MANI JNX is a 20-year-old British-Punjabi DIY artist, taking influence from a wide array of genres (including but never limited to indie rock, bedroom pop, folk & electronic) to create unique soundscapes & experiences for the listener. Her songwriting focuses on themes of nostalgia, yearning, identity, queer love & more to paint intricate & relatable stories through song & sound.
Photographer: -
Ethnicity: Punjabi
Location: Birmingham, UK
Instagram: @MANI.JNX
Website:
GET TO KNOW - completed June 2025
3 words to describe you:
far too honest
Describe your sound:
if clairo, imogen heap, lizzy mcalpine, billie eilish & frank ocean had a musical baby that somehow came out with brown girl attitude problems
Describe the moment you knew that you wanted to pursue music:
i actually never planned to pursue music until i was about 16 - i wanted to be a vet as a kid, then in my teens i had no idea what to do after GCSEs, but i knew i loved music from when i started playing guitar & posting covers on YouTube since i was 12. i had a lot of problems at my school & was constantly getting into trouble, but there was one time where i was accused of something i actually didn't do - it felt like the final straw, so my plan to stay on for sixth form went out the window, and i applied for a music college straight away to turn my hobby & passion into a career.
How does your heritage impact your art?
i think it's most obvious in the dedication i have to my art to help people like me to feel seen. i am a proud sikh woman & a major teaching for us is that of 'seva', which is selfless service to others - music is healing. music has always helped me to process emotions & understand others & myself at a deeper level. punjabi culture discourages us from speaking about emotions, and discussions around mental health just don't happen nearly as much as they should. if my music can help even one person to feel seen as a queer brown person; if it shows a young punjabi person that we can pursue any path that our white peers can; if my existence helps to start a discussion, then i am doing something right. that is & always will be at the very core of my art.
What moment are you most proud of in your music journey so far?
when two of my supporters got my lyrics tattooed - and every time that someone expresses that my songs have touched their hearts.
Your next music goal:
after love:sin, record an album
If you could collaborate with anyone, who and why?
frank ocean - he's such an inspiration for me, i'd love to pick his brain
Lyrics you live by:
'Nothing in the world belongs to me, but my love, mine, all mine'
(Mitski - My love mine all mine)
3 songs you're listening to right now:
Dispose of Me - Omar Apollo
"emily" - Amelia Moore
Anything to Say You're Mine - Etta James
Your community shout out:
Balli Ivory (@balliivory), his new song 'Don't Run Away!' has been on loop since he dropped it
Anything else you'd like to share:
my debut ep, 'love:sin' comes out july 18th on streaming platforms
.png)
