XG have always resisted definition. Be it through their genre-blending mix of pulsing EDM, seductive R&B and mesmeric house beats or their sci-fi coded visuals, the Japanese septet – composed of Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, Maya, and Cocona – evoke interdimensional realms in their music, drawing listeners in with their siren-like voices.  

It all stems from an approach that has always been both transnational and personal, leading XG to position themselves as a ‘global act’ rather than confined to J-Pop or K-Pop. After five years of intensive training under the label XGALX, travelling between Japan and South Korea, the group debuted in 2022 with their first digital single “Tippy Toes”, and much of their early promotion took place in the K-pop sphere. Their repertoire, however, is fully in English – though they haven’t ruled out exploring other languages – and their sound is referred to as ‘X-pop’, meant to reflect the kaleidoscope of artistic influences that inspire them.

This strategy is the brainchild of XGALX’s CEO and XG’s main producer, Simon Junho Park, professionally known as Jakops, who wanted to nurture a group “that prioritises its own standards over fleeting trends, external expectations, or the ‘numbers and formulas’ often used to define success”, as he puts it. “When I first envisioned XG, I wasn’t simply trying to create a group that could succeed globally,” Jakops explains. “On a more fundamental level, I wanted to build a team with an identity that belongs nowhere, yet resonates anywhere.“

With that came a capacity to reimagine their universe time and again, a pursuit XG have deepened with their recent name change, announced on January 12, from Xtraordinary Girls to Xtraordinary Genes. This shift is about greater personal maturity, which underpins their first full-length album, The Core, released last month. It is also influenced in part by the group’s 20-year-old rapper Cocona publicly embracing their gender identity last December, sharing that they are “AFAB [assigned female at birth] transmasculine nonbinary“ and revealing that they had recently undergone top surgery.

From the cosmic, hybrid dance compositions of “Gala” and “Take My Breath” to the rebellious pop-punk bite of “O.R.B. (Obviously Reads Bro)”, the ten-track record is huge: a harmonious collision of genres that hits the listener with full force. Case in point is lead single “Hypnotize”, which XG describe as a “swirling hypno-disco illusion” in the lyrics. "It captures the feeling of your body moving naturally, as if guided by the ticking of the clock, and before you know it, you have completely surrendered yourself to XG’s rhythm,” Hinata says. “Hypnosis is a power born from confidence and being true to yourself, and it is your belief and energy that become the strongest magic.”

Ahead of the group embarking on their second world tour, XG discuss their new era, their respective favourite tracks on the project, and Cocona’s recent gender announcement.

XG is a group which defines its identity as “limitless.“ How do you balance this range with staying true to yourselves?

Maya: It’s simply about what we want to do at that moment. Whether it’s fashion, concepts, or the message we want to send to the audience, we each have a lot we really want to do. We keep that in mind every single time we release a song, and that’s what makes XG, XG. A lot of what [we try] to challenge is new. We all have our different characteristics and personalities, and that comes out really well in the music videos. Also, our producer, Simon, always listens to what we want to try, [which] really helps us to break the boundaries.

You’re beginning a new chapter with your name change to Xtraordinary Genes, with the release of The Core as the first step. What has remained the same or what feels different? 

Hinata: I think there are certain things that won’t change, like what we have at our core. That hasn’t changed since we first started working together as a unit. But we’ve grown over the years, and as we continue to understand what XG really is, we’ll be able to show even more what that real version of us looks like. So I believe there’s going to be a lot of growth in this next chapter.

And what ambitions are you most eager to pursue? 

Chisa: For XG, the music we make is something we want, in some way, to change history, and we’re seeking a reason why we’ve come onto this scene, what we’re going to do, and what we’ll leave behind. In some cases, it’s about giving courage to people, or helping them see their dreams and what they’re able to chase, or being a sanctuary so they feel like it’s a safe space. 

The Core has been described as “the most honest portrait of who XG is today.” What personal message did each of you want to share with listeners? 

Harvey: We have all turned 20 now, so we’re all, by Japanese standards, adults. I think this idea of us maturing and growing comes through in the lyrics, the melody and our music videos, and the visual expression is something we want to show the world. In addition, the different types of love that exist, including romance and the emotional journey [that comes with it.] I think we’re now at a point where we can speak to audiences in a way that resonates with them and feels more relatable. This is all part of what we think the new XG is, and we want people to see it, enjoy it, and also show the world that we’re now adults and have grown. 

