Few K-pop groups have built a fictional world as intricate as aespa‘s — and fewer still keep expanding it rather than leaving it behind. Since debuting in November 2020 with KWANGYA, the parallel realm, and ae, the virtual self, the SM Entertainment quartet of KARINA, GISELLE, WINTER and NINGNING has treated every release not as a clean reset, but as another chapter in a single, unfolding mythology — a rare instinct in a genre that tends to prize reinvention over continuity.

That throughline has carried real weight. Girls took the group to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (dated July 23, 2022); “Whiplash” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Global 200 (dated Nov 9, 2024) and stayed on the chart for 31 weeks; and in 2025, aespa was named Group of the Year at Billboard Women in Music. More than five years on, aespa has grown harder to reduce to any single concept — a group whose “metallic” sound and exacting performance identity now stand on its own, lore or no lore, and whose reach keeps widening: a fourth world tour is set to carry the quartet across Asia, the Americas and Europe into early 2027.

Its second studio album, LEMONADE, arrives at that turning point, but rather than dwell on the music itself, Billboard Korea spoke with aespa to look at the group behind it. The members reflect on who they’ve become beyond the mythology that introduced them, the sonic territory they still want to claim, the standards and the bonds they refuse to lose as everything else shifts and the legacy they hope will remain decades from now.

aespa first entered the public imagination through one of K-pop’s most ambitious world-building systems: KWANGYA and ae, the virtual self. Over time, that universe has become less about fiction alone and more about identity, self-protection, desire and the question of who you are when the concept is stripped away. When you look at aespa today, what do you feel the group has become beyond its original mythology?

aespa: When we debuted, ae and KWANGYA were essential to how the world understood aespa. They gave us a completely unique world to start from. But over time, we’ve grown far beyond just the boundaries of our lore. Today, our signature “metallic” sonic identity, our visuals, our performances and our distinct individual personalities define who we are just as much as the story. It feels like we’re no longer just characters navigating a fictional world; we are creating a cultural language that is entirely our own. While our lore will always be a part of our DNA, the core of aespa has shifted to the four of us: our real selves, our growth and the confidence we’ve gained along the way. Today, we know exactly who we are, and we can express our true colors more confidently than ever before.

aespa’s sound has always balanced futuristic tension with strong pop instincts, moving across electronic, pop, rock and performance-driven sounds. Looking ahead, what kind of sonic territory feels most necessary for aespa to explore next?

aespa: We love pushing boundaries and want to continue exploring new sounds and concepts, but the key is always making sure it retains that unmistakable aespa energy. Whether we dive deeper into experimental electronic, raw rock elements, or a completely new genre, our ultimate goal is transformation without losing our core. We want to evolve in a way where no matter how much the sound changes, the moment people hear it, they instantly recognize, “That is definitely aespa.”

K-pop often rewards speed, visibility and constant reinvention, but aespa has built power through continuity, with recurring symbols, sounds, characters and ideas. What do you think aespa must preserve as it keeps evolving?

aespa: We believe our continuity is actually our greatest strength. As we evolve, what we protect most carefully are the anchors that make aespa: our signature conceptual depth, our performance standard and the distinct colors each of us brings. But above all, the synergy between the four of us is really important to us. No matter how much the trends shift or how much we grow and change, that collective harmony will remain the true heart of aespa.

KARINA, as aespa’s leader, you tend to set the tone for how the group moves together, on stage and as a team. In this era, what felt most important for you to express through your presence?

KARINA: Since this is our second full-length album, it felt like a really important milestone for aespa. We all shared the same goal of showing a completely new side of ourselves, and I think that passion really comes through in the music. During recording and choreography practices, all the members shared so many ideas, making the entire process feel deeply collaborative. More than ever, this album feels like something the four of us truly built together.

Staying with you, KARINA, “Camouflage” carries a strong sense of concealment, control and transformation. Approaching a song like that, what mood or detail did you most want to bring out?

KARINA: What really stood out to me was the idea of hiding yourself as a way to protect yourself. “Camouflage” isn’t just about disguise; it’s about stepping into another version of yourself so you don’t get shaken or hurt. While recording, I focused heavily on channeling that specific mindset and delivering energy through my vocals.

GISELLE, you bring a distinct sense of rhythm, attitude and tone to aespa’s songs. This time around, what did you focus on most in your delivery and expression?

GISELLE: In our title track, “LEMONADE,” there’s a specific lyric in my part that goes: “Mixing up all these tangled-up problems/ Like a hurricane/ Swirling the pieces/ All the lemons/ I blend it all up and drink it down/ I don’t care if you say I’m freaky.” Just like the words suggest, I really focused on delivering an attitude that says “I don’t really care,” no matter what kind of problems or challenges come my way. I wanted that unapologetic confidence to come through clearly in my delivery.

Still with you, GISELLE: Narration on songs like “Rich Man” and “WDA” gives aespa’s music a cinematic sense of attitude and premise. If there were a song called “aespa” that captured the group so far, what would its opening line be?

GISELLE: “Next Level!” It would simply be a declaration to show aespa’s signature “metallic” sound and performance in a completely fresh way, always pushing boundaries and taking it to the next level.

WINTER, across aespa’s discography, which song feels closest to the artist you’re becoming now, not just the performer people know, but the version of you still taking shape?

WINTER: I don’t think I can choose just one single song. For me, every aespa song and every single performance has been an essential part of the process of figuring out who I am, both as a person and as an artist. I don’t think there is one song that shows a definitive or complete version of me just yet. But as I continue to discover that more clearly, I want to keep growing and presenting who I am with even greater confidence.

WINTER, aespa’s music often moves between intensity, elegance and emotional contrast. As an artist, what kind of emotion or texture are you most drawn to expressing these days?

WINTER: Lately, I’ve been really drawn to the subtle nuances between emotions, rather than focusing on one distinct feeling. This album explores so many different moods, so I tried to bring out a completely different energy for each individual song. Some tracks required raw strength, some needed more softness and others called for a kind of tension in between. I think finding that contrast is what makes performing so interesting. Moving forward, I’m really excited to see how our fans notice those subtle differences and which emotions they connect with the most.

NINGNING, you carry a particular kind of confidence that only comes with experience. In this era, was there a stage, a recording moment or a detail where you felt your expression had evolved?

NINGNING: Every time we prepare a new album, I go into it with a strong desire to show how much I’ve grown. For this album, the creature and mutant-inspired concept photos were something new for me, so I spent a lot of time thinking about how to truly bring that mood to life, not just through the styling, but through my facial expressions and internal attitude. The performance of this release also demands an incredible amount of energy, so I worked hard to make sure the raw power of the music comes through flawlessly on stage.

NINGNING, when people look back on aespa decades from now, what do you hope they understand about the group that might not be obvious in the present moment?

NINGNING: A lot of people already love aespa for our lore and our sleek, futuristic “metallic” sound. But even years from now, I hope people remember us as a group that created concepts, sounds, and performances no one else could ever recreate. I want them to look back and see that we were truly one of a kind.

As we wrap up, “‘Til We Die” speaks to endurance and staying connected over time. Beyond the obvious bond with fans and members, what’s one belief, standard or promise inside aespa that you hope never changes?

aespa: “‘Til We Die” really captures the essence of what we want our legacy to be. We hope the bond between the members, and the memories and connection we keep building with MYs, will always stay strong. More than anything, we want to keep giving back to MYs with music and performances that live up to their love and expectations. That artistic integrity and gratitude is a promise we want to keep within aespa, no matter how many years pass.

This story was originally published by Billboard Korea.

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