EXCLUSIVE: This is Aespa’s World and We are Just Living In It

K-pop girl group Aespa have it all– prodigious vocals, compelling lore that leaves you wanting more, and synergy that helps them to embody some of the most audacious soundscapes in the industry. Be it on the radio, live festivals, or TikTok, you’ve definitely come across their tracks, irrespective of whether you’re a fan or not. 

Take for example their 2020 debut single “Black Mamba”; A soaring electropop number that lays the building blocks of their digital lore where a fictional antagonist Black Mamba disrupts the connection between the members and their virtual counterparts named æ. The intricacies of their concept instantly got fans buzzing on Twitter, trying to decipher the storyline as well as the specific terms attached to their universe. Shortly after engaging with fans at a conceptual level, the group skyrocketed to global fame with their smash hit “Next Level.” A remake of Australian artist A$ton Wyld’s song of the same name, Aespa threw in their signature sticky hooks and sleek choreography, making the track a favorite on global charts as well as social media.

With subsequent releases Savage (first EP) and Girls (second EP), Karina, Winter, Giselle and NingNing have diligently unraveled chapters from their conceptual universe whilst holding onto their bold sonic identity. In just two years following their debut, listeners were ushered to the point where they knew what to expect from an Aespa release. Whether you hated the predictability or enjoyed the group’s sonic consistencies, one thing was certain; Aespa always delivered an epic earworm. But then came along their third EP My World in 2023, whisking listeners away to a new realm layered with new soundscapes paired with Aespa’s signature vocal deliveries. This was a record that added depth and character to the quartet’s ever-growing artistry, but also posed a slight risk with the shift in style.

“We started slowly preparing for My World last year,” Aespa’s leader Karina notes in the conversation with Rolling Stone India. “It’s an album that consists of songs we’ve not only wanted to try out but have never done before conceptually so there was a lot of excitement, and we were focused on bringing out our best!” Winter agrees and explains how the members have been “careful” with their approach and put a lot of “thought and effort” into their third EP. 

Released on May 8, My World follows the group’s July 2022 EP Girls. As previously documented in “Savage” — the lead single off Girls — Aespa emerged victorious in their battle against the cunning Black Mamba in the virtual world. When paired with the slew of crumbs left in the third episode of Aespa SMCU (an ongoing digital series on YouTube where the group periodically shares developments from their conceptual universe), the visual content pieces sowed the seeds for a new storyline. After nearly a year, the group dropped My World, expanding on their lore and sound. Fronted by the synth-pop lead single “Spicy,” the EP marked the beginning of a new chapter in Aespa’s universe via a collection of six tracks oscillating between electro-dance, R&B ballads, and catchy alternative-pop numbers. 

“From Aespa’s worldview, our battle ended in the Girls album so for this EP, we thought about what it would be like to draw a story that takes place in the real world,” Karina explains the group’s inspiration for the record. “As much as we were looking forward to showcasing it, we had a great time preparing.” The group’s youngest member and vocal powerhouse NingNing chimes in, underlining the role authenticity placed in shaping their release: “ Not only is it summer, but we wanted this album to feel more our age and show our real sides since that’s what our fans have been wanting to see. We wanted it to be more relatable to the public in that sense, so our B-sides are easy-listening tracks as well.”

Opening with the tranquil pre-release single “Welcome to MY World,” Aespa take the opportunity to introduce their beloved Nævis as an AI artist. The AI character — who has played an integral role in steering Aespa’s lore forward — blends her vocals on the dream pop number with the members. The message is clear; Aespa are excited to welcome Nævis and their listeners into their world. The laid-back production and crystalline vocals are a pleasant shift from the group’s dynamic releases we’ve heard in the past. The falsetto-driven release instantly became a hit not just amongst fans but general listeners as well. It was the perfect introduction to Aespa’s more mature musical chapter. 

Shaking off the moody tunes of “Welcome to MY World,” Aespa employ the power of bright synth-bass and summer influences on the lead single “Spicy”. The dynamic synth-pop number spotlights the band’s unshakable confidence as they sing “Tell me what you see / When you look at me / ‘Cause I am a 10 out of 10, honestly.” 

“When I first heard the track, the sound captured my attention,” NingNing breaks down why the group picked “Spicy” to lead their third EP. “It was hot, passionate, and cute, yet within all of that, it still had an ‘Aespa’ vibe to it. It’s a charming track that gets to you the more you listen to it and has a feel-good chorus as well.” For Giselle, the song simply complimented the summer mood; “We love all our B-sides as much as the title track, but simply said, because it’s summer!”

“Salty & Sweet” sees Aespa do what they do best. Fusing futuristic pop with industrial synths, the song’s lyrics uncover the group’s mischievous side; “’Cause I am Salty & Sweet/ You can’t resist this fresh new Treat/ Can’t forget/ Feeling from the first taste, Real/ Strang Feels/ Meal ready for you.” On the Nineties R&B-inspired track “Thirsty,” Aespa ditch their playful flirtatious personas for one that’s more seductive; “The closer I get to you, Thirsty / Although it’s definitely full, Thirsty/ Yeah, I got you boy/ Sip, sip, sipping all night/ More Deep, deep, deep in all night.” Karina and Giselle add an edge to a track with their rap flows and Winter and NingNing’s velvety vocals melt into the ears.

