“This city’s so pretty when your lights on.”
The world of aespa is one that is fascinating in the realm of fourth-generation girl groups. They have a sci-fi cyberpunk led concept, with a narrative casting the four members, Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning as a crime-fighting unit with virtual counterparts. The concept provides them a unique edge for fans with interest in lore building. Having released two mini-albums so far, their story continues with MY WORLD.
Prior to the release of this mini, the group’s promotional efforts included many different themes, from cityscapes to fields of nature. Commanding a sense of adventure and confidence, they definitely kept me intrigued about the sound they would pursue for the mini.
Pre-release single “Welcome to MY World” was an interesting step in a different direction for the group. A mysterious, hypnotic sounding track, it seems to introduce nævis, a virtual member of the group, into the real world. The music video is one that stands out in today’s kpop scene, missing the flashy choreography and trading it in for a story based narrative that sees the girls on a journey to find nævis.
Lead single “Spicy” lives up to its title with its delectable bassline and confident vibe. Its chorus, punctuated by Winter’s signature high notes, is an infectious earworm. Giselle spits the line “Tell me what you see, when you look at me, ‘cause I am a ten outta ten, honestly,” and it is dripping with attitude. The music video exudes confidence and sassiness, and the track gives each member a chance to shine. Although self-confidence is a common theme in kpop, aespa handle it in a way that feels unique to them and true to their signature style.
Following tracks “Salty & Sweet” and “Thirsty” ride this trend, spanning different influences to continue on that theme of confidence. The latter sees Giselle and Karina display their impressive rapping skills, delivering fast-paced vocals with precision. The former gives Winter and Ningning space to flex their impressive high notes.
Closer “’Til We Meet Again” takes the ballad approach, something aespa has always been strong at. Switching lanes for something more melancholic, it is a sweet sounding track that is backed by dreamy string synths and acoustic guitars. Heartfelt tracks are always something I appreciate in kpop, and this one pulls it off very well.
MY WORLD may be a shorter offering, but it what it lacks in length, it makes up for in quality. The instrumentals are genuinely interesting and provides firm foundation for the members’ talents to shine. aespa’s talents are on full display here and their established sound is given room to grow here with a more upbeat angle. I do wish they explored the mystifying angle introduced by “Welcome to MY World”, as it was something different in the genre. That aside, aespa continue to solidify their presence as one of fourth generation’s stronger acts, and I hope that that the possibility of a full-length album can be explored.
8.5/10
MY WORLD is available today, May 8th, via SM Entertainment. You can find the mini-album here.