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Awe (EP)

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Awe
EP by
XG
ReleasedNovember 8, 2024
Length23:31
Languages
  • English
  • Korean
  • Japanese
LabelXgalx
XG chronology
New DNA
(2023)		 Awe
(2024)		 XDM Unidentified Waves
(2025)
Singles from Awe
  1. "Something Ain't Right"
    Released: July 26, 2024
  2. "IYKYK"
    Released: October 11, 2024
  3. "Howling"
    Released: November 8, 2024
  4. "Is This Love"
    Released: March 7, 2025
  5. "In the Rain"
    Released: April 11, 2025

Awe is the second extended play (EP) by Japanese vocal group XG. It was released on November 8, 2024, through Xgalx, and was the group's follow-up album release to their first, New DNA, in 2023. Similar to their first, the EP is recorded primarily in English. It was promoted with five singles: "Something Ain't Right" and "IYKYK", preceded the EP's release; "Howling", released concurrently with the EP; and "Is This Love" and "In the Rain", after the EP's release.

Background and release

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In early July 2024, XG teased the single "Something Ain't Right" and announced its release for July 26, intending for it to be a pre-release single for an upcoming EP.[1] On July 23, XG released "Undefeated", a song collaboration with the video game Valorant. The release coincided with the group's announcement of their second EP, Awe, which was made the next day.[2] On September 13, XG announced that the album would be released on November 8.[3] A second pre-release single, "IYKYK", was announced in October and released on October 11.[4]

On November 8, XG released Awe alongside a music video for its lead single, "Howling".[5] The EP also included the September remix of the group's earlier June single, "Woke Up".[6] The remix featured verses in English, Korean, and Japanese by Jay Park, OZworld, AKLO, Paloalto, Verbal, Awich, Tak, and Dok2.[7]

In an interview with Elle, XG member Chisa noted that the album title is pronounced "ow", mimicking a wolf's howling. The album title, in succession with the wolf themes shown in their previous 2024 releases, uses the motif of a wolf pack to symbolize the group's relationship with their fans. Other visual, conceptual themes in the release include outer space and ghosts.[8]

Composition

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Awe starts with "Howl", an orchestral synth-led intro track. The second track, "Howling", is an R&B and hip-hop song with elements of drill and Jersey club in its production. Throughout the song, sounds and howls of wolves are heard alongside "intense" synths.[9] It served as the EP's lead single.[10] In an interview with Elle, member Maya spoke about how "Howling" relates to the group's relationship with their fans, known as "Alphaz":[8]

The Alphaz [symbolize] being the wolf pack leaders. So just howling together means becoming one with our fans. And that represents how our fans, Alphaz, and XG are always connected together, and I think that's what we wanted to deliver through our songs in this album as well. If we release this album and the main title "Howling", I feel like the Alphaz can be more connected to us and understand the real meaning of why we're howling all together from the start to the end.

Following a skit set in a spaceship, the uptempo and "sleek" dance-pop tracks "IYKYK" and "Something Ain't Right" show the versatility of the group. "IYKYK" is an "addictive" dance track that blends house and 2-step music with R&B melodies[11] that samples "Prism" by Japanese hip-hop group M-Flo. Taku Takahashi, a member of M-Flo, told Rolling Stone Japan that "IYKYK" is "made with only the minimal necessary sounds, without adding any unnecessary elements, making the most of the original material while adding new melodies and atmosphere. Moreover, in the rap part, the original sample is subtly included, and this sense of balance is brilliant."[12] XG's producer, Simon Jakops, also said that he decided on the title of "IYKYK" before the song was created.[12] The fifth track, "Something Ain't Right", is a garage and house infused song echoing the melodies of and music of the 1990s and the suspicions of "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child.[13][14]

Leaning back into the group's signature sound, "In the Rain" is an R&B song featuring lyrics of heartbreak and resentment after a breakup.[15] In live performances, in line with the song's title and lyrics, performances often feature the use of umbrellas. "In The Rain" was XG's first R&B track, and unlike their pop songs, careful attention was paid to emotional expression and atmosphere during recording.

The seventh track of the album is a remix of "Woke Up" which was released earlier in the year on May 24, 2024. The remix features new verses in English, Japanese and Korean by Jay Park, OZworld, AKLO, Paloalto, Verbal, Awich, Tak, and Dok2. Simon Jakops spoke about the remix, saying that "Since it was our memorable first all-rap song, I thought it was necessary to amplify its appeal within hip-hop culture. I have roots in both Japan and Korea, and both countries have a solid hip-hop scene. When I imagined who I would want to do the remix for 'Woke Up', it ended up being those members."[16]

"Is This Love" is a pop and R&B song with lyrics of optimism towards finding a new love in someone.[9] The song was first created by Simon Jakops in 2019, three years before XG's debut.[17] Member Chisa commented on the song, saying, "Since we usually don't sing much about love, I think it will sound quite fresh from XG's perspective and interpretation".[8] After its release, this song was adopted as the campaign song for Shiseido's skin care brand Anessa [ja],[18] and on March 7, 2025, it was released digitally as a recut single with an added piano version and instrumental tracks for both the original and piano version.[19]

