Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19
XG Releases 'The Core,' Sets 1st UK Wembley Arena Show for September
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19

XG Releases 'The Core,' Sets 1st UK Wembley Arena Show for September

1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19

Summary

  • XG paired the release of new album "The Core" with plans for their first UK headline show at Wembley Arena in September, extending a year-long world tour.
  • The seven-member group says the album marks an identity and sound shift, replacing the "Xtraordinary Girls" meaning of XG with "Xtraordinary Genes" and leaning into self-acceptance after Cocona came out as transmasculine and non-binary in December.
  • Musically, "The Core" moves beyond the 90s R&B of XG's early EPs into ballroom, house and rock influences, with tracks such as "Gala," "Hypnotise" and "O.R.B" framing that broader direction.
  • The release caps a long climb that began with a 6-year training system after members were scouted in 2016; since debuting in 2022, XG have built global momentum that included a Coachella slot in 2025 as the lineup's only Japanese act.

Insights

How will XG’s 'Xtraordinary Genes' message reshape the traditionally conservative landscape of East Asian pop music?
Is XG's embrace of authenticity a true industry revolution or the ultimate marketing strategy for a global audience?