What does it take to bring XG's futuristic world alive?
Meet the creative team behind XG’s stage design for ‘THE CORE’ World Tour
(Photo credit: XGALX)
Watching XG perform feels like you’re being transported into another universe.
From playing alien-like figures to portraying a wolfpack, the Japanese global pop group is known for its high fashion, sci-fi aesthetics while highlighting an image of power, fierceness and uniqueness. XG, which stands for “Xtraordinary Genes”, symbolizes the power and creativity of the group’s core, and aims to create a new culture beyond convention.
It’s an ambitious concept, one that XG has committed to since it debuted in 2022. While XG is a group who operates similarly to K-pop and J-pop acts, the group itself has described its genre of music as “X-pop.” The group sings in all-English, and staying true to oneself has always been at its core. An example of this was when member Cocona revealed in December 2025 they are transmaculine and non-binary, having underwent top surgery earlier that year. The news was met with praise and made headlines around the world, especially at a time when LGBTQ+ representation still has a long way to go in the music industry.
As XG prepares to embark on its North American leg of its THE CORE World Tour (including a stop at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum on November 12th!), bunni pop sat down with loudbox, a production team specializing in live concerts and stage design. As a team, Jeremy Lechterman, Jason Ardizzone-West and Jackson Gallagher, bring XG’s concept to life through hanging pods, low fog and pyro in a steampunk-inspired concert set. The trio have also worked together on high profile projects including Lady Gaga’s “The Mayhem Ball” Tour, Hikaru Utada’s “Science Fiction” Tour and BTS’s “Love Yourself/Speak Yourself” Tour.
Below, Jeremy, Jason and Jackson break down their design choices to make XG’s concert come alive.
(Conversation has been edited and condensed for length and clarity)
What was it about XG’s concept that made you want to be part of this production?
Jason: Jackson and I were introduced to their music when we were in Hong Kong, working on the Hikaru Utada design that we did two years ago. So, we actually got to see [XG’s] past concert in person when we were in rehearsals with Utada. We were very struck by their fusion of K-pop, J-pop and a more global X-pop approach to music making that seemed to really want to defy categorization and be global-reaching. We were just blown away by their music.
A lot of time passed, and it was great to be able to work with them. The concept of “THE CORE” was presented to us, which is the name of the album too. We were given free reign to really dig into what “THE CORE” meant to us and how to express these fundamental ideas. And, these seven artists coming together as this unified collective to make music and to support that through design was really exciting.
(Photo credit: Jeremy Lechterman and Jason Ardizzone-West )
A lot of what XG presents through its work is this hero’s journey through music videos. Can you tell me a little bit more about what the story “THE CORE” portrays?
Jeremy: I think they have been very pro-intention with their music videos, albums and shows. This sort of plot line of the seven of them travelling through the universe, exploring themselves and bringing their fans along for the journey. We capitalized on those kernels and turned it into a two-hour long adventure.
I think it’s an interesting question, because there is a very in-depth script for this show, and a narrative that we built out that we spent a lot of time crafting. I don’t know how much the audience perceives, but it informed a lot of our choices.
XG portrays themselves as these otherworldly beings in their music videos, almost alien-like and futuristic. Were there specific examples of movies, music or TV shows that were part of the inspiration?
Jeremy: A big inspiration was a lot of installation art. There’s a project called Panterra, which I think is one of the starting places for us visually, which is this blend of futuristic, but cyberpunk at the same time. I think there were also some references to E.T. We pulled out a lot of spacelogy.
Jason: Metropolis!
Jackson: Blade Runner!
Jeremy: Always Blade Runner! Those are probably the kernels.
Jason: I have to say, we pulled a lot from their own history, because they have such a robust collection of really great fashion and creativity through their music videos. They’re a very fashion-forward band that really puts a lot of thought into how they present themselves. Especially the “GALA” music video, because that’s right around the same time we started sinking our teeth into this project.
Music videos are a great reference point, but what about the music itself? Did listening to XG’s music also create images in your head?
Jason: I mean, it’s all about the music. You can have a conceptual skeleton for a concert, but once you start listening to each song in the order that the setlist comes into…[you see] how the songs relate to each other.
