X!NK
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Belgium |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
X!NK () is a pop punk group from Belgium, formed by two sets of brothers: Jonas and Niels Meukens alongside Thomas and Philip Valkiers. Jonas took on lead vocals and occasionally played guitar, Niels was the drummer, Philip handled the bass, and Thomas contributed with guitar and keyboards. The band gained prominence nationally after representing Belgium at the 2003 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, where they secured sixth place. Additionally, they were featured in a series of comic books created by Mario Boon. In 2023, X!NK announced plans for a revival, including the release of a new single and four live performances.
Junior Eurovision Song Contest
During Belgium’s national selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, X!NK competed against nine other participants and narrowly won by a margin of three points over runner-up Tonya. They went on to represent Belgium at the first-ever Junior Eurovision held on 15 November 2003 in Copenhagen, Denmark, performing their self-composed track "De Vriendschapsband" (The Bond Between Friends), which reflects their origins and camaraderie. Out of sixteen contestants, they achieved sixth place with 83 points. The song was professionally produced by Paul Despiegelaere and released as a single.
After the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
In early 2004, X!NK followed up with their second single titled "Oh-Ho," and later that year launched their debut album featuring twelve songs. This album earned gold certification in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium.
The band regularly appeared at Belgian rock festivals such as Marktrock in Leuven. In 2004, they recorded "Laat Me Vrij" (Let Me Free), which served as the theme for the Flemish adaptation of Garfield: The Movie. For the 2006 sequel Ice Age: The Meltdown, they contributed "De Andere Kant" (The Other Side) as its theme track, with lead vocalist Jonas also providing the Dutch voice for the character Jimmy the Anteater.
Their sophomore album, Vergif (Poison), was released on 30 September 2005. That year, they also performed as opening act at the 0110 event in Ghent. The band announced their disbandment in 2009.
Following the breakup, members Niels and Thomas joined another Belgian group called The Crackups.
Reunion concert and comeback
X!NK reunited for a concert in Brussels that sold out within minutes, leading to three additional shows which also sold out rapidly. Subsequently, they released new material beginning with the lead single "Misschien."
After experiencing commercial success and performing at various festivals, they released further singles including "Aura" and "Ik Wil de Wereld Zien." Although these tracks did not reach the mainstream popularity of "Misschien," X!NK retained their dedicated Flemish pop-punk fanbase.
In early 2024, original bassist Philip Valkiers left due to internal disagreements. Jasper Mulier was quickly brought in as his successor. With Jasper onboard, X!NK announced their forthcoming album titled Dag Nul.
Albums
| Title | Translation | Release date (in Belgium) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| X!NK | X!NK | 20 September 2004 | Debut album. |
| Vergif | Poison | 29 September 2005 | Second album. |
| Dag Nul | Day Zero | February 2025 | Third album—first since reunion. |
Singles
| Title | English Version | Belgian Release Date | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| "De Vriendschapsband" | The Band of Friends | 6 October 2003 | Entry that won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. |
| "Oh-Ho" | Oh-Ho | 9 February 2004 | |
| "Laat Mij Vrij" | Let Me Free | 12 July 2004 | Official song for Garfield: The Movie. |
| "Sorry" | Sorry | 8 November 2004 | |
| "Denk Aan Mij" | Think About Me | 20 August 2005 | |
| "Hou Ons Niet Tegen" | Don't Stop Us | 2 December 2005 | |
| "De Andere Kant" | The Other Side | 17 February 2006 | Featured in Ice Age: The Meltdown soundtrack. |
| "Give Us a Future" | Give Us a Future | Late 2007 | Associated with Junior Eurosong 2007. |
| "Misschien" | Maybe | November 2022 | |
| "Aura" | Aura | June 2023 | |
| "Ik Wil De Wereld Zien" | I Want To See The World | September 2023 | |
| "Neem Me Mee" | Bring Me Along | October 2024 | |
| "Waar Gaan We Heen" | Where Do We Go | November 2024 | |
| "Op Hoop Van Zegen" | A Hail Mary | January 2025 |
References
- This article includes translated content from the Dutch Wikipedia page nl:X!NK, accessed on 7 April 2007.
External links
- Official website featuring biography, tour information, news updates, and audio samples.
- X!NK profile at the Boy Choir & Soloist Directory.
- The X!NK comic book series available at Dupuis.com (archived version).