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Japanese girl group XG to release first studio album; single 'Gala' dropping on Sept. 19

Entertainment | Music and Concerts

Japanese girl group XG to release first studio album; single 'Gala' dropping on Sept. 19

By Jonathan Hicap

XG (XGALX)

Japanese girl group XG announced that their first full-length album will be released on Jan. 23 next year.

Ahead of the release, XG will drop the pre-release single “Gala” on Sept. 19, which will be available worldwide on all streaming platforms.

“Gala” is a high-energy, runway-ready song driven by futuristic sounds and striking visual imagery.

Opening with a cinematic, space-scale intro, the track fuses hard-hitting rap, bilingual flows, driving house rhythms, and bold synth textures to create “X Gala,” a futuristic reimagining of a high-fashion gala through XG’s distinctive lens.

XG (XGALX)

Artwork for XG's

Artwork for XG's "Gala" (XGALX)

The single’s cover art captures the glamorous and otherworldly aesthetic of “Gala,” building anticipation for its global digital release.

The announcement came after XG’s debut as headliners at a-nation 2025, one of Japan’s largest summer festivals.

During their set, XG surprised the crowd by revealing plans for their first full album. It continues an exciting year of landmark festival moments for XG, after also making history as the only Japanese artists to perform at Coachella 2025, where they headlined the Sahara stage.

In addition, XG members are spotlighting their artistry through the “XG 1st World Tour ‘The first Howl’ Exhibition” at Laforet Museum Harajuku in Tokyo until Sept. 7.

The exhibit features exclusive photography, stage costumes, immersive video installations, and limited-edition merchandise from their landmark first world tour, which drew over 400,000 fans across Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Australia.

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