Track listing

[edit]
Awe track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Howl" 
  • Jakops
  • Tayor
  • Jakops
  • Tayor
1:18
2."Howling"
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
  • Knave
  • Jaeyoung
  • Lyricks
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
  • Knave
  • Jaeyoung
  • Lyricks
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
3:08
3."Space Meeting Skit" 
  • Jakops
  • Tayor
  • Jakops
  • Tayor
0:51
4."IYKYK"
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
  • Knave
  • Paulina "Pau" Cerrilla
  • Nick Kandler
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
  • Knave
  • Cerrilla
  • Nick Kandler
  • Xansei
  • 220
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
  • Tayor
  • Xansei
3:00
5."Something Ain't Right"
  • Jakops
  • Chancellor
  • Tayor
  • Benjmn
  • Goldstein
3:10
6."In the Rain"
  • Chancellor
  • Jakops
  • Cerrilla
  • Knave, Shintaro Yasuda
  • Jakops
  • Chancellor
  • Yasuda
  • Cerrilla
  • Knave
  • Mason Sacks
  • her0ism
  • Jakops
  • Chancellor
  • Yasuda
  • her0ism
  • Sacks
3:08
7."Woke Up Remixx" (featuring Jay Park, OZworld, AKLO, Paloalto, Verbal, Awich, Tak and Dok2)
  • Jakops
  • Chancellor
  • Jay Park
  • OZworld
  • AKLO
  • Paloalto
  • Verbal
  • Awich
  • Tak
  • Dok2
  • Jakops
  • Chancellor
  • Yasuda
  • Jakops
  • Chancellor
  • Yasuda
  • Tayor
6:19
8."Is This Love"
  • Jakops
  • Bluebird
  • Scootie
  • Atterberry
  • Chancellor
  • Tayor
  • Knave
  • Bastian "B" Testori
  • tild tomorrow
  • Anderson
  • Jakops
  • Bluebird
  • Scootie
  • Chancellor
  • Tayor
  • Knave
  • Testori
  • tild tomorrow
2:35
Total length:23:31

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Awe
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[31]
Physical 		Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "XG、2ndミニ・アルバムのリリースを発表 先行曲第1弾「SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT」配信決定". CD Journal (in Japanese). July 10, 2024. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ Chin, Carmen (July 24, 2024). "XG drop performance video for 'Undefeated', announce second mini-album". NME. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ "XG、2ndミニアルバムは畏敬を与える「AWE」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 13, 2024. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ Dutta, Debashree (October 9, 2024). "XG's 'IYKYK' Sets the Tone for Its Second Mini Album, 'Awe'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Yeo, Gladys (November 8, 2024). "XG return with otherworldly music video for new single 'Howling'". NME. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Bui, Jessica (June 21, 2024). "Global Girl Group XG Ushered In A New Era With Their Latest Single "Woke Up"". BuzzFeed. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  7. ↑ "XG's 'Woke Up Remix' showcases Japanese & Korean Hip Hop all-stars". liftedasia.com. September 24, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Gonzales, Erica (November 8, 2024). "XG Are Ready for Pop Stardom—and Outer Space". ELLE. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  9. 1 2 AWE - XG | Album | AllMusic, retrieved April 17, 2026
  10. ↑ ""IYKYK," XG's New Mini-Album Is A Banger". The Kraze. November 10, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ Go, Mayks (October 11, 2024). "XG Release Second Mini Album 'AWE' – Listen". billboardphilippines.com. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  12. 1 2 "m-floとJAKOPS（SIMON）が語る、共鳴するX-POP | Rolling Stone Japan(ローリングストーン ジャパン）". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). February 20, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (July 29, 2024). "XG's Kinetic 'Something Ain't Right' and 4 More Cool New Pop Songs This Week". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ "XG新曲は90'sムード、表現したのは「老若男女誰もが踊りたくなる音楽」". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ Go, Mayks (April 11, 2025). "XG Release New Single "In The Rain" – Listen". billboardphilippines.com. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ "【インタビュー】JAKOPS | XGと僕は狼". FNMNL (フェノメナル). Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "AWE / XG - genie". www.genie.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  18. ↑ "XG、資生堂「アネッサ」のブランド新ミューズに就任！ 「IS THIS LOVE」がGlobal Campaign Songに決定！ - 日刊エンタメクリップ". entameclip.com (in Japanese). March 1, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ Chin, Carmen (March 7, 2025). "XG release piano version of viral song 'Is This Love'". NME. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-11-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-11-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 13, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – Week 45 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Billboard 200: Week of December 21, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Independent Albums: Week of December 21, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-11" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 11, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – November 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2024" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 20, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  29. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – 2024 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – 2025 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – XG – Awe" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2024. Select 2024年11月 on the drop-down menu
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