【尹俊弼的视线】aespa，瞄准“酸甜浓甜”的夏日

[BizEnter/Reporter Yun Jun-pil]

aespa (photo source=SM Entertainment)

“This time, we’re back with a sour flavor.”

aespa, after two years, released their full-length album 'LEMONADE', and mentioned 'sour taste' instead of their signature team color, 'metallic taste'.

对于aespa来说，“金属味”是粉丝们给的绰号。冰冷、坚实的声音、Kwangya宇宙的金属质感，以及从《Black Mamba》到《Supernova》的色彩延续，已经成为aespa的标识。

But this time, fans first gave them a new nickname: 'metallic-sweet-and-sour'. At a press conference held on the 28th at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, aespa member Ningning explained the 'sour taste' highlighted in the album, saying, “We keep the intensity, but you’ll be able to feel a relaxed and cool energy.”

aespa 2nd full album 'LEMONADE' teaser image (photo source=SM Entertainment)

What’s interesting is that the sour taste didn’t push the metallic taste aside. The album track 'SHAKIN' is a song that maintains aespa’s existing color. Karina called it “one of the metallic-taste tracks we have.” While emphasizing a refreshing summer vibe, they have not let go of the color that has supported them.

One of the key moves in this album is the pre-released double title track 'WDA (Whole Different Animal)'. G-Dragon participated in featuring and rap-making. Karina said, “From the moment we received the demo, we had featuring in mind, and our senior gladly joined.” It is a meeting between G-Dragon, the pinnacle of K-pop’s second generation, and aespa, the representative girl group of the fourth generation. It is also a combination that can draw interest from a wide range of age groups. On top of that, Latin pop star Becky G and hip-hop star Ty Dolla $ign are also on the lineup, making aespa’s collaboration roster span generations, nationalities, and genres.

从这张专辑开始，aespa的宇宙也迎来了变化。Giselle说：“在《Next Level》里，‘不要觊觎属于Kwangya的东西’——那些警告都连接到《LEMONADE》。在这一章里，裂缝终于出现了。”通过打破紧紧封闭的Kwangya叙事，他们为已经存在的粉丝创造了一个接触新故事的起点，也为那些不熟悉aespa宇宙的人提供了一个无需负担即可加入叙事的契机。

aespa (photo source=SM Entertainment)

The stage that opens that door first is Gocheok Dome in August. aespa will kick off their world tour 'SYNK: COMPLEXITY' on August 7–8 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. They will become only the second K-pop female idol group to perform at Gocheok Dome after BLACKPINK. Winter said, “I can’t believe we’re entering Gocheok Dome, where I had only ever watched concerts, with our second full album.” It is a long journey that starts in Seoul and spans 25 cities.

Karina put the album’s goal on communication rather than results. She said, “It would be great if it does better than our first album, but more importantly, many people gaining energy from our songs is what matters.” Just as the album’s motto suggests: comparing hardships to lemons, and turning them into lemonade.

'LEMONADE', crafted by a master of 'metallic taste'—how refreshingly this sour flavor will carry this summer becomes a question worth asking.