Hip hop/R&B-inspired girl group XG made their debut appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2025, one of the largest music festivals in the US, on April 13th. Headlined by Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone, XG was announced as a second headliner, making history as the only Japanese artist to perform at this year’s event.
On April 13th, XG closed the day as the final act on the SAHARA STAGE, a venue that holds over 10,000 attendees. The group made a stunning debut in custom-designed Coachella ensembles, opening with “HESONOO + X-GENE” from their debut mini album NEW DNA. The energy soared when their viral all-rap single “WOKE UP” – which dominated the Global Japan Songs (excl. Japan) chart for nine consecutive weeks and topped YouTube’s trending charts in 19 territories – sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The performance continued with the groundbreaking “GRL GVNG“, the first song by a Japanese artist to top Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart, and featured a dynamic chair routine that captivated the audience.
Additional highlights included “LEFT RIGHT“, recognised as the first song by a Japanese girl group to chart on US Mediabase Top 40 Radio Airplay for 13 consecutive weeks – a record for an Asian girl group. XG also delivered a mesmerising performance of their new single “IN THE RAIN“, featuring 10 dancers whose precision and power captivated the audience. The recently premiered music video opens with a striking scene of JURIA closing an umbrella in the rain at night, then artfully shifts to depict each member in isolated settings that gradually converge into a powerful symbol of unity against a greyscale backdrop exuding timeless elegance.
The final segment of XG’s set featured a string of high-energy tracks, including “TGIF“, “PUPPET SHOW” and “IYKYK” culminating in a climactic moment with their viral Shiseido Anessa campaign song “IS THIS LOVE“. The group closed the night with “NEW DANCE” and “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” before delivering a sensational grand finale with the hit song “SHOOTING STAR“.
The 13-song setlist, enhanced by live band arrangements and exclusive choreography, kept the audience immersed in an unrelenting wave of excitement. XG left behind an electrified crowd – a resounding testament to the immense success of their Coachella debut. The group will return on April 20th for their second-week performance at Coachella.
XG is currently on their first world tour, XG 1st WORLD TOUR – The First HOWL, which spans 35 cities across 18 countries and regions, with a total of 47 shows. The tour, which kicked off in Japan in May 2024, has seen overwhelming demand with upcoming stops in São Paulo, Mexico City and Seattle, culminating in a highly anticipated finale at Tokyo Dome on May 14th. On the same day as the Tokyo Dome concert, XG will also release their new single “MILLION PLACES“.
