Pabllo Vittar, NMIXX - MEXE (2025)

What is Pabllo Vittar, NMIXX - MEXE?

MEXE is a collaboration single recorded by South Korean girl group NMIXX and Brazilian drag queen and singer Pabllo Vittar, released on August 21, 2025. The track represents a fusion of baile funk pop that blends Vittar's Brazilian club sound with NMIXX's signature high-energy K-pop approach. In Portuguese, the word "mexe" translates to "to mix," reflecting the song's multilingual and multicultural composition.

The single seamlessly integrates three languages throughout its lyrics, mixing Portuguese, Korean, and English to match its international sound. Musically, MEXE combines the rhythmic elements of Brazilian baile funk with K-pop production techniques, creating a high-energy track designed for club settings, workout sessions, and repeated listening. The song features brash percussion complemented by smooth vocal harmonies from NMIXX members, which add contrast to the confrontational moments within the track.

Pabllo Vittar, recognized as the most followed drag queen on Instagram with 12.7 million followers, brought her established club sound to the collaboration. The Brazilian artist had previously worked with international acts including Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, and Diplo. For NMIXX, this marked their entry into the Brazilian market, a powerhouse territory for K-pop. The partnership represents one of the highest-profile collaborations between a K-pop group and an artist from the drag community, positioning MEXE as both a creative experiment and a commercially strategic release.

Background and creation of MEXE

How the collaboration came together

Producers Charlotte Wilson and Ebenezer Fabiyi conceptualized the partnership between the artists early in the creative process. Wilson had been a fan of Pabllo Vittar for six years and also admired NMIXX, viewing the collaboration as a full-circle moment. Pabllo Vittar and NMIXX were already fans of each other's work before the project materialized. Vittar discovered K-pop in 2015 and had closely followed the genre, expressing particular appreciation for Korean sounds and their innovative, experimental rhythms. The songwriting team included Isa Guerra, Bibi, Number Teddie, Charlotte Wilson, and Ebenezer Fabiyi. The team deliberately placed Portuguese lyrics in the pre-chorus, creating a bilingual chant performed by both artists. Ebenezer Fabiyi focused on encapsulating Brazilian rhythm while incorporating K-pop sonic elements to create a fast-paced, energetic track suitable for choreography.

Recording process in South Korea

Pabllo Vittar traveled to South Korea to participate in both the recording sessions and music video production. Vocal recording for both Pabllo Vittar and NMIXX took place at JYPE Studios under the direction of Choi Hyejin. The mixing process presented technical complexity, with Ebenezer managing 397 active channels containing all vocals and instrumental tracks. Rafael Fadul handled primary mixing duties at Tereza Records, with Ebenezer Fabiyi serving as co-mixer.

MEXE music video and choreography

Music video concept and filming

The official music video premiered on August 22, 2025 (KST), directed by Jaewon Ham of 88 Gymnastic Heroes. Filming took place in an industrial car garage in South Korea, featuring sleek production values with metallic styling, cinematic lighting, and dynamic backdrops. The visual concept showcased Pabllo Vittar and the full NMIXX lineup performing with a crew of dancers through striking silhouettes and intense close-ups. The turbo-powered aesthetic combined powerful formations with stylish costumes, creating a vibrant atmosphere that bridged Brazilian club energy with NMIXX's high-octane visual approach.

Dance choreography and performance

Muller Jessi and Pe Reis choreographed the razor-sharp movements featured throughout the production. The dance crew included Jo Cardozo, Thiago Rochx, Barbe Semi, Carvalho Gabriell, Augusto, and Pe Reis. Bae noted that rehearsing with Pabllo and her dancers proved educational, describing the Latin dance style as infectious and perfectly suited to NMIXX's performance capabilities. An official dance video accompanied the music video release.

Behind the scenes

NMIXX released two making films documenting the production process. During filming, Sullyoon expressed enthusiasm about the project's visual quality. The groups exchanged cultural gifts, with NMIXX members presenting Korean hair accessories to Pabllo Vittar, who reciprocated with albums and fans.

Reception and chart performance

Critical reception for the collaboration proved positive among music reviewers. The Bias List awarded the track a grade of B- with an overall rating of 8 out of 10, assigning specific scores of 7 for hooks, 9 for production, 8 for longevity, and 8 for bias. The review acknowledged the song's fierce attitude and commercial prospects, particularly noting Brazil's status as a powerhouse market for K-pop.

The music video achieved substantial visibility, reaching the number one trending position on YouTube in Brazil. Chart performance reflected strong regional appeal, with the track securing the third position on the Melon Worldwide chart. Streaming data demonstrated concentrated success in Latin American markets, with the collaboration performing exceptionally well across multiple countries in the region.

Spotify metrics showed the track accumulated 10,817,576 streams since its August 21, 2025 release. In Brazil specifically, the song generated 1,358,160 total streams with a peak chart position of 143. The collaboration benefited from Pabllo Vittar's established following, as the Brazilian artist maintained twice the Instagram follower count of NMIXX at the time of release. The partnership provided NMIXX with exposure to Vittar's substantial Latin American fanbase while introducing the Brazilian artist to K-pop audiences.

FAQs

Who produced MEXE?

Production credits for MEXE include Pabllo Vittar, Charlotte Wilson, Ebenezer Fabiyi, Maffalda, and Paulo DK.

Why did Pabllo Vittar want to collaborate with NMIXX?

Pabllo Vittar expressed appreciation for Korean sounds and their innovative, experimental rhythms. The artist stated an interest in experimenting with new sounds in musical production, noting the creation of previous cross-cultural work including "Fantasía" with Nathy Peluso. Vittar described the process of exploring these musical possibilities as fun and valuable.

What did NMIXX members say about the collaboration?

Lily noted the song represented a perfect combination of NMIXX's sound and Pabllo's style, describing the time spent together during recording and video production as wonderful. Haewon emphasized the significance of collaborating with such a vibrant artist, aligning with NMIXX's goal of creating music that connects globally. Bae described the experience as an honor, finding the Latin dance style infectious and well-suited to NMIXX. Jiwoo expressed initial nervousness about the first international collaboration. Kyujin characterized Pabllo as incredibly sweet and cool throughout all production stages.