From the second I listened to this EP, I knew I would be obsessed. Honestly, from the second I first explored XLOV, with their mesmerizing choreography, addicting discography, and unique genderless concept, I knew my Spotify history would always feature them. To be clear, while they are technically a boy group, the leader of the group, Wumuti, has said that it doesn’t matter what pronouns their fans use for them, and that it is up to interpretation.
Because they debuted on Jan. 7, they have released only two projects prior to UXLXVE. This is to say, even though their most recent EP features only six tracks, it has more than doubled the size of XLOV’s discography.
If I were to describe this EP in one word, it would be “exploration.” Both in theme and musical style, XLOV is revealing sides of themselves that their audience has never seen before. While their music has previously been a fusion of K-pop with R&B, synth, and techno inspiration, UXLXVE contains tracks like “Kiss and say goodbye” and “Drip Drip,” the former being an almost entirely instrumental and vocal ballad. This is undoubtedly the saddest song on the EP, telling the story of the resignation one feels after a failed relationship. It expresses the feeling of finally accepting you need to move on while still grieving what you once had. The chorus sums up this sentiment particularly well: “I wish I could be thе perfect for you… / I was never gonna be the one for you / So let’s just kiss and, kiss and say goodbye.” While the rest of the songs are about active pursuits of love, this is about the end of a love.
Another one of my favorites that is thematically opposite but has similar vocal highlights is “Rizz.” When XLOV revealed the track names for their new EP, and I read this one, I immediately cringed, thinking, “This is going to be horrible.” However, this song completely subverted my expectations by being one of my favorites. As I mentioned before, XLOV’s whole concept is genderless, so of course their love songs are ambiguous in gender as well; in past songs, they have used feminine terms when referring to their love interests, but in “Rizz” they use masculine ones. To me, this represents the inherent equality in love. All humans can be stupid in love and blinded by love; no matter who it’s with, the emotion is universal.
When listening to music, I tend to focus on the vocals; for me, they make or break a track. One reason I’m drawn to this song is Rui and Wumuti, two members who, especially in the chorus, get to show off their unique tones of voice and expertise in “Rizz” in the lyrics, “Now, I steal your breath / Can’t deny what you feel…Go ahead, take the fall, for the h*ll of it.” While much of the EP is exploring drastically different genres, “Rizz” returns to the cool, club music aesthetic that they are known for.
This is in stark contrast to “Biii:-P,” by far the least vulnerable, most fun track. It’s a song that I disliked on the first few listens, but after watching the music video and choreography, it’s become my favorite song on the EP. The concept chosen for this song is colorful, childish, and nostalgic, the outfits being cute and chaotic with contrasting patterns and lots of accessories. This track, in sound and visual aesthetic, is peak kitsch pop, and I love it so much.
XLOV is further exploring who they are as a group in UXLXVE, and it’s not a project I’ll forget anytime soon. As they balance on the edge of femininity and masculinity, redefining what these concepts mean, XLOV is continuously stretching the mold of what a K-pop boy group can be. Whether they become more popular or stay in the indie sphere, what they’ve created so far has doubtlessly made an indelible mark on the industry.
