'Writing with Little Mix Was Chaotic and Fun!' Meet Songwriter Jin Jin, The

Home , Craig David, Jin Jin (musician), Only When You Leave, Rumour Mill

This site uses cookies. By continuing, your consent is assumed. Learn more News... but not as you know it News Sport Trending

Home Trending News UK World Weird Tech Sport Football Rumour Mill Club Metro Tennis Boxing UFC Entertainment Showbiz TV Film Music Gaming Soaps Lifestyle Sex Fashion Food Travel Video More Lifestyle Blogs Students Discounts Submit stuff Competitions Jobs Property Advertise Search Metro Follow us

120m shares

‘Writing with Little Mix was chaotic and fun!’ Meet songwriter Jin Jin, the woman behind some of the biggest hits

exclusive Katie Baillie for Metro.co.ukWednesday 5 Jul 2017 7:50 am Jin Jin is behind some of the charts’ biggest hits

Jin Jin is a woman you’ll have been listening to without realising it.

Katy Perry advert slammed for animal cruelty as she tells dog to 'chase koalas'

She’s the songwriter behind Jess Glynne’s Hold My Hand, Little Mix’s album track Grown, Tinie Tempah’s Girls Like. She’s worked with Craig David, Sean Paul and David Guetta.

The music industry is a tough place for women, yet Jin Jin is behind some huge hits and now wants to ﬁnd the women songwriters of the future.

She got into songwriting semi by accident – as a kid she’d hang out in her granddad’s reggae music shop.

Then one day she was given a small keyboard and ‘sort of fell into it’, copying the reggae greats by taking a pop song and making it reggae, before starting to write her own stuff.

She studied music tech. ‘I didn’t realise there was more than just being a singer. With music there are so many other careers,’ she says. Just casually hanging out with Craig David

She’s teamed up with First Direct’s social media channels asking people to share their own original lyrics (and the story behind them) to win a two day masterclass at a professional London recording studio, with Jin Jin.

This workshop will take place over Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July, and all entries will be judged by Mobo.

What was the ﬁrst song you ever wrote?

There was one called What Do You Like About Me. It was super poppy.

When I was at college there was a talk and a guy called Simon Aldridge came and he now works with PRS, before that he was with BMI, he came and told us about all the artists he works with. I asked if I could send him some stuff. Then we kept in touch and had a practice session where we wrote that song.

How did you get noticed?

One of my good friends was doing work experience with Roll Deep’s manager at the time, so she said she’d introduce me.

I went down to the studio in Cable Street in east London and there was about 15 guys on laptops, it was quite intimidating. But they were so friendly, Wiley was there. They would have the beat playing and then one by one they would go up and spit like 16 bars and I was like ‘wow.’

Then they asked me to write a hook. The song is called Do Me Wrong , that was my ﬁrst release.

Do you write alone? Jin Jin co-wrote Grown with Little Mix

It’s very collaborative. I get really distracted at home so I prefer to collaborate. I tend to always go in with artists and then I can take their stories and what they’re feeling and interpret that and put it into songs. Then I can make it into a subject that can capture a wider audience.

They might be like ‘my cat died last night’ and I’ll be like that’s really sad but maybe let’s not make that about the cat, let#s take the subject and make it a bit wider. It’s like being a counsellor!

You have to build a relationship as well. So maybe the ﬁrst session isn’t about writing a massive song it’s about getting to know them.

What was it like working with Little Mix?

I wrote Grow on Get Weird. They don’t always go into every session, but I always feed off the artist’s energy and it was great having them in the room.

Then we could talk like ‘would the Mixers say that’ ‘oh no they wouldn’t relate to that’ or ‘the Mixers would love that’. They were so energetic and fun and chaotic, and the vibe and the energy was so good to have them there. I love to have their personality in the room.

How does it feel being a woman behind some of these huge songs? Jin Jin wants to ﬁnd the songwriters of the future

It’s so surreal. It’s something you could only dream of. It’s like it’s not really happening.

It’s one thing having an idea in your head and loving what you do, then to express your idea and have someone love it, and have listeners connecting with it. It’s crazy. I haven’t got my head around it, like ‘are you sure?’

More: Music

The xx are being lined up as potential Glastonbury headliner

Prince's drummer John Blackwell Jr dies aged 43 following battle with brain tumour

Lady Gaga defends Ed Sheeran following his decision to quit Twitter over online abuse

How can someone else get into it?

You have to live and breathe it, practice, hone your craft. I sent Diplo a link to something I did, and one day he followed me. I was so excited, this was the opportunity.

So I sent him a message and I didn’t get a response. Then everything I did I sent to him then one time I got a response it was like two years later.

Persistence works! Put yourself out there. Ask people to jam on Souncloud, Twitter, Facebook, collaborate.