But the actual music is really what generates a lot of the visuals. Some of it is a kind of intellectual analysis of the lyrics. But I would say, and this is something I’ve learned from Jeremy and Jackson both, is that a lot of it is just like a visceral reaction to the music. My background is in theatre, and so I’m usually working with analyzing scripts and digging into text. And there’s an aspect to designing for concerts that is also that same level of conceptual analysis. And so, it’s a really interesting combination of a robust narrative, conceptual analysis approach.
Jeremy: As much as we want to be intentional with what we are making, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. We hope that our gut is also a universal feeling for the audience.
(Photo credit: Jeremy Lechterman and Jason Ardizzone-West)
A lot of K-pop tours of a similar scale are ambitious and immersive. Without giving too much away about the North American tour, what can people physically expect in the arena?
Jason: It is ambitiously large in its scale. I would describe it as almost operatic. Yes, there’s lasers and there’s pyro, there’s lots of moving lights, there’s automated lifts, and there’s lots of bells and whistles. But, it’s also rooted in a kind of sculptural, theatrical language that we’re trying to bring more to the concert world. We’re making large-scale kinetic sculptures that are also a machine for delivering a concert, a playful way of using LED tiles in a more sculptural way as opposed to just having a video screen. It’s a hybrid physical production that blurs the boundaries between technology and sculpture.
Jeremy: At the same time, I think we are trying to elevate them. They are such incredible performers, singers and dancers and I think we tried intentionally not to make something that would upstage them. The members of XG really are a trifecta.
(Photo credit: Jeremy Lechterman and Jason Ardizzone-West)
So much of attending concerts is people filming on their phones. What kind of challenge does that give you when you want people to immerse themselves in the present moment?
Jason: I have to say the Japanese audiences are not on their phones as much as the rest of the world. They are much more present. But the show we helped craft does include the audience in the design. Most of the audience has a lightstick, which is part of the lighting and video design. We design what they do in relation to the music.
Jeremy: One thing I think Asian artists do a lot better than American artists is fan kingdoms. I think in particular to XG, the fans really feel like they are part of something. It wasn’t that hard for us to understand the relationship between XG and their fans, and understand how the fans fit into the lore.
You’ve worked with everyone from Lady Gaga to Hikaru Utada to BTS for their concerts. What is the highlight of working with so many artists that span different genres and cultures?
Jeremy: I count myself so incredibly lucky that I get to meet all these other incredible artists and visionaries and get to fly all over the world and experience so many cultures. Every project has had its merits. We were part of Lady Gaga’s Show in Rio, and that was really beautiful in terms of the size of the people. And Gaga being a woman headlining that show, it was great to be there for that moment in her career.
(Photo credit: Jeremy Lechterman and Jason Ardizzone-West)
Where do you guys stand on the use of artificial intelligence? Especially when creative industries are grappling with new technologies in concert production.
Jason: Among the three of us, have a delightfully mixed approach to it. I would say none of us are afraid of it, we use it as a tool. I think I’m probably the most distrustful and scared of it, but I also find it very compelling as a tool if it’s used as one of many tools. I personally don’t really use it to generate visual ideas. I use it to help me visualize, find ideas or find information more quickly.
Jackson: I think I’m very comfortable using it as a tool, but not a replacement for people or things or processes. It’s very helpful when trying to do early research on a project, or help sketch some mood board imagery if I am having trouble finding a specific image or a song.
But to use it as a replacement for a person or a process, that’s where I draw the line for myself. It’s an inevitability of some kind. To completely not use it, would be silly. But leveraging it as a tool for our work, not a replacement for our work.
(Photo credit: Jeremy Lechterman and Jason Ardizzone-West)
I’ve already seen videos teasing XG’s tour across North America. If you could describe this world tour “THE CORE” in two words, what would they be?
Jason: The great thing about the concert experience is it transcends language.
Jeremy: I would call it a space extravaganza.
Jackson: Journey…I don’t know what my second word would be.
Jason: Extraordinary? XG uses that word and I think that is a great word to describe them. They are the real deal. They are a triple threat. They’re incredible performers, dancers, musicians and artists. They are full-on every performance. It’s incredible to watch.
XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE arrives in North America in November!
XG will play a concert at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum on November 12th. Click here for more info.
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Love the questions your brought up. Great read, can't wait for this concert!