5/09/2025

LYFE FRIDAY | SEPT 5, 2025

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Gala-ctic soundscapes

L AST weekend, XG made its first-ever appearance at A-nation 2025, one of Japan’s biggest summer festivals, electrifying fans with a commanding performance. In a surprise announcement, the group revealed its first full album will drop on Jan 23 – and now, it has unveiled the first taste: a pre album digital single. Gala will be released on Sept 19. A high-energy runway anthem, Gala fuses futuristic synths, hard-hitting rap, bilingual flows and driving house beats into a cinematic, performance-driven showcase called X Gala . Boldly breaking fashion conventions, the track defines XG’s self-created genre, X-Pop – a world where music, power and glamour collide in one unforgettable moment. The cover art further captures the song’s dazzling visual universe, building anticipation for its arrival. XG 1st Full Album will be out on Jan 23, 2026. Its first full-length album is not just a debut – o XG unveils first taste of pre-album digital single

XG will release Gala on Sept 19.

it is a declaration. Stripping away trends and surface-level gloss, the record dives straight into the heart of music, identity and existence. Effortlessly crossing genres, the album takes listeners on a journey across shifting times and spaces, all anchored by XG’s unmistakable energy and bold spirit. At its core is it unshakable identity – a sound that refuses to be boxed in. This is the official birth of X-Pop, XG’s self defined genre. Built on the belief that good music stands on its own, the album captures the most honest reflection of XG yet, while setting the stage for limitless possibilities to come. Fans can experience XG up close at the XG 1st World Tour “The First Howl” Exhibition at Laforet Museum Harajuku in Tokyo (until Sunday), featuring curated live photos, stage outfits, immersive video content and exclusive merchandise. In October, XG takes its energy abroad with the China Festival Tour, performing at MDSK Music Festival in Beijing (Oct 2), Strawberry Music Festival in Guangzhou (Oct 4), and Luzhou Galaxy Left Bank Music Festival in Luzhou (Oct 7). With Gala as the first glimpse of its X-Pop universe and a full album that pushes every boundary, XG is proving its music is not just heard – it is felt, lived and experienced.

XG is a seven-member Japanese group. – PICS FROM INSTAGRAM @XGOFFICIAL

The album artwork of Gala .

Lullaboy explores situationship gone wrong LULLABOY, the Singapore-based Indonesian R&B sensation, releases his powerful new single Live With It on 29 Aug, featuring Stephanie Poetri of viral hit I Love You 3000 fame. The collaboration arrives following Lullaboy’s historic Summer Sonic Bangkok performance on Aug 24, where he became the first Singaporean artiste to perform alongside Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas and 21 Savage.

Live With It marks Lullaboy’s first official duet with a female artiste, bringing together two Indonesian-American talents to explore the brutal aftermath of love and lies when a situationship goes wrong. The track serves as the sixth single from his third album Hotels & Heartbreaks. “In this song, I am playing the person I never want to be. Telling this story was really difficult because relational affairs are such a sensitive topic, but I hope I can provide comfort to the victims and a wake up call to the offenders,” Lullaboy said. After meeting at a songwriting camp in LA, Lullaboy knew Poetri (signed to 88rising) was the only artiste he could trust to play the protagonist while he took on the antagonist role. Despite being based on different continents, Lullaboy in Singapore, Stephanie in LA, both artistes share similar life phases where love remains paramount. With over 100 million streams and counting, Lullaboy has established himself as the “healer of the broken-hearted”, building his global fanbase one love song at a time. His extraordinary 2024 included closing all six nights of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and pioneering as the first Singaporean artiste at Waterbomb SG. Live With It is available now on all streaming platforms.

The group comprises (from left) Yuga, Mizuki, Neo, Takeru, Tsubasa, Reia, Ryota and Souma. – PIC FROM AVEX MUSIC CREATIVE INC Boy band One or Eight goes global

FOR the dreamers and those embracing their individuality, Japanese boy band One or Eight has released Young & Reckless over the last weekend. A poppy blend of electronic textures and influences from boy bands in the 1990s, the track is the first of two consecutive singles to come from the rising group. It was produced by Kavi, co-producer of Tommy Richman’s stream-breaking Million Dollar Baby and PrettyMuch’s Edwin Honoret. Rounding out the two-release schedule will be the upcoming Bet Your Life . Both tracks were conceived around the concept of spotlighting different dimensions of boldly facing life, with

Young & Reckless serving as a carpe diem statement of sorts that calls listeners and fans to live life to the fullest. Following the short span since its debut in 2024, the group has quickly built a global presence, making two consecutive appearances on Korean music programmes with its singles DSTM and 365, and holding fan meetings in six countries within its first year. One or Eight’s breakout single DSTM was the first song by a Japanese boy group to enter the US Mediabase Top 40 radio chart. It led to the group signing a global deal with Atlantic Music Group, which is set to push it further on the international music stage.

Lullaboy and Poetri.