You never know what you’ll come out with. Go to open mic nights. Reach out to other musicians. Network and be in the industry and set yourself goals. Put your singles out there. How will people know about you if you don’t? MORE: Why Iggy Azalea collaborating with Azealia Banks sends an important message

MORE: Liam Payne sends fans into a frenzy teasing new single with Zedd coming this week

More Little MixNew music

Punk-rock power-pop trio Calva Louise are super young and incredible live

Who is musician and Little Mix star Jesy Nelson's new romance Harry James?

Little Mix's Jesy Nelson is 'completely smitten' with new boyfriend Harry James

New artist Saya combines pop/r'n'b with a B-movie aesthetic

FROM THE WEB Sponsored Links by Taboola

Fowler Large Shelving Unit, Multicolours £449 - made.com

Gaetano Sciolari Modernist Nine Light Chrome And Lucite Chandelier £2,321.22 - 1stdibs.com

Berlin booking.com

Milan sharps.co.uk

Canaries Christmas & Funchal Fireworks £2,328 - planetcruise.co.uk

Specialized Hardrock 650B 2017 Mountain Bike - £360 £360 - evanscycles.com

FROM THE WEB Sponsored Links

Did You Take Out a Mortgage Between 1988-2011? The PPI Finder

Did You Take Out a Mortgage Between 1988 - 2011? PPI Checker

Fowler Large Shelving Unit, Multicolours £449 - made.com

Gaetano Sciolari Modernist Nine Light Chrome And Lucite Chandelier £2,321.22 - 1stdibs.com

We Can Guess Your Education Level With This Simple Quiz Deﬁnition

Remember Michelle Fowler? What She Looks Like Today Is Crazy Semesterz

by Taboola Comments Must read

Britain's Got Talent 2016 ﬁnalist Beau Dermott nabs record deal

The talented teenager will release her debut album in August.

Petition signed by 14,000 people delivered to Radiohead's record label urging band to cancel upcoming Tel Aviv show

The petition follows a barrage of criticism over the band's scheduled show in Israel.

Pop legend Jimmy Osmond buys two very rare sheep and they are just adorable Seriously cute, but super expensive.

Watch Irish teens smash Gaelic version of Despacito and we want to see Justin Bieber try

Slowly becoming our new fave.

Kanye West 'asks Justin Bieber to work on his new album'

This is a collab we wanna see. 6.

Linkin Park fans left mesmerised as Stormzy makes surprise appearance at gig in London

No one saw the grime rapper coming to this gig...

Ellie Goulding gives herself props as a woman on the festival circuit

Ellie speaks out.

Punk-rock power-pop trio Calva Louise are super young and incredible live

New London-based trio ﬁxed to be the must-see live act of 2017 10.

Jay-Z, Will Smith and Kendrick Lamar discuss racism in new video for The Story of O.J. from 4:44

Trevor Noah and Chris Rock also speak on the video.

11.

Spandau Ballet say they are 'frustrated' and will move on as band without Tony Hadley

Only when you leave...

12.

Muse announce intimate charity show where fans will choose the setlist

Ticket holders can vote for up to 10 of their songs.

13.

Lady Gaga supports Ed Sheeran's decision to quit Twitter: 'Ed deserves all our love and respect'

'No reason to tear down an artist simply because they are on top.'

14.

Pink gets stuck in a lift, alerts people via Instagram

How is she so calm?! 15.

Little Mix's Jesy Nelson is 'completely smitten' with new boyfriend Harry James

So cute!

16.

Green Day forced to cancel gig due to 'adverse weather conditions'

It would be too dangerous for them to perform.

17.

Prince's drummer John Blackwell Jr dies aged 43 following battle with brain tumour

The musician had been battling a brain tumour.

18.

Skepta claims he turned down an MBE from the Royal family in surprise track Hypocrisy

He says he's not trying to get accepted

19.

Artist of the day 03/07: Saya

Singer's new single explores why she'll hurt you if you get too close. 20.

Liam Payne sends fans into a frenzy teasing new single with Zedd

Are we ready for this?

21.

Britain's Got Talent 2016 ﬁnalist Beau Dermott nabs record deal

The talented teenager will release her debut album in August.

22.

Petition signed by 14,000 people delivered to Radiohead's record label urging band to cancel upcoming Tel Aviv show

The petition follows a barrage of criticism over the band's scheduled show in Israel.

23.

Pop legend Jimmy Osmond buys two very rare sheep and they are just adorable

Seriously cute, but super expensive.

24.

These Irish teenagers have ﬁlmed a rendition of Despacito which is a hundred times better than Biebers

Slowly becoming our new fave.

What's trending now More trending stories » 1.

Jeremy McConnell 'fractures eye socket' while Steph Davis suffers '5 broken ribs' in ﬁght

Jeremy Meeks' wife Melissa says they are 'still legally married' despite Chloe Green ﬂing

Killer Emma takes her most cruel action yet against young Arthur in Emmerdale 4.

Emmerdale boss reveals huge storyline that will 'tilt the show's universe on its axis'

Emmerdale boss reveals 5 big story hints including a life changing event