Don’t Sleep on XG’s Cosmic Head In The Clouds Performance
Written by Daphne Bryant
All images courtesy of Head In The Clouds and XG
Let me set the scene: the sky has darkened in Pasadena and the crowd at Head In The Clouds is teeming with restless, excited energy. That’s because it’s time for global group XG’s cosmic and highly anticipated—set. The stage lights up in vibrant colors and rock music from an epic live band fills your ears. XG members Cocona, Jurin, Harvey, Maya, Chisa, Hinata and Juria, appear one after the other. Their silhouettes come to life on different platforms as they address an audience of over 30,000 people with a new, sing-rapping monologue all about their journey and impact. At that moment, one thing is clear: if you aren’t already a fan of XG, you are going to be by the end of this performance.
“Who’s still sleeping on XG, I guess it’s time to wake them up again!” - Cocona
I’ve been obsessed with XG (Xtraordinary Genes) for years now. The vocal group hails from Japan and promotes under the self-coined, global genre of X-Pop—their official discography is performed entirely in English, and supplementary content such as their mixtapes are recorded in English, Japanese and Korean. After spending approximately five years training between Japan and South Korea, the group debuted on March 18, 2022 with the digital single“ Tippy Toes.” Since then, XG has taken the world by storm. They’ve released banger after banger, performed at festivals like HITC and Coachella, gone on world tours and broken boundaries with everything from their music video visual effects to their unwavering support for transmasc nonbinary member Cocona.
Apart from being powerhouses in all areas including rap, vocals, dance, fashion and face card, XG sets themselves apart with a hyper-futuristic“ outer space” concept and deep respect for Black American R&B, hip-hop, pop-punk, and dance. It is no wonder they’ve grown to be so popular, and the best part is: they’re even more mesmerizing in person. Every time I’ve seen XG live, I have genuinely ascended. True to form, their August 8th performance at Head In The Clouds was nothing short of spectacular.
XG kicked things off with an alt-rock version of“ WOKE UP”; it was a bold choice for a rap-driven track, and the gritty guitar riffs and heavy percussion created a striking contrast against each member’s distinct flow. Celestial images swept across the background screens, seamlessly blending their aesthetic with unadulterated attitude. Next up on the setlist was“ GRL GVNG” and“ UNDEFEATED”, which brought the same high-intensity energy and cinematic grandeur as their opener. And girllll—let it be known that those mics were ON!
When“ ROCK THE BOAT” (a fun homage to Aaliyah) came on, the vibe immediately shifted.“ ROCK THE BOAT” is an upbeat R&B and pop track, and the acoustic elements really shined in this live performance—as opposed to the recording. Group chemistry was also evident, and with the slow-down in tempo you could really take in all of their outfits. Chisa stunned in a studded neon green bra, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Jurin’s hot pink tutu. I also loved Juria’s outfit—she wore a crown headband and had asked her stylist to give her a“ princess look”. If you need outfit inspo for Dreamworldgirl’s FANTASY launch parties on August 29th, look no further.
Strange alien sounds filled the air after“ ROCK THE BOAT”’s ending, transitioning the group into“ NO GOOD”, a smooth track with a 2000s R&B groove. The song explores the push-and-pull of modern romance, and it’s another one that sounds even better live.
XG’s band played an ambient version of the“ PS118” intro as the vocal subgroup left the stage and the rappers moved into their positions. For this song, Harvey donned a bedazzled hat with pins and buttons—which gave me major Janet Jackson vibes.
Personally,“ PS118” is one of my favorite XG songs because of its old-school hip-hop beat and all of the space-themed motifs. All I could think was that XG looked totally in their element, so confident and comfortable on stage. They are a group that genuinely gets lost in the music, while still maintaining a relationship with the audience and keeping them engaged.
Next up on the setlist was“ GALA”, a high-fashion and high-energy anthem that fuses hyperpop, rap, and runway-inspired voguing. The chorus“ I just turned the Met Gala into an X-GALA” pretty much sums up XG’s M.O.: they’re not following trends, they’re setting them.
I am really glad XG went with a live band; the instrumentalists transformed their discography, and in“ GALA”, a dirty bassline gave the song a more funky vibe. The choreography in“ GALA” is also insane: I waited in anticipation for Harvey’s iconic split in the second verse, which, as always, made the crowd go wild. Everyone around me was dancing, and supposedly“ GALA” was the most Shazam-ed song of the day. Can’t say I’m surprised; who doesn’t love a diva anthem? When the song ended, the members broke off into an unapologetically ballroom segment with heavy queer themes:“ Be wild, be free, be whoever you want to be” said Harvey, starting them off. That mantra stuck with me for the rest of the night. I kept thinking about how grateful I am to live in a time where an openly queer idol like Cocona can perform on a stage like this, surrounded by their fellow members and bathed in love and joy.“ SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” , a similar upbeat song with a UK-garage rhythm and Whitney Houston references, came immediately after and naturally: I was still in the mood to dance!
