Global Girl Group XG Ushered In A New Era With Their Latest Single "Woke Up"

Imagine this: It's summer of 2023, and you hear the song "Left Right" playing everywhere. So much so that it's become permanently stuck in your head. If you can relate, then you already know the girls of XG (short for Xtraordinary Girls).

XG is a seven-member hip-hop/R&B girl group consisting of Jurin, Chisa, Harvey, Hinata, Juria, Maya, and Cocona. The first artists to debut under XGALX, their mission is to create a culture of bold creativity and empower young people to "listen to your heart, focus on your dreams, and have the strength to make them come true — without being limited by the opinions or judgments of others." And if you've listened to their music, you know that they've definitely stayed true to this mission.

After finding international success through their singles "LEFT RIGHT" and "Shooting Star," XG has returned with their newest single, "Woke Up," along with the news of a world tour.

So, BuzzFeed sat down with XG to chat about their latest release, their favorite part of this comeback, and more.

Congrats on your latest release, "Woke Up!" How are you feeling now that this single is available for the world to listen to?

From the beats to the imagery accompanying "Woke Up," it feels like a new start for XG. Can you tell us more about the track and the meaning behind it?

Cocona: "Woke Up" is XG’s first all-rap song — it has an unconventional style with an 808 bass combined with unique Northeast Asian sounds. We want listeners to feel a strong hip-hop quality through our rap performance. We believe this track really showcases our Xtraordinary vibe!

This is your fifth single — looking back on your journey as XG, how has the group evolved during your career?

Chisa: With each new concept that highlights XG's identity, I feel like our individual personalities and characters have started to shine!

Your powerful and unique sense of fashion and aesthetics is well-known by fans and listeners alike. What are your thoughts on the concept and aesthetics of this comeback?

Since the music video was released, it seems like fans are obsessed with Cocona shaving her head during the music video. Cocona, how does it feel to debut this new style?

Cocona: I've always wanted to shave my head, so I'm really happy to finally do something I've wanted for so long! There are many reasons why I wanted to shave my head, and I hope to convey each of those meanings through my performances and future work.

What do the other members think about Cocona’s shaved look?

Jurin: We think Cocona rocks the buzz cut better than anyone else in the world! From the moment Cocona mentioned wanting to try this hairstyle, hearing her reasons, and seeing how cool and true to herself she is, it's filled us with admiration. We hope she continues to stay true to herself!

Maya: I was there when Cocona shaved her head on set during the MV shoot. Seeing her do that made me so emotional in so many different ways. How brave she is to do that, and the confidence she had, as well as how cool she looked in that hairstyle still stuns me to this day.

A continued theme we’re seeing with XG is confidence and being unapologetically yourself. How do you stay confident in yourself?

Jurin: I try to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience and fearlessly tackle whatever I want to do. I believe having confidence and being true to oneself aren't things you can just decide to do; instead of worrying about that, I choose to trust my instincts and enjoy the moment. I think it's all about enjoying each moment as it comes!

Chisa: Feeling happy about the things I like and enjoy — and knowing that I'm the only one who can determine my own life — motivates me to challenge myself in whatever way I like and want.

Hinata: I think the mindset of "I am who I am" gives me courage. Also, when I discover things I love, it helps me to love myself even more!

Harvey: I believe the most important thing is to love yourself. By cherishing and loving this unique self that exists nowhere else in the world, I think it leads to believing in yourself ︎ No matter who you are, if you love yourself, I believe you'll receive lots of love from those around you!

Juria: Absolutely, loving myself just the way I am truly builds confidence within me! Loving yourself leads to believing in yourself and allows you to express your true self even more.

Maya: Never forget who I am as Maya and always have fun with what I’m doing. Always loving myself for who I am is what I think allows me to stay true to myself as well as be confident. We only have one life, so might as well live the best of it!!

Cocona: It's all about love and confidence! Believing in myself and cherishing what I want to do freely and joyfully at my own pace is important to me.

Each section of "Woke Up" is represented by different members and their accompanying rap. How does each member feel about their section and the meaning behind it?

Jurin: My introductory verse represents the emergence of "Woke Up" and what XG stands for, so as a leader, I was thrilled to sing that part. I particularly like the verse before the chorus because the choreography is really fun. I love how the wordplay, especially in lines like "Find me in Tokyo rappin’ a skirt," combines cuteness with a hip-hop vibe.

Chisa: My part overall has a sexy vibe, and I love lyrics like "fix my hair" and "makeup" because they represent me. The line "Make 'em bow down to the X, uh" at the end feels like a key part to me personally, as it encapsulates our strong determination to aim for the world!

Hinata: I love singing the catchy part in the chorus, "I'm cool just the way I woke up, so don't make me mad." It's got this relaxed yet assertive vibe that I really enjoy!

Harvey: In Verse 2, there's a lyric that goes, "You can call me Harvey, but I’m not your Barbie doll yeah," and it's where I rhyme with my name, creating a confident lyric. It's the part I can easily imagine, and every time I sing it, it fills my heart with passion ︎.

Juria: I love the chorus part where I sing, "Woke up lookin' like this." It feels bold yet carries a lot of meaning within it, which is something I really appreciate.

Maya: I like the "We all fam and stand tall now" because I feel like it showcases and delivers the strength and power that we have as a team and family. Whenever I rap this part, it gives me this feeling of confidence. :)

Cocona: I love Verse 2's rap! Especially the part where it goes, "Young queen but I act like an unnie (older sister)." It's catchy, cute, and a rap style we haven't seen much before, which I really like!

What was your favorite part of filming the music video?

Juria: There are many, but I loved the scene where I broke through the wall in my solo shot! We tried to minimize the use of CGI and used actual walls and cars in many scenes. That's why I think the dynamic shots turned out great!

You’re booked and busy with your world tour: The First Howl. What are you most excited about?

Your music videos are incredibly impressive and fun to watch. Do you ever take things from the set to remember the experience? What would you have liked to take with you?

Hinata: I'd love to take home the car used during Chisa-chan's solo shoot! I don't have a license, but it was customized and looked really cool, so I would’ve liked to take it home.

You performed "Woke Up" for the first time during your Osaka shows. What was it like being able to perform the song in front of fans?

Hinata: Since it hadn't been released yet before our Osaka shows, we were really looking forward to seeing everyone's reactions, so we put even more energy into our performance.

What are you looking forward to most when coming back to the US?

Chisa: The number one thing I'm looking forward to is meeting the Alphaz in the US. I'm also really excited to experience the scenery and the air there! I want to explore stylish cities where every photo looks amazing, try things I can only eat in the US, and have conversations in English!

Social media has been a big part of your journey, with your previous releases, "Left Right" and "Shooting Star," gaining mass popularity on TikTok. Do you ever watch the videos that fans post online?

Maya: I definitely do spend a lot of my free time watching videos online. I come across so many videos of our Alphaz covering our songs and dancing to them, and it makes me so happy to see fans cover them! And seeing the funny edits our Alphaz create never fails to make me laugh!

What is next for XG?

What does music mean to you?

Juria: Music is my life. Without music, I wouldn't be able to do anything, and I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Share a message to Alphaz and your listeners!

Harvey: Alphaz, thank you so much for always giving us a lot of energy! Let’s have a special journey together ︎this year. You guys are awesome︎, love you!

Writer's note: It would be remiss of me not to mention that Harvey added many hearts while responding to this question, no doubt to show how much love she has for Alphaz!

Thanks for sitting down with us, XG! Make sure to stream "Woke Up!" And if you can't get enough of XG, be sure to follow them on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.