“This album expresses our very essence and fully engages with the core of our music,” XG’s HARVEY tells Apple Music about the group’s first full-length album, THE CORE. Since their debut in 2022, XG has embodied what has come to be known as X-pop, a sound that’s neither K-pop nor J-pop and instead forges a completely uncharted path. The impulse to shape that sound is what binds the group together, and is the driving force that propels them as they take on the world. It’s also the reason behind the album’s diverse range of musical styles. “Even as we move back and forth across genres and eras, XG’s identity is always at the center,” HINATA tells Apple Music. “It’s unmistakably XG.” At the same time, the group has been steadily growing and evolving as well, as CHISA points out: “Each member’s individuality comes through distinctly, and our sense of unity as a team is stronger than ever. Each song has a different color, but they all connect through the idea of ‘returning to the core.’ Energy, emotions, attitude, and inner states all unfold as one story.” The album opens with the dreamy instrumental track “XIGNAL (The Intro),” which positively brims with anticipation, before pulling listeners into a dazzling new world with the celebratory mood of “GALA.” As MAYA describes it, “Every song carries a variety of thoughts and meanings, so the whole album feels like it’s taking you on a grand journey.” Adding to this, JURIA says, “I think you’ll be able to enjoy X-pop and feel a wide range of emotions.” JURIN, meanwhile, hopes the album will foster a special kind of communication between XG and their listeners: “We hope it lets you see the core that lies at the center of who we are, and to find moments where it resonates with your own core.” Below, the members share their thoughts on a few of the songs. “ROCK THE BOAT” MAYA: “It’s very catchy, like a bright summer song. It’s super energizing, and I love it.” “TAKE MY BREATH” COCONA: “This one’s my favorite. I was drawn to this song from the first time I heard it, and it has a special place in my heart. I hope it touches everyone’s heart as it did mine.” “NO GOOD” JURIN: “This is an important song that we’ve been working on since before our debut, and I really wanted to include it on this album. I think listeners will enjoy the cheerful, light-footed groove and melody, alongside lyrics that describe some romantic feelings we hadn’t covered before.” “HYPNOTIZE” CHISA: “It’s a song that leads the listener into XG’s rhythm through our gaze and sense of atmosphere alone, wrapping them in confidence and allure. It’s about a feeling where the boundary between reality and dreams becomes blurred, gradually drawing you into a hypnotic state.” JURIN: “Because the lyrics are so mesmerizing, I was very particular about the texture of my voice when recording this song.” “O.R.B (Obviously Reads Bro)” HINATA: “This is the first punk rock song we ever wrote, but it’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.” HARVEY: “It’s a song where we really wanted to dig down and express our core. To us, the word ‘bro’ means both ‘friend’ and ‘a place where we belong’—the people you can laugh with all night, act on impulse with, and always trust to have your back. It’s a song that honestly expresses our bond, like a love letter dedicated to the important friends in our lives. We’d be so happy if our core reaches all of you as well.” “4 SEASONS” CHISA: “This is the first original song by XG’s vocal section. It delicately portrays the feelings we’ve held close until now, sung over an acoustic track: Emotions we couldn’t put into words even when we were together, the time we had to spend apart, and the feelings that gradually deepened all quietly emerge from under the gentle guitar and spacious sound. You can hear the traces of those feelings that don’t fade with time in the spaces between the notes. It’s a song that softly brings to mind each listener’s own memories and moments.” “PS118” MAYA: “This song is all about XG’s rappers performing over JURIN’s track, which unlocked a whole different type of vigor. It’s a song with a powerful message that’s meant to give you a lot of confidence.”