‘Genderless’ K-pop band XLOV breaks boundaries by being themselves

Boy band XLOV poses for a photo during a press showcase for its second EP, “I, God,” held at Gabin Arthall in southern Seoul on May 27. [NEWS1]

K-pop’s very first self-described “genderless” act XLOV is carving out a distinctive path, inviting listeners into a world of bold music, water-smooth choreography and boundary-blurring lifestyle.

“With this album, we wanted to portray XLOV as those who were once scarred and incomplete, becoming whole and evolving into divine beings who can guide those who are lost, just as they once were,” said leader Wumuti during a press showcase for the boy band’s second EP, “I, God,” held at Gabin Art Hall in southern Seoul on Wednesday, the quartet’s first press showcase since its 2025 debut.

Boy band XLOV poses for a photo during a press showcase for its second EP, “I, God,” held at Gabin Arthall in southern Seoul on May 27. [NEWS1]

Released Wednesday, “I, God” marks a “highlight” in the narrative XLOV has been building through its discography, according to Wumuti, who also servers the group’s producer.

XLOV debuted in January last year under 257 Entertainment — which was acquired by K-pop agency RBW earlier this year — with its first single, “I’mma Be,” becoming the first K-pop act to put forward a genderless concept at the forefront of its visual identity. The group’s styling blurs the boundaries between feminine and masculine aesthetics, refusing to be confined by gender stereotypes.

The multinational boy band consists of four members: Wumuti from China, Rui from Taiwan, Hyun from Korea and Haru from Japan.

Boy band XLOV performs “Serve,” the lead track of its second EP, “I, God,” during a press showcase held at Gabin Arthall in southern Seoul on May 27. [NEWS1]

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The second EP, “I. God,” comes six months after its first EP, “UXLXVE.” The album features six songs: the lead track, “Serve,” and B-sides “The Rules,” “Extancy,” “Back 2 Back,” “Hips” and “Masterpiece.” “Extancy” is a duet track by Wumuti and Haru, and “Hips” likewise features Rui and Hyun.

The lead track, “Serve,” is a song that producer Wumuti described as feeling “like watching a glamorous fantasy film,” more so because of its relatively longer runtime compared to the usual two-minute mark of many K-pop releases.

“This is the first song in which we took on voguing dance to show a completely elegant, graceful and even more glamorous side of XLOV,” Wumuti said. “We have always shown bold styles, but there is still so much more we want to show. It feels like we are not even halfway there yet, and with this album, I think we may have reached about 50 percent.”

Boy band XLOV performs “Serve,” the lead track of its second EP, “I, God,” during a press showcase held at Gabin Arthall in southern Seoul on May 27. [NEWS1]

The music video for “Serve” features actor Han So-hee, a fan of XLOV who had previously told Wumuti that she would be willing to appear in one of the group’s music videos someday — “even if it was just as an extra.”

“I learned a lot from her, not only in terms of acting but also as a person,” said Haru. “Thanks to her being there, the atmosphere on set became much lighter even though everyone being very tired.”

While XLOV is best known for its gender-nonconforming visual elements, Wumuti stressed that the concept is not a one-off bid for attention.

“The genderless or gender-free concept we’re best known for is part of the lifestyle we would like to show the world,” said Wumuti. “I believe it is more about how I want to present myself to the world. There is no genderless music, so we have our own distinctive music, our own performance style — and the genderless concept is the lifestyle we’d like to suggest.”

Looking ahead, the group wants to reach more people, building on its already solid and expanding global fan base which member Hyun attributed to “our unique fan culture where fans come to our concerts wearing our previous styles and makeup,” and Rui to “our good music and strong performances we’ve honed for a long time.”

“Our goal this time would be to win first place in the weekly music program,” said Haru. “And I hope our message can reach those who don’t know XLOV yet.”