Next, Aespa tackle the complexities of happiness in the age of the digital world with “I’m Unhappy.” The track’s minimal production allows listeners to appreciate the members’ vocal prowess without sounding dull. Longing for the real thing in a sea of superficial relationships, Aespa’s heartfelt lyrics deeply resonate with today’s chronically online masses as they sing, “This is like hell, yeah, I’m Unhappy/ I just pretend to be happy and tell ya/ But I’m Unhappy/ They’re busy decorating their feeds just for show/ I don’t want to know, set me free.”

Acoustic guitars and euphonious vocals are the stars of the EP’s concluding track, “Till We Meet Again.” The lyrics may allude to a bittersweet adieu, but in reality it’s quite the opposite as Aespa sing about staying by their fans’ side through music; “Till we meet again / Remember when you’re alone / The power of the music / Will connect us.”

“The concept for this album shows a different side and new charm to Aespa that hasn’t been shown before so there was a lot of curiosity and excitement in seeing what people think,” Winter shares her take on adopting a different sonic route on My World. “Our plan is to continue showing such variety in music styles and concepts so we hope everyone stays excited!” Meanwhile, for Giselle, it was all about showing the world who Aespa really are. “Being in the real world is the concept for this album. We wanted to portray more realness and show the young energy that we have.”

In this exclusive chat with Rolling Stone India, Karina, Winter, Giselle and NingNing get into the nuances of their latest release, how they deal with negativity and where they’d like to take Nævis in the real world. 

With a different sound and creative direction in play for My World, did you learn anything new about your individual strengths and the group in general?

Karina: I learned that bright songs also suit our team well. Aespa’s signature charisma and strong concepts are something I’m able to show well because I’m used to it, but the concept for this mini album was young and carefree, so I was able to enjoy the stages a bit more and have fun with it.

Winter: This album consists of a variety of genres and moods so we paid a lot of attention in making sure we were properly portraying the vibe of each track. Because of this, I was able to express my own emotions and feelings more freely.

Giselle: “Spicy” is much brighter and energetic. I’ve always thought our strength was our teamwork, but I think this track gave us the opportunity to really glow in terms of synergy. Aren’t we cute and funny [in the video]? 

NingNing: Up until now, we’ve been showing our worldview and warrior-like style, but this was the first time coming to the real world, so it was with an album that felt more accessible for our fans. It includes a lot of summery tracks to go with the season, and this allowed us to have fun and show a brighter side of ourselves on stage.

I love the message behind “I’m Unhappy.” How do you usually seek true happiness and keep external judgments at arm’s length?

Karina: I find true happiness when I focus on myself. You can’t always expect to receive positive feedback and time is too precious to focus on the negative. I believe if you keep the focus on yourself, you’ll be able to control your mindset better even in the midst of hardships.

Winter: Rather than dwelling on what others think or say, I turn the focus on me and finding my own happiness.

Giselle: I try to stay honest with myself in those moments. In that sense, this song had a lot of meaning to us and it was a chance to show a more sentimental side of ourselves.

NingNing: There may be times where it gets to me, but I make sure to look at the good and surround myself with positive influences. I focus on what I need to do and by doing so, I’ve matured a lot.

Since “Welcome To MY World (Feat. Nævis)” is all about Aespa welcoming Nævis into the real world, what do you think her initial reaction would be when she steps into the real world? What places would Aespa take Nævis to visit first?

Karina:  I’m not sure what Nævis usually eats but I’d take Nævis to a Korean BBQ restaurant first! I’d like to treat Nævis to what I like the most.

Winter: If Nævis comes to our world, I’d take Nævis to our place so I can show what the real world is like!

Giselle: I think Nævis would be surprised by nature – the soil, water, air, and sunlight. I’d take Nævis to the beach.

NingNing: I’m sure Nævis will be surprised at our world! I would take Nævis to a Korean BBQ place as well.

For this EP, you filmed a bunch of track videos as well as one for the lead single too. Amongst the videos released, which one do you cherish the most?

Karina: “I’m Unhappy” would be one of my favorites. It was a concept I got to try for the first time since my debut, and one that I really wanted to give a go. Not only was it fun, but challenging myself to emotionally act was a new experience. I’ve always wanted to film content that allows me to explore my emotions, and it was nice being able to capture that with this track video.

Winter: Among the track videos we prepared, “I’m Unhappy” is my favorite. It has a great storyline, and it was quite fun and memorable to film since we got to show a new side of Aespa.

What upcoming plans do you have for the year?

Giselle: We have our North American tour coming up this year and maybe if we work hard and hustle, another comeback?

NingNing:  We were able to successfully finish our promotional activities for My World because of all the love and support people have been showing us for this comeback. We will be coming back with more tracks and are working hard to meet our global fans as well, so we ask for your continued support. Our goal is to always be healthy and have fun!

In line with the name of the EP, if each member had the opportunity to create and design a new world, what would it look like? How would it be different from the world we live in?

Karina: I would create a peaceful world where worries don’t exist. It’d be landscaped with nature where flowers and bodies of water stand out beautifully.

Winter:  I’m not quite sure what it’d look like, but everyone will be happy in the new world I create.

Giselle: What if we had three-day weekends? A hint of the French mindset! It would be a world where living amongst art is normal, and I’d make sure it’s a place where art is more accessible to everybody.

NingNing: My world would be designed to show in detail the daily life of Aespa, the environment we live in, and the individual charms of all four members.