an amazing fanbase! Our LOKKETS treat us so well, and we hope we all make you guys proud one day. I believe our work that inspires others can be repeated, too; you can quite literally do anything you put your mind to! If you have the drive for it, then get on the road - nothing is out of reach unless you say it is!
Becca: Thank you for believing in us from day one. We wouldn’t be here without you.
Jess: Thank you, LOKKETS, for all of your incredible love and overwhelming support! Knowing that people appreciate what we do and want to see us grow as artists means the world to us. Every act of support, even if it’s small, brings us such joy and drives us to constantly do our best. We truly love and cherish each and every one of you!
Cellienne: I love you all so, so much, and I'm so grateful that you chose us to support and love, and I hope that we can deliver even better songs and keep improving day by day so that you can all be proud to be a LOKKET!
Listen to JiNNX! discography on Spotify.
Image and Video Credits: JiNNX!
