The K-pop world has introduced us to some of the biggest girl bands of the last decade, from BLACKPINK to KATSEYE, and aespa are definitely among those ranks.
Since their debut in 2020, the four-piece group – made up of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning – have broken records in Korea, achieving the highest number of views in 24 hours for a K-pop group’s debut video and becoming the third K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella.
Hits like Black Mamba, Supernova and Dirty Work have solidified aespa as one of the hottest girl groups around, racking up nearly 17million followers on Instagram and over 54 million views on the MV for new single Lemonade, the lead single from the album of the same name, which charted at number one in South Korea and broke the top 10 of the Billboard charts.
And if that title brings to mind sunny and sweet – you have another thing coming.
Speaking to Metro Karina explained: ‘When people hear the word lemonadethey usually think of something sweet, tangy, and refreshing. But with this album, we wanted to put aespa’s own spin on that image by adding something sharper, bolder, and more electrifying.
‘We hope LEMONADE can be the album that cools you down this summer, but in a very aespa way.’
Giselle added: ‘The title track is inspired by the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It’s about taking difficult moments and turning them into new energy and moving forward with confidence.
‘That attitude runs throughout the whole album— we wanted to show aespa’s playful wit, resilience, and confident spirit in every track.’
Lemonade mixes multiple genres, from hyperpop to EDM to rock, which reflects the growth of the band since their debut. ‘For this full-length album, we really wanted every track to bring out a different charm of the group,’ Winter said.
‘As you listen, you’ll hear everything from powerful, hard-hitting songs to tracks that are witty, playful, and full of energy. We stayed true to the intensity that’s become part of aespa’s identity, but I also think you’ll notice a stronger sense of purpose and see us exploring new sides of ourselves along the way.’
Amidst their exploration is a collaboration with K-pop superstar G-Dragon. The BigBang star, dubbed the King of K-pop, raps the hook on WDA (Whole Different Animal), and the girls reckon his unmistakable style elevated the standout track.
Ningning said: ‘He has a way of making every line unmistakably his, and it reminded us how important it is to have a strong artistic identity. It definitely inspired us to keep growing and showing our own unique colours with confidence.’
Those unique colours certainly make aespa stand out in a crowded market. The girls are represented by avatars in a virtual realm called KWANGYA, while their edgy style seeps into their visuals and photo shoots. They’re not afraid to mix things up – Winter switched it up with a short tousled cut in the Whiplash video (‘The styling was minimal, but it still had a lot of strength and attitude, which matched the song perfectly and left a strong impression’), while Giselle embodied a scorpio in The Creature teaser (‘Since I’m a Scorpio, it felt especially personal and memorable to me’).
Meanwhile, they’re open to collaborations with a host of talent, including stars from the UK.
Karina put Olivia Dean on her wish list, saying: ‘I really love her voice, her music, and her whole vibe, so it would be really special to work with her one day,’ while Winter added: ‘I’d love to work with PinkPantheress someday. I really admire her signature sound and the atmosphere she creates in her music. I think bringing her style together with aespa’s could lead to something really fresh and exciting.’
Before those potential opportunities (Olivia and PinkPantheress, get on the phone!), though, aespa have the little matter of a world tour to attend to. The SYNK : COMPLæXITY kicks off this August and spans 26 dates over 23 cities – including January 2027 dates in Manchester and London.
Ningning explained: ‘I think this tour will be the best way for our fans to fully experience aespa’s music and universe on stage. SYNK: COMPLæXITY is closely connected to the story behind our new album, and we’re expanding the ideas and changes from the album through the performances, stage production and visuals.
‘Since we’ll be meeting fans in so many different cities, we want every show to feel powerful, immersive and unmistakably aespa.’
The Drama stars will also be performing at Lollapalooza Chicago in August before embarking on their tour. ‘We’re honestly so excited!’ gushed Giselle.
‘We’ve been working really hard to prepare something special for that stage. To give you a little spoiler – we’ll be debuting brand new performances that we’ve never shown anywhere before. It’s going to be a really meaningful moment for us, and we can’t wait to share that energy with everyone in Chicago.’
With all that travelling, the band have plenty of travel must-haves in their suitcases. Karina makes sure to bring an iPad and a book on board, while Ningning brings different perfumes for every mood.
Giselle keeps fresh on flights with body scrub and face mist – while Winter tends to overpack for every occasion, joking: ‘I always bring slippers, skincare, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, a portable charger, books, a colouring book, a speaker — basically, I like to be prepared for everything.’
And when it comes to showtime, each member has a different way of preparing. ‘It’s usually pretty loud!’, Karina said of the backstage vibe. ‘I like to chat with members and joke around with the staff before going on stage. We actually try to keep the energy up because it helps us loosen up and get into the right mindset. When your body is relaxed and warmed up, you’re less likely to make mistakes or get injured on stage.’
However, Ningning is the opposite, interjecting: ‘I try not to get too hyped before a performance. I try to conserve my energy, so that once I step on stage, I can let it all out in the performance.’
Aespa’s continuous rise comes at a huge time for all things K-culture. While bands like BTS and Stray Kids have stormed the charts for years, the success of KPop Demon Hunters – including its historic Oscar win – and the rise of K-beauty products has seen an even bigger Korean wave take over the Western world.
Giselle said: ‘I think people around the world are now seeing K-pop as more than just music. They’re interested in the performances, fashion, visuals, content and the culture around it as well. Seeing fans from so many different countries connect with it so naturally makes us realise just how much K-pop has become part of global culture.’
This love of all things Korean means new opportunities for bands like aespa. ‘It also means K-pop artists have more opportunities to perform on different stages and meet new audiences,’ said Winter.
‘Each group has more space to show its own style, which is really exciting. We also want to keep showing what makes aespa different through our music and performances.’
Aespa are just one of the K-pop girlbands having a serious moment right now. Red Velvet and NewJeans are about to make their long-awaited comebacks, KATSEYE are making waves, and BLACKPINK continue to dominate the charts.
But while the aespa ladies are all about girl power – Karina has been streaming Hearts2Hearts’ Lemon Tang, while Winter reps Hanroro’s Goodbye, My Summer – they want to remain authentic to their own brand.
‘There are so many incredible girl groups right now, both in K-pop and around the world, and I think it’s really inspiring to see each of them expressing their own unique identity,’ Karina said.
‘Rather than looking to one particular group, I find inspiration in how different artists stay true to their own sound, concepts, and energy. It reminds us how important it is to keep evolving while staying authentic to who we are. That’s something we always strive for as aespa—with our music, performances, and the world we’re creating.’
aespa’s LEMONADE is out now and tickets for their 2027 UK and European tour dates are on sale now here.