Howling Through Paris: XG's Electrifying Night at the Zénith

Words by Nathan Gey

December 4, 2024

XG at Zénith Paris, XGALX

XG has firmly established itself as a prominent name in the Hip-hop/R&B industry. The seven-member girl group debuted in March 2022 with the single “Tippy Toes” and initially focused on building their presence by performing at major music festivals across the globe, including in Australia, Singapore, and the United States.

After releasing four singles and their first mini-album, New DNA on September 27, 2023, members JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA announced their highly anticipated first world tour, “The first HOWL”. The tour kicked off on May 18, 2024, in Osaka, and continued across Japan and Asia, culminating in a final performance in Beijing on August 24 of the same year.

Their global journey continued as the group made a highly anticipated connection with their American audience, starting with a debut show in Las Vegas. This was followed by performances in eight cities across the continent, drawing an impressive crowd of approximately 50,000 fans. The tour proved to be an overwhelming success for their first foray into the American market, exceeding expectations at every stop.

To the delight of their fans, XG followed up this triumph with the release of their second mini-album, AWE, on November 8. Featuring eight captivating tracks, the album arrived just in time to fuel the excitement as the XG phenomenon finally expanded to Europe. This last album is a mix of different feelings between fear and curiosity, and aims to “evoke that sense of awe and provide listeners with a unique experience of XG’s music in everyday life”.

COCONA of XG, XGALX

MAYA of XG, XGALX

Just ten days after the release, the seven girls found themselves in Europe, beginning their tour in Manchester, London, Berlin before finally performing in Paris, the City of Lights and their fans, renowned for their fervor and energy at concerts.

The performance took place at the famous Zénith de Paris on Sunday, November 24. As with most of their previous shows, the Paris concert was completely sold out, and with thousands of fans in attendance, we eagerly waited until eight o’clock for the girls to appear on the massive stage. After a short film introduction showcasing a conceptual visual with a wolf traveling through the galaxy, the girls made a striking entrance, dressed in futuristic, girly outfits and glasses. They kicked off the night with a reimagined rock version of “SHOOTING STAR”, followed by a fantastic, brief but intense dance break leading into “GRL GVNG”, complete with its charismatic choreography. “WOKE UP” and “Tippy Toes” beautifully wrapped up the first act.

A mini-documentary wherein all the members’ motto and goals were revealed, memories from the Asia and US tour were broadcasted on the large screen standing onstage. Afterwards, JAKOPS (SIMON), Japanese singer-songwriter and producer under XGALX, stepped on stage for a short DJ-set which was specially arranged for the French audience, including famous hits from French singers such as GIMS or Edith Piaf.

The members of XG are also known for being divided into two specialty groups: the rap line (COCONA, MAYA, HARVEY, and JURIN) and the vocal line (CHISA, JURIA, HINATA). As these amazing talents couldn't stay hidden, a special solo medley was obviously part of the setlist! 

COCONA was the first to appear, introducing the rap crew with her interpretation of “Surround Sound” (JID) and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” (JAY-Z), performed in a venue illuminated entirely by green lights. Next, MAYA stepped up, turning the lights red and astonishing the audience with her powerful rapping skills as she performed “Down Bad” (Dreamville) and “Million Cash” (Connor Price). HARVEY then embodied a villain, complete with red wings, while rapping to “I WON” (Ty Dolla Sign) and “BIG MAD” (Ktlyn). The mood shifted dramatically when JURIN took the stage, vibing like a superstar to “SAOKO” (ROSALÍA) and ending her set spectacularly with “Still Hot” (Nic D & Connor Price). The rap line concluded their solo performances with a group rendition of “Trampoline” by David Guetta, which was particularly well-received by the French audience, given the artist's fame in France.

HARVEY of XG, XGALX

JURIN of XG, XGALX

The vocal line did not fall behind, with JURIA delivering an elegant and powerful interpretation of “Hello” by Adele, accompanied by the audience singing along. HINATA followed, wearing a French-inspired dress as she performed “Be My Baby” by the iconic French star Vanessa Paradis. CHISA, the third and final member of the vocal line, solemnly stepped onto the stage, taking the audience’s breath away with a magnificent rendition of “I’ll Never Love Again”, originally performed by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The trio concluded the solo stages with an emotional performance of “Losing You” by FLO, leaving the audience deeply moved.

The seven members returned to the stage after a brief concept movie, all wearing black trench coats. They performed a remix version of the famous song “LEFT RIGHT”, quickly followed by a moving performance of “WINTER WITHOUT YOU” and a cover of “Just Stand Up!”.

Next, the first and only MC segment of the night took place, giving the girls the chance to interact with their fans, including showing off some French phrases they had learned exclusively for the Paris show. Three lucky fans were handpicked by the members to dance and vibe to hip-hop music. After a brief rest, members returned wearing colorful costumes, continuing the show with the last act, which featured 6 songs, including “HESONOO”, “X-GENE” and “TGIF”, transforming the venue into a pulsating, club-like atmosphere. The energy surged as they fired up the stage and got the crowd singing along during the final section, performing an electrifying “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” and an iconic “IYKYK”, before ending the night with a joyful note with a performance of “PUPPET SHOW”.

Even the encore was iconic, with all the French fans chanting soccer fan chants, creating a wave that circled the arena nearly ten times. The moment ended in a breathtaking display, with the crowd howling like wolves under the moon just like the one who appeared on the onstage screen.

The girls reappeared, then the night smoothly transitioned into hip-hop vibes with “NEW DANCE and “MASCARA. In a final rallying cry, the members asked the audience “Are you ready to howl with us?!”—a perfect lead-in to their tour’s title track, “HOWLING freshly released on November 6. The night closed on a high note with the original version of “LEFT RIGHT bringing an incredible evening with XG to a thrilling and heartfelt conclusion.

As anticipated, JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, COCONA were eagerly awaited in Paris by the french community. The entire concert was flawless, from the impeccable lightning design to the grand stage, topped by a massive screen that elevated the visual experience. The overall scenography was breathtaking and left a lasting impression. We already knew that the girls were extremely talented and they surpassed our expectations with a stunning performance. Seamlessly blending genres like R&B and hip-hop, they delivered unforgettable vocal and rap showcases that highlighted their extraordinary versatility.

As the lyrics of “NEW DANCE” say, “We just came to have a good time” and they certainly did! Being part of this magical evening felt like a privilege, and we wish them even greater success and passion in the future. We can’t wait to see them again on stage in the City of Lights!

JURIA of XG, XGALX

HINATA of XG, XGALX

CHISA of XG, XGALX

EDITOR'S NOTES

As a photographer specializing in events and concerts for many years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing many great artists perform in both Paris and Tokyo. My love for music began in my childhood and has only grown since then. Today, supporting countless artists through my passion for photography fills me with a sense of both gratitude and fulfillment.

Over time, however, my tastes and expectations have become more refined and demanding. As a photographer, I’ve grown increasingly attentive to the scenography of concerts and stage performances, particularly lighting design and stage setups. This heightened awareness has occasionally made me more critical—and at times frustrated—with certain concert productions.

That said, the XG show was a refreshing exception and completely exceeded my expectations. The lighting setup and overall design were perfectly managed by the technical team, aligning flawlessly with the girls' performance.

While their rapping and singing skills were undeniably impressive, what truly made the night special was seeing them genuinely enjoy themselves alongside the audience. That sense of shared joy elevated the entire experience.

As mentioned in my review above, I felt incredibly blessed and privileged to be part of such an unforgettable night. My deepest gratitude goes to the XG members for their incredible performance, and to the XGALX team for the kind invitation!

 

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