Aespa Is One of the Hottest K-Pop Groups in the Game, and Here’s Your Beginner’s Guide
It's basically an established fact at this point that several of K-pop’s passionate fourth-gen groups have already started to build their very own promising legacies. But just like the title of their 2021 hit single, the four-member SM Entertainment girl group aespa is rapidly working towards taking things to the “Next Level.” As a matter of fact, the group is actively approaching a crucial two-year threshold that’s known to test a K-pop ensemble’s shot at longevity, and aespa’s carefully curated lineup has launched a worldwide brand of maximalist mainstream tracks with productions that veer towards bold EDM, hyperpop, hip-hop, and even the occasional power-ballad-level technicality. So all things considered, it’s not a stretch to argue that they have everything needed to stick the landing of a potentially perfect “rookie” era.
What sets them apart from the rest?
Fourth-generation groups (like the well-known ITZY and TXT) have really branched out in terms of style, and they've set the standard for modern K-pop trends. Still, aespa’s concept might be the most distinctive for bridging an immersive digital world with their own music. Visualized by SM with the word “avatar” in mind, aespa’s already unique genre-exploring sound paired with a colossally-sized visual domain managed to get the attention of lots of people—generating a super-popular set during Coachella 2022, a headlining performance at Good Morning America’s televised Central Park concert (also in 2022), or even catapulting their way towards a billion views in total (any day now, tbh) across seven costly music videos.
Here’s a little more insight into why the four members of aespa (and their digital alter egos) are totally worth your time.
Karina (22)
Aespa’s leader Karina has been giving off star-power vibes going all the way back to her choreo-heavy pre-debut teaser. Since then, the singer’s confidence and motherly attitude toward her fellow members have become some of the more beloved qualities she contributes to the up-and-coming pop group. It’s also impossible not to mention that earlier this year, the singer, dancer, and rapper was chosen by her company to participate in the women’s all-star lineup titled GOT the beat with names like Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation, BoA, and Red Velvet’s Seulgi. Another thing we love? Despite being good at basically everything, her PUBG skills leave something to be desired, which is hilarious.
Giselle (21, turning 22 on October 30)
Multilingual member Giselle (who speaks Korean, English, and Japanese) is known for bringing the much-needed sass to aespa’s high-energy music. And the main rapper of the group has eagerly taken on songwriting on her own verses (like “SYNK”) and was featured as a standout on the K-pop label's addictive collaboration “Zoo,” featuring seasoned performers including Taeyong, Jeno, Hendery, and Yang Yang. And maybe the most relatable thing about Giselle is that she's talked openly about having a weak stomach, and she's known for turning her bag into an on-the-go pharmacy on the go. Girl, same.
Winter (21)
All hail Winter—who is an actual established queen in SM’s mythical world of Kwangya. Not only did she wield a sword in that fictional world during the group's debut, but that wasn’t her first time doing that, either. The performer briefly trained in Kendo (a modern, Japanese martial art) to make it as authentic as possible. From a fashion standpoint, Winter’s ability to pull off any hairstyle makes her one of the most adaptable “visuals” in the game. And! The young artist was hand-picked as the second representative of aespa to participate in GOT the beat’s first single “Step Back,” so it seems like she'll be sticking around for a while.
Ningning (19, turning 20 on October 23)
Last, but certainly not least, is Ningning, the maknae (youngest) of aespa, who’s widely praised by fans as an amazing vocalist. The highly-trained singer always turns her commanding verses into a moment, and she’s definitely a secret weapon when it comes to the band's relationship with rich, textured tones. If you’re thinking about trying to replicate one of her personalized high notes… well, let’s just say that everyone has their talents, but it’s probably better if you leave those to Ningning!
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