XG leans into radical self-love with debut album ‘The Core’

It’s mid-December, and the seven members of XG – Jurin, Maya, Chisa, Hinata, Juria, Cocona, and Harvey – are taking a moment to rest after performing energetic dance moves for their song “Gala.” This song pays homage to ballroom culture and is the first single from their debut album.

A crowd quickly gathers around them – makeup artists, publicists, translators, and crew. Some of the team share smiles and hand hearts with excited fans in the audience.

Sienna Lalau is a choreographer working on the season finale of “The Voice” with the group XG at Universal Studios. The 25-year-old, who works with Lab Studios in downtown Los Angeles, is known for her work with major artists like Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, Missy Elliott, BTS, and Ozuna. She’s been working with XG since before they first debuted in 2022.

For Lalau, XG stood out from the beginning.

I got a call from my manager, Carrie, who told me a new Japanese group wanted me to create the choreography for them,” she explained while taking a quick break from rehearsals for Jennifer Lopez’s Las Vegas show.

Previously, Lalau received K-pop demos with very little communication from labels – she’d simply receive the song and that was the end of it. However, XGALX, the company behind XG, took a different approach, providing a comprehensive overview of its members, who had all been training in rap, vocals, and dance for the past five years.

I was so excited when I first heard about the chance to work with the team right from the start. I actually submitted choreography videos for their first two planned songs, “Mascara” and “Tippy Toes,” and honestly, it feels surreal to say I’m still collaborating with them five years later! It’s been an incredible journey.

Transcending barriers

As a fan, I’m always blown away by XG’s incredible dancing – it’s just so polished! But what really fascinates me is how diverse they are. They’re a group of Japanese women, but their backgrounds are wonderfully mixed – Hinata has Korean roots and Harvey is Japanese-Australian. And it’s not just their backgrounds; their music feels like a throwback to the best of ’90s American R&B and hip-hop! Plus, their whole aesthetic is amazing – you get hints of anime, streetwear, and even a little bit of an alien vibe. It’s a really unique and captivating combination.

XG gained international recognition in 2022 with their YouTube single, “Galz Xypher.” The song features the group’s main rappers – Jurin, Harvey, Cocona, and Maya – rapping in three languages. The track creatively incorporates samples from artists like Ty Dolla Sign, Rosalía, and JID, and even builds upon a sample from Aretha Franklin’s version of “One Step Ahead” (which itself was sped up).

Many people are amazed by how XGALX overcomes language differences. Simon Junho-Park, the group’s CEO and executive producer who also goes by JAKOPS, shared his thoughts on what ‘language shifting’ means for the group and their music.

He explained that rapping in multiple languages isn’t just about changing the words. It’s more like changing the feel and rhythm of the music. Each language has its own unique sound – the way syllables are stressed, how consonants and vowels are pronounced, and its overall melody. So, using the same rap flow in a different language wouldn’t sound right; it needs to be adapted to fit the new language’s natural rhythm and sound.

I’ve always been fascinated by artists who truly bridge worlds, and Jakops is one of them. He’s 39, and his background is so interesting – born in Seattle to Korean and Japanese parents. He actually spent a decade performing in the boy group DMTN, and then transitioned into writing and producing music for others. Being in the K-pop system for so long, he really understands how powerful – and also how limiting – that whole training culture can be. It’s given him a unique perspective, and I’m excited to see what he does next.

The artist explains that with XGALX, he hopes to build a space that fosters growth more effectively than previous systems allowed.

He believes it’s less about specific practices and more about how the team works together – the relationships, the culture, and our general approach to things. It’s become a core part of who we are, something we’ve built together. This is why we tend to challenge the norm and are drawn to new ideas and the unexplored – it shapes how we see the world.

As someone who really pays attention to the creative teams behind my favorite artists, I’ve been fascinated by XG’s approach. They’ve clearly put a lot of thought into who they work with. Take Chancellor, for example – he’s a producer and artist in his late 30s who came up in L.A.’s Koreatown scene, learning from legends like The Neptunes. When he moved to Korea, he and JAKOPS just clicked musically, and like Lalau, he’s been with the XG girls since the start, really helping to build their sound, even on the new album they’re working on. It’s cool to see that kind of consistent creative partnership.

Speaking from Korea over Zoom, the Chancellor emphasized that XG’s creative process is collaborative. He explained that the members have always been passionate about music, citing artists like Usher and Omarion as influences even during their training. He said they came to the project already deeply connected to music, long before he started working with them.

