XG Takes Centre Stage: Their Long-Awaited First Full Album ‘THE CORE – 核’ Is Finally Here!

The time has finally come.

XG has stepped into the centre of the universe with the release of their first-ever full-length album, “THE CORE – 核”, out today. Marking a defining milestone in the group’s evolution, the album arrives alongside the premiere of the official music video for its lead track “HYPNOTIZE”.

Arriving on the heels of their redefinition from “Xtraordinary Girls” to “Xtraordinary Genes”, “THE CORE – 核” is a statement piece that cuts beyond trends and surface aesthetics, carving directly into XG’s deepest essence. Featuring a total of 10 tracks, the album includes previously released songs such as “GALA” and “4 SEASONS”, presenting a cohesive body of work that foregrounds identity, intent, and musical integrity.

The lead single “HYPNOTIZE” is a house-driven track that blends ethereal soundscapes with rhythmic piano lines. Built around themes of fascination and hypnosis, the song draws listeners into an immersive experience that drifts between reality and dreams. Like sinking into the deepest ocean, the track pulls audiences toward the very centre of the album, positioning “HYPNOTIZE” as both a sonic and conceptual gateway into “THE CORE – 核”.

The newly released music video visualises the world of “THE CORE”, depicting a journey toward XG’s deepest inner realm. Using the deep sea as a metaphor for places unreachable by humans, the video expresses a profound internal universe hidden beneath the surface. While XG’s past works often explored the vastness of space, the deep sea presented here mirrors that same sense of the unknown, further emphasising the mysterious and essential qualities the group continues to pursue.

The video opens by drawing viewers in through the members’ gaze and voices, before gradually descending into deeper layers of consciousness in sync with the music. Spiral motifs recur throughout, visually amplifying the sensation of surrendering to the sound and heightening immersion. Underwater scenes intensify the hypnotic atmosphere, enhancing the cinematic impact and reinforcing the album’s core themes.

Earlier today, XG also appeared on Korea’s popular music programme MUSIC BANK, where they performed “HYPNOTIZE” for the first time, commanding attention with a powerful stage presence.

With “THE CORE – 核”, XG enters a new chapter, evolving from “Xtraordinary Girls” into “Xtraordinary Genes”, a shift that reflects the group’s sharpened identity and essential energy. This momentum continues beyond music: on 18 January, XG was officially named ambassador for the FIFA World Cup Japan, further cementing their growing global presence.

XG will launch their second world tour, XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE, beginning with three shows at K-Arena Yokohama on 6 February. Spanning Japan and extending across Asia, North America, the UK and Europe, Australia, Latin America and more, the tour signals the next phase of XG’s worldwide ascent.

With “THE CORE – 核”, XG does more than release an album. The group defines its nucleus, sets its trajectory, and stands firmly at the centre of its own universe.

About “THE CORE – 核”
XG’s first full album “THE CORE – 核” is a declaration etched with the group’s deepest essence. Moving beyond trends and ornamentation, it focuses on the fundamental roots of sound and existence.

The album travels freely across genre boundaries, connecting eras and spaces in a single musical journey. Yet at the center of every transformation lies XG’s unshakable identity and singular energy.

“THE CORE – 核” is itself a manifesto for the new genre XG creates: X-POP. Built on the belief that good music holds value in and of itself, the album expresses a true musical voyage that transcends time, space, and convention.

This work captures XG at their most honest, while also serving as a powerful starting point toward limitless future possibilities.

About XG
XG (Xtraordinary Genes) is a seven-member artist group consisting of JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA.

Unbound by innate attributes or predefined frameworks, XG unleashes the power and creativity that lie within each individual’s core. By continuously creating new culture without being constrained by convention, XG seeks to empower people across the world from all walks of life.

They debuted in March 2022 with their first single “Tippy Toes.” Since then, they’ve achieved a series of global milestones, including becoming the first Japanese artist ever to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s “Hot Trending Songs Powered by Twitter” weekly chart and appearing on the cover of Billboard magazine. Their second mini album, “AWE,” released in November 2024, marked their first-ever entry on the U.S. Billboard album chart, the Billboard 200. Beginning in 2024, they launched their first world tour, “XG 1st WORLD TOUR ‘The first HOWL,’” holding 47 shows across 35 cities and drawing approximately 400,000 attendees. At the tour’s final show at Tokyo Dome on May 14, 2025, they captivated a crowd of around 50,000. At the “Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,” one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., held in April 2025, they were the only Japanese artist to perform, headlined the Sahara stage, and received high acclaim from media in Japan and overseas. On January 23, 2026, they will release their first full album, “THE CORE – 核,” and from February, they will embark on their second world tour, “XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE.”