XG: Japanese Girl Band Making Waves in Korea and Beyond

These girls are Japanese; they are based in South Korea; they sing in English; and they are making waves across the globe.

As a key component of “A New Breed Breaking Boundaries,” the burgeoning XG aims to tear down norms and preconceived notions, instill fresh attitudes via ingenuity, and share with youths everywhere the value of focusing on what matters, pursuing dreams head-on, and having the fortitude to see them through.

Their engaging music and style mirror that, that persists in pushing limits. It all began in January last year via their social media accounts. Following the release of a plethora of rap and song teaser videos over the next few weeks, XG’s dance solo clips gained a steady stream of followers.

Hip-hop and R&B primarily drive XG: Jurin, Chisa, Harvey, Hinata, Juria, Maya, and Cocona, who released their first single, “Tippy Toes,” in March 2022 through XGALX, a worldwide entertainment production label that fosters artists with distinctive perspectives and brings the world to avant-garde culture.

Their second single, “Mascara,” came out in June of the same year, and “Shooting Star,” the third, dropped on January 25, 2023. “XG” is an acronym for “Xtraordinary Girls,” which signifies its commitment to unique content, inspiring people from every walk of life through its concerts and distinct musical palettes.

During the band’s interview with Billboard, its executive producer, Park Simon Junho, said that the group aims to offer music and performances that resonate with audiences globally, transcend genres, and convey a universal message.

Recently, the septet staged their first solo audience live “XG ‘New DNA’ Showcase in Japan” on November 26. Their January single, “Left Right,” was chosen for Rolling Stone‘s “100 Best Songs of 2023,” placing them as the sole Japanese act on the list at position 77. The song has an R&B vibe to it, with elements like synth raps that are addictive, powerful bass, trap beats, hit-hats, and repeated loops. The music video features a lavish presentation with settings and costumes reminiscent of the 1970s and 1990s in a space travel theme.

With their 13-week run on the U.S. radio chart “Mediabase Top 40 Radio Airplay,” XG made a record earlier this year as the first Japanese female artist and group to be ranked.  It underscored XG’s enormous appeal on a global scale as it secured its place as the longest-running Asian girl group on the chart.

Per Luminate, XG has exceeded 625 million on-demand streams and has maintained exponentially increasing playlist streams in recent times. In Spotify‘s recently unveiled “2023 Wrapped,” XG further revealed their worldwide success by coming in third in “Most Played Overseas by a Domestic Artist” and sixth and seventh in “Most Played Track Overseas by Domestic Artists” for the tracks “Shooting Star” and “Left and Right.”
XG’s upcoming release, “Winter Without You,” is an R&B-infused song that fits the winter vibe. It will be available on December 8th, along with a music video that also premieres on the same day.

Read our prior interview with XG to learn more about their music, including their perspectives on hip-hop, R&B, and their then-released song “Mascara,” besides what sets them apart here.