Xtraordinary Genes

Just a couple of days after their performance on “The Voice,” the members of XG gathered in a conference room at a hotel in Koreatown. It happened to be Harvey’s birthday, but the group is used to working and performing even on special occasions. They’d changed out of their flashy, disco-inspired outfits from the show and were now dressed in more casual, Gen Z streetwear. Relaxed and chatting, they looked more like a group of close friends than the famous performers they’ve become, poised to headline Coachella.

The group XG recently updated its name. It used to stand for Xtraordinary Girls, but now represents Xtraordinary Genes. This change followed a larger announcement made in early December.

On their 20th birthday – a significant milestone in Japan marking legal adulthood – XG member Cocona publicly shared on Instagram that they are transmasculine nonbinary and were assigned female at birth. They also revealed they had undergone top surgery earlier in the year. The news quickly gained international attention, and fellow XG member Jakops shared a supportive message on his personal account.

Cocona explained that her group, Simon and the other members, are deeply important to who she is. She shared that telling her roommate, Chisa, and then the group about something personal was really difficult. She questioned whether it was the right thing to do and if it truly reflected who she was. However, the members’ supportive response – telling her they still loved her and genuinely listening – was a turning point. It was hard to express what she was feeling, but their acceptance helped her realize she was doing the right thing and that it wasn’t wrong. Because of this, she wanted them involved in the process early on. Their unique perspective and support gave her the self-love she needed to continue on this path, and they understood in a way others didn’t.

While Hinata did Cocona’s makeup, Jurin took gentle, softly lit photos to announce something special. Cocona’s gaze was both gentle and strong, and a glimpse of a surgical scar was visible beneath a black blazer. They were holding a large, red dahlia.

They described wanting to evolve without losing touch with who they used to be, comparing it to the life cycle of a dahlia. The flower appears vibrant and strong, but knowing it will eventually fade felt like a fitting metaphor for a hidden, intense emotion—a passionate love held just beneath the surface. They felt this imagery powerfully represented both their personal journey and the essence of the group XG.

The journey to ‘The Core’

XG’s second EP, “Awe,” which came out in late 2024, marked their first appearance on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. Soon after, the group kicked off a world tour, giving them the opportunity to perform for their North American fans – who make up their largest audience outside of Japan – for the very first time.

The song “Howling,” the first track on the album “Awe,” marked a turning point for the group, imagining them as a modern, powerful wolf pack. Band member Chisa explains this imagery represents how their connection with their fanbase, known as “Alphaz,” has grown and changed.

The name ‘Alphaz’ itself is inspired by the idea of a wolf pack leader. In a way, the Alphaz and their fans have a reciprocal relationship – they guide each other forward. While their connection has always been there, it’s become much stronger over time.

During October, XG’s song “Gala” climbed into the Top 40 on U.S. radio stations, and its stylish music video became the number one trending video worldwide on YouTube. The group will also be hitting the road again for a second world tour to promote their new album, though dates for North America haven’t been announced yet.

The album cover, titled “The Core,” prominently displays a large Japanese character meaning “core” or “nucleus.” Jurin, the leader of XG, admits the title doesn’t translate easily into other languages.

The band achieved many long-held ambitions with this album, and they wanted to express those feelings through their music. They believe their fundamental identity was key to their success, and that’s reflected in the album’s wide range of musical styles, each representing a different part of who they are.

XG’s debut album stays true to their established style while also exploring some new sounds. Tracks like “Gala” and “Take My Breath” lean into dance and house music, creating a smooth and energetic vibe. “Hypnotize” introduces a more dreamy feel, which continues in the Doja Cat-influenced song “Up Now.” Before the holidays, they released the emotional ballad “4 Seasons” featuring Juria, Hinata, and Chisa, and the classic hip-hop track “PS 118” (Jurin also released a version with Rapsody). The album then takes an unexpected turn with the song “O.R.B. (Obviously Reads Bro).”

Harvey loves the energetic pop-punk song, and her unique, retro voice is a key part of what makes the group XG stand out.

We used swear words in our songs for the first time, and we wanted to be honest about how we were feeling. We’re trying to express a lot of inner emotions and be ourselves, without worrying about what other people think. It’s about living life the way we want to and enjoying it on our own terms.

As XG prepares to leave, Maya explains they want to maintain their current approach. They’re not focused on reaching for unrealistic goals, but rather on staying authentic, pursuing their passions, and continuing to enjoy what they do – and that’s what they want to do indefinitely.

2026-01-23 03:02

Read More