Within three years of releasing its first single, Rising Global Girl XG worked on Coachella to help end the festival in the Sahara Tent. Members Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, Maya, and Cocona delivered an electrifying set that spanned their discography from fan-favorite tracks like “LEFT RIGHT” and “IS THIS LOVE,” which had a viral moment due to their “Glitch Dance,” to powerful all-rap anthem “WOKE UP,” which shows XG's strengths as rappers.
Despite being one of the last performances of two weekend shows, XG attracted a bunch of people, with fans chanting “XG! XG! XG!” with their autographs, edgy fashion and makeup look before members took the stage. They always bring something out of the box on stage, a task that stems from their tag Xgalx that makes their performance really visible.
The group is currently completing their first world tour, called the First How To Call, which begins in 2024 at their Japanese base and spreads throughout Europe, South America and the United States in Asia, Europe and North America, and packs the grand plans for the tour on May 14 on Tokyo Dome, and will be played in new music on May 14. The track draws inspiration from XG’s journey across the globe on the Global Tour and reflects the love they have gained from fan Alphaz.
XG and Rolling stones To think about the journey so far, dive into the reasons why they are “Xtraillinary” and share their goals for the future.
What was your reaction when you heard you were performing in Coachella?
Hinata: At first we couldn't believe it - we were all frozen, like, "Wait, what?" It was a stage of dreams for us, so it was a surprise that the fact that we were able to stand on it early on was just a surprise, we were just filled with happiness.
Do you remember who the first person you found was?
Hinata: I wanted to surprise my family, so when the announcement was announced, I received a lot of news - to be honest, they were so shocked!
What did you know about Coachella in Japan before?
cocoa: Every year, we always set aside time to watch Coachella's performance. We have watched the main stage performances, but since this time we performed on the Sahara stage, we have also gone back to watch the past performances of that stage.
What was your impression of the festival before, and what was your impression of it yourself now?
cocoa: I didn't go in person, so it was very challenging to prepare based on my imagination. Once we actually arrive, we realize how much the winds can change every day - it can get strong - and the air is very dry, which in many ways becomes difficult.
So how about it? I remember the wind was crazy in the first week, especially in the "rain".
cocoa: It was tough to perform in such a different environment, but it also taught us a lot and it turned out to be an incredible experience. I want to learn everything from it and keep moving forward with more growth!
Are there any challenges or surprises when preparing for your scenario?
Zhu Lin: I think this is the most challenging time we have ever faced - from last minute list changes to editing and adding audio and tweaking outfits.
You absolutely never know what will happen to a big show like this, especially in unique environments like Coachella. Another thing about the festival is that you have the opportunity to attract audiences who may not yet be familiar with your music. What do you hope people who don’t know XG will think of after watching the show?
Harvey: We would be very happy if the visual and auditory effects made them think we were an alien of seven. (Smile). We hope they can feel the bond that brings us together, witness the power of unity, and see how we really love music - we hope fans can share with us and resonate with us!
If you had to describe XG as a group in three words, what would they be and why?
jury: Just like our name XG (Xtraillinary Girls), "Xtraorrinary". I believe our style is to make our own path without being bound by norms, standards or common sense. "Alien" - When you think of XG, I think "Alien" will definitely come to mind. We have always believed in them since we were students and we really want to see them! There are no restrictions on aliens - they can do nothing, which makes them the strongest in my eyes. I want to be the same as them. (laugh.) and "wolf". Our unity and collective strength are like wolves. We always move as one person, support each other and help each other - this kind of teamwork really reminds me of the wolf!
How has your teamwork grown over the past few years for performances and moving?
nest: Over the past year, on our world tours, we naturally began gathering more frequently for meetings and had more opportunities to talk about each other’s strengths and roles in the group. I do feel that our bonds are getting stronger and stronger, and our teamwork has improved a lot.
What does your members mean to you?
nest: For me, my members are like people who know me as much as I know myself – I think that’s one of the biggest strengths we all have with each other. We are like a real family, like sisters - always together, whether we are having fun, feeling frustrated or in between. I can confidently say that I understand their happiness and pain better than anyone else. They are the people I have connected with in my life now. They are pure love... I love you very much! (Smile).
You fly to Seattle between Weekend 1 and Weekend 2 in Coachella for a tour - how do you stay energetic on such a busy schedule?
jury: I think it’s very important to refresh yourself by doing shopping or enjoying delicious local food!
Are there any interesting memories so far?
jury: The next day at Coachella, we all went to In-N-Out Burger - it was so nice, I was seriously weeping about its deliciousness. (laugh.) We also do a lot of shopping at Sephora!
Now that you've performed in Coachella, what goals do you have, individuals or groups? I know you'll have a Tokyo Dome show soon, it's so exciting!
Hinata: We have many goals! top Billboard The Hot 100 performed on the main stage of Coachella and won the Grammy Award - we wanted to achieve too many dreams. But most importantly, we want to enjoy the journey and use our music and performance to bring courage and love to people around the world!
What have you learned in your career since your debut? Whether it’s technical skills or your knowledge about yourself.
cocoa: Of course, other people’s opinions and assessments are important, but the most important thing is not. What really matters is our dreams and goals. "What do we want to achieve as XG? What do we want to leave in this world?" I think it's really important to stay core and keep that mindset every day.
I also feel more and more important communication. In the past, most of our communication was just between members and producer Simon, but now we have a larger team and so many employees, we have been working on how to share ideas more effectively and effectively. We have been learning and adjusting how to communicate to keep everything going smoothly.
There is a lot to learn every day. Although it can be challenging at times, I’m really happy to be in an environment where we can continue to grow and learn.
Looking ahead, what areas do you want to develop in the future?
Maya: I want to develop many areas in the future. As a group and individual. I don't think there's a time when I feel 100% satisfied with my performance, but I don't see it as a negative thing because no one is perfect and there will always be improvements. This is completely normal. That's why I like being honest with myself and making sure I have time to reflect.
Every day is a new day because there are always many different things to learn. I want to challenge myself to do new things and learn so that I can grow and do better in the future!