The Coolest Girl Group Right Now Makes Coachella Debut Delivers an Unmatched Performance
On April 13, Japanese girl group XG made their official Coachella debut, performing on the iconic Sahara Stage, one of the largest and most prestigious stages at the festival. Notably, XG was the only Japanese group included in this year’s Coachella lineup.
Their inclusion in the lineup generated global excitement from the moment it was announced. Known for their bold musical style, powerful choreography, and impressively stable live vocals—rare among 4th-gen groups—XG has long been praised by both fans and industry professionals. Their performance was so flawless that some even suspected they were lip-syncing.
From the start, expectations for XG‘s Coachella stage were sky-high, especially given their placement on the Sahara Stage, a venue known for its elite lineup and top-tier production in both sound and visuals.
Their 55-minute set included a short break for outfit and stage layout changes. Across the performance, XG treated fans to an explosive lineup of their signature hits, including “WOKE UP,” “SHOOTING STAR,” “NEW DANCE,” “IYKYK,” “LEFT RIGHT,” and “GRL GVNG.”
They opened with “XGENE” and “WOKE UP,” instantly energizing the crowd. One of the set’s highlights was “LEFT RIGHT,” the breakout hit that helped XG gain global traction as one of Japan’s most successful exports in K-pop.
The momentum continued with songs like “TGIF,” “PUPPET SHOW,” and “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT.” The set concluded with the fan-favorite “SHOOTING STAR,” a fitting end to an electrifying performance.
One of the more challenging moments came during “IN THE RAIN,” a new release that had just dropped its MV before Coachella. Strong winds on the Sahara Stage caused umbrella props to fly out of the members’ hands. Nevertheless, XG handled the mishap with poise, smoothly adjusting and continuing their performance with professionalism well beyond their rookie status.
In addition to their dynamic dance numbers, XG impressed the crowd with a piano version of “IS THIS LOVE,” which showcased their vocal strength and emotional delivery. The live rendition quickly trended on social media, generating over 127,000 posts discussing the performance.
Due to their pitch-perfect vocals and precision, many viewers questioned whether XG relied heavily on backing tracks. However, industry insiders clarified that Coachella’s audio engineering especially at Sahara is highly refined, sometimes making live vocals sound overly polished. ELLE Japan even confirmed that XG sang entirely live, with other major media outlets also praising their stellar set.
To further silence the rumors, main vocalist Chisa personally addressed fans after the show, writing:
“Also, never believe in lip service theories!!!!” putting an end to speculation about lip-syncing.
Although this was XG’s first time performing at a large-scale festival like Coachella, they impressed global audiences with a high-energy, meticulously crafted set. As the performance went on, more attendees gathered at the Sahara Stage, a clear sign of growing public interest. Their Coachella debut helped the group shake off the “nugu” (unknown) label often used by critics.
XG quickly trended on X (formerly Twitter) in countries such as Japan, the U.S., Mexico, and Malaysia, and even made it into Weibo’s Top 5 Hot Searches under “XG Coachella stage.”
Despite this breakout moment, XG was still somewhat overshadowed by the massive star power of BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Lisa, especially since they performed on the same day as Jennie. Prior to Coachella, Jennie had faced criticism over her live performance abilities and comparisons to Lisa’s onstage charisma. Many expected XG to seize this opportunity to shine in contrast.
However, within two days, public sentiment toward Jennie shifted dramatically. Criticism turned into praise, with fans sharing captivating moments from her performance. Her songs surged in popularity, with “Like JENNIE” climbing to #1 on Bugs and Flo, #2 on MelOn, and #3 on Genie in South Korea. Her album RUBY also saw renewed global interest, and the track “Like JENNIE” soared back into Spotify’s Global Top 7, gaining 500,000+ streams in a single day (April 15).
That said, one of the most surprising highlights came when Lisa personally attended XG’s stage to show her support. Her presence immediately drew media attention and elevated the group’s performance visibility.
XG is scheduled to return for another Coachella performance on April 21, and with their first week’s strong showing, fans are eagerly anticipating what surprises they’ll bring next on one of the world’s biggest music stages.