Awe (EP) explained

Awe
Type:	EP
Artist:	XG
Cover:	"AWE" by XG album cover.webp
Released:	November 8, 2024
Length:	23:31
Label:	Xgalx
Prev Title:	New DNA
Prev Year:	2023

Awe is the second extended play (EP) by Japanese girl 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 three singles: "Something Ain't Right" and "IYKYK", which preceded the EP's release, and "Howling", which released concurrently with the EP.

Background and release

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 mini-album.^[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 mini-album, 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 album 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]

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)^[9]	3
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[10]	3
South Korean Albums (Circle)^[11]	15
US Heatseekers Album (Billboard)^[12]	23

Notes and References

1. Web site: July 10, 2024 . 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 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241204055632/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/xg/111706 . December 4, 2024 . December 4, 2024 . CD Journal . ja.
2. Web site: Chin . Carmen . 2024-07-24 . XG drop performance video for 'Undefeated', announce second mini-album . 2024-11-08 . NME . en-GB.
3. Web site: September 13, 2024 . XG、2ndミニアルバムは畏敬を与える「AWE」 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241204055032/https://natalie.mu/music/news/590872 . December 4, 2024 . December 4, 2024 . Natalie . Natasha, Inc. . ja.
4. Web site: Dutta . Debashree . 2024-10-09 . XG’s ‘IYKYK’ Sets the Tone for Its Second Mini Album, ‘Awe’ . 2024-11-08 . Rolling Stone India . en-US.
5. Web site: Yeo . Gladys . 2024-11-08 . XG return with otherworldly music video for new single ‘Howling’ . 2024-11-08 . NME . en-GB.
6. Web site: Bui . Jessica . 2024-06-21 . Global Girl Group XG Ushered In A New Era With Their Latest Single "Woke Up" . 2024-11-08 . BuzzFeed . en.
7. Web site: September 24, 2024 . XG’s ‘Woke Up Remix’ showcases Japanese & Korean Hip Hop all-stars . 2024-11-08 . liftedasia.com . en-US.
8. Web site: Gonzales . Erica . 2024-11-08 . XG Are Ready for Pop Stardom—and Outer Space . 2024-11-08 . ELLE . en-US.
9. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-11-18 . . November 14, 2024 . ja . https://archive.today/20241114045146/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-11-18/ . November 14, 2024.
10. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 13, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. November 13, 2024.
11. Web site: Circle Album Chart – Week 45 of 2024. Circle Chart. ko. November 14, 2024.
12. Heatseekers Album: Week of November 23, 2024. Billboard. November 19, 2024.