Speaking of queer rep, my eyes lit up when Cocona changed one of their lines from“ Yeah, I figured you out boy” to“ Yeah, I figured you out girl.” It’s a small shift, one they’ve been making for the past few months or so, but it means a lot to me. This was definitely the gayest moment at HITC, and I was living for it.
At the end of the song, all seven members held hands, raised them high, and glided to the front of the stage before breaking into a coordinated groove. They cheerily introduced themselves to the crowd before transitioning into“ HYPNOTIZE”, with its 90s-inspired techno-house melodies. A stunning dance break followed as the stage became bathed in magenta.
When“ TAKE MY BREATH” started up, I knew we were deep in the dance portion of their set! XG really knows how to get a crowd up and moving. Even if you didn’t know the lyrics, the infectious beat and the members’ infectious energy was enough to change lives. Halfway through the song came…ANOTHER FUCKING DANCE BREAK—this time with choreography that had only been performed once before! The camera followed the members up-close, starting with Jurin and Juria, splitting off to Maya and Cocona, then Harvey and Chisa and finally Hinata, who lifted her head at just the right moment to make it look like the smoke in the background was coming straight from her mouth. It was fierce, and it was epic. I screamed my little butt off.
Up next was“ IYKYK”, another dance-track that samples the legendary m-flo’s“ Prism”. I love, love, love this song and how it simultaneously sounds nostalgic and futuristic. Honestly, that seems to be the thorough line in all of XG’s work. They pay clever homage to the greats that came before while reimagining classic genres for a new generation.
At the 38 minute mark of the set, it was time to slow things down with a performance of“ 4 SEASONS” by XG’s vocal line—consisting of Hinata, Chisa and Juria. Sitting pretty on an elevated part of the stage, each girl serenaded the ocean of fans and combined their voices to create chill-inducing harmonies. The acoustic ballad came at just the right time, allowing everyone in the audience to reflect:“ We wanted it to be a song that brings back memories and time by listening to it,” said Chisa in an interview on The Zach Sang Show. Originally released on Christmas Eve as the perfect holiday track, XG recontextualized“ 4 SEASONS” for a bittersweet summer moment. This was one of my favorite parts of the whole show.
A Mars-like landscape of a distant planet lit by a red moon flooded the screens as XG quickly prepped for the next song:“ IS THIS LOVE.” I was excited to hear this specific mix, which was a stripped down piano version paired with a live band version. The slower start and string instrumental really broke down and centered the lyrics, which explore the emotional rush and vulnerability of falling in love while questioning the reality and depth of those sudden feelings. As is customary for live performances of“ IS THIS LOVE”, XG danced with red roses and served adorable rom-com angst.
Before moving on to their final three songs, XG took the time to thank the audience and everyone that had made the show possible, as well as hyped up their phenomenal band.“ Alright, let’s go to space!” Chisa shouted, propelling the group into one of their massive breakout hits: an electrifying arrangement of“ LEFT RIGHT”. This is a song I know by heart, down to every single ad-lib and move.“ LEFT RIGHT” is what first led me to XG, and hearing it live like this was such a full-circle moment that almost had me in tears. Looking around at the thousands of people singing along, I realized just how far they’ve come since those early days.
Next up was“ O.R.B (Obviously Reads Bro)”, which is a pop-punk and rock-influenced track that pokes fun at“ bro culture” while celebrating loyalty and camaraderie. I love“ O.R.B” because it channels the wild nostalgia of early school days for both millennials and Gen Z, and just further shows off XG’s versatility. Just when you think you can stick them into a musical box, they start headbanging and rocking the fuck out.
XG wrapped up their set with“ SHOOTING STAR”, a breakout hit that was released at the same time as“ LEFT RIGHT.” It was a euphoric finale, a glittering, feel-good anthem that had the entire crowd floating on cloud nine. XG’s angelic vocals, radiant smiles and galactic visuals lit up the stage, and lyrics like“ just know that XG is going all the way” felt more relevant than ever.
Out of this world doesn’t even begin to describe this HITC performance. From start to finish, XG delivered a versatile masterclass in live performance. Their charisma shone through every genre shift, whether they were performing explosive rap cyphers or intimate ballads. In my opinion, XG are the ultimate idols. They don’t just perform, they create experiences for the audience, bringing them into their world, even if just for a moment. Alphaz and new fans alike walked away in awe, with the reminder that XG is the standard.
