Earlier this year, XG, a group of young women, performed their first international show in New York at Forest Hills Stadium during the Head in the Clouds music festival. Despite being relatively new, the group received a warm welcome from the packed stadium and the crowd chanted their name as they took the stage. Reflecting on their New York performance and subsequent appearance at the festival in Los Angeles, the members of XG expressed gratitude for the support they received. XG, whose members range from 17 to 21 years old, will be headlining Billboard the Stage at South by Southwest Sydney at the Hordern Pavilion on October 20.
Six months prior to their international debut, XG gained attention with their viral “Galz Xypher” cypher clips on social media. The clips showcased the group’s talent for rap in English, Japanese, and Korean, and garnered millions of views on YouTube and TikTok. XG consists of four rappers, Cocona, Maya, Harvey, and Jurin, as well as vocalists Juria, Chisa, and Hinata. Despite being trained in K-pop’s style, XG’s music is sung entirely in English and combines R&B, hip-hop, and dance genres. The group is part of XGALX, a project under the Avex record label, and aims to create global hits and help Japanese acts thrive in the mainstream music world.
Since their debut in March 2022, XG has achieved significant success with over 637 million views on their YouTube channel, the launch of their official fan club, ALPHAZ, performances at major festivals including the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the release of their debut mini-album, NEW DNA. XG distinguishes themselves as a new category of music called X-pop, which challenges traditional paradigms both in terms of lyrics and visuals. They aim to transcend boundaries and deliver a message that can be enjoyed by people from all over the world. XG’s executive producer, Park “Simon” Junho, who has a background in both Japanese and Korean cultures, played a pivotal role in the group’s training and music production. XG prioritizes building a global audience and has intentionally released music in English, despite it not being the members’ first language. They aim to fuse multiple influences while still honoring their origins and respecting the legacy of senior musicians.