Chisa: To add to that, I think this album isn’t confined to any one genre or style, which is why it’s so representative of XG. Each track represents our individual thoughts, but at the same time, the album as a whole has this [sense of] unity, which was very important to us. Also, until now, we focused more on self-love and self-confidence, but now we’re shifting into a new phase, and we want to tell our listeners, ‘This is what makes us attractive, and this is what enchants people.’

One of the album's singles, “GALA“, celebrates self-expression. While each of you brought your own personal vision to your outfits in the video, were there any fashion choices that pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Harvey: The costumes we have in the music video are something only we can express. For example, if you look at my costume or what Maya wears, it gives off a completely different taste and vibe, and that’s because we all have a strong identity and a unique vision. We all just thought about, ‘this is the style that I want to approach, this is the shape, and this is the message we want to convey through our wardrobe.'

We talked to the company about that a lot, then they helped develop these different looks with the stylist. Ultimately, what that did was give us a wardrobe that, if we were invited to a gala or a fashion show, would be a version of what we would wear when we walked down the runway. It really showcases our individuality.

"I started to notice that my internal self and the self I was projecting to the outside world were forming a gap. Over time, it became more and more painful."

Turning to the main track, “Hypnotize”, what thoughts or memories helped you bring the song’s essence to life in the recording booth?

Chisa: We really wanted to pull the audience into XG’s world through the atmosphere we create, and the bass has a techno-house sound that also includes piano. But in the end, I think it’s really about showing XG’s confidence and the way we hypnotise the audience. There are lyrics that talk about how we carve through time and how a single gaze can pull you in, but once listeners are in our world, they almost let their bodies flow and give themselves up to the music. That's what “Hypnotize“ is meant to do.

We'd done some house-type sounds before, but the first time we heard the demo still felt incredibly new, and I think there’s a freshness we can really express through our performances. All seven of us thought, ‘Wow, this is it. This is going to be our lead track.’

Say you’re talking to someone who’s just getting to know XG. Which song from the album would you choose as your personal introduction, and why do you feel it best shows who you really are?

Jurin: “GALA“. From the way it’s presented to the texture of the sound and the performance, everything about [this song] feels free and effortlessly cool. Because it’s a song packed with the core idea of not fitting into a mould and staying true to who I am.

Hinata: “4 Seasons“. I love how the emotions shift and change.

Juria: [For me it’s] “Hypnotize“. It’s a song that carries both strength and fragility, and parts of it really resonate with me.

Cocona: It’s “GALA“. 'If you don’t get it, that’s not my problem.' I think that line captures my feelings right now better than anything.

Cocona, revealing your gender identity was a groundbreaking moment, particularly within the context of the Japanese and Korean entertainment industries. What was it like to open up about this?

Cocona: For me, it’s really the message and the core of XG – how everything feels so real, and how you’re supposed to be able to love yourself just the way you are. And I started to notice that my internal self and the self I was projecting to the outside world were forming a gap. Over time, it became more and more painful, but it was really hard for me to express myself, and I realised that it was something I couldn’t solve on my own. So I talked to the other members and Simon, and everyone said, ‘Well, Cocona, if that’s how you’re feeling, then you should really be yourself.’ That process helped me so much and gave me a lot of confidence.

At the time, it was really about me trying to understand myself and express that to the world. There wasn’t much in my mind about whether it would give strength to others or give them a reason to come out. But after I dropped that post, I got so many messages from people saying, ‘I’m in a similar situation, and your words really, really saved me. I’m so happy.‘ That’s my message and XG’s message. Everything that came from that made me really happy, and it also gave me the confidence to go through with it.

These past few years have been a whirlwind for XG – from headlining the Sahara Stage at Coachella to performing at the Tokyo Dome, and more. Was there a particular moment that made you think, ‘I want more’? 

Maya: I think the Tokyo Dome was one of the biggest stages we’ve ever performed on as a group, and performing in a dome was one of our biggest dreams – it even happened in our hometown, Tokyo. Personally, I realised that we were finally at the point where we could move forward, and it felt like another starting line, like, ‘this is where it all begins, and from here is where we all evolve as a group.‘

Jurin: The Tokyo Dome performance really encapsulated everything we’ve done throughout our careers. Coachella, as well, was a huge goal for all of us. When we stood on the stage at Coachella, there was this moment of, ‘We’re finally here, we’ve made it,’ but at the same time, it gave me more to strive for, like, ‘let’s go on an even bigger stage’.