aespa
Four distinct voices, bold electronic production and a visual world that connects pop performance with digital fantasy.
Profile
aespa debuted on November 17, 2020, with “Black Mamba.” KARINA, GISELLE, WINTER and NINGNING introduced a group identity built around human performers and their digital counterparts. The name and early storytelling made the relationship between real and virtual worlds part of the music itself.
A useful way into their catalog is to follow the contrast between “Black Mamba” and “Next Level.” The first introduces the group’s dark, electronic setting; the second moves through sharply different sections, making sudden changes in rhythm and mood part of its appeal. “Savage” developed that forceful, futuristic sound further.
Their later releases broadened the palette. MY WORLD brought a brighter setting to the group’s music, while Armageddon placed contrasting singles within a full-length album. Across these changes, the interplay between rap, layered harmonies and powerful vocal passages remains an important thread.
In 2026, aespa moved into another major release cycle with the second studio album LEMONADE, followed by the Japanese mini album KISS N TELL. In September, the special digital single SYNK : COMPLaeXITY officially released four solo songs first introduced during the group’s 2026 concert tour: KARINA’s “16 Bit,” WINTER’s “Saddle Up,” GISELLE’s “BYEB4HELLO” and NINGNING’s “I Love You But I Gotta Let You Go.”
For a first listen, start with the debut video below, then move through “Next Level,” “Supernova,” “LEMONADE” and “KISS N TELL.” The member pages separate each performer’s solo material from the group’s shared discography.
Career Milestones & Group Honors
Selected career milestones and major award wins, newest year first.
Golden Disc Awards
Digital Song Bonsang (“Dirty Work”).
Golden Disc Awards
Digital Song Daesang (“Supernova”).
Korean Music Awards
“Supernova”: Song of the Year and Best K-Pop Song. Armageddon: Best K-Pop Album.
Billboard Women in Music
Group of the Year.
Japan Gold Disc Awards
New Artist of the Year (Asia) and Best 3 New Artists (Asia). These honors recognize achievement in the Japanese market.
MAMA Awards
Best Female Group; Best Choreography and Best Dance Performance – Female Group (“Whiplash”).
The Fact Music Awards
Grand Prize (Daesang).
MAMA Awards
Song of the Year (“Supernova”); Best Female Group; Best Music Video (“Armageddon”).
Melon Music Awards
Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (Armageddon); Song of the Year (“Supernova”).
Melon Music Awards
Global Artist; Best Female Performance.
Korean Music Awards · Song of the Year
“Next Level” received the ceremony’s overall Song of the Year honor.
Korean Music Awards · Best K-Pop Song
“Next Level” also won the genre category.
Korean Music Awards · Rookie of the Year
aespa received the new-artist honor.
Golden Disc Awards
Rookie Artist of the Year; Digital Song Bonsang (“Next Level”).
MAMA Awards
Best New Female Artist; Best Dance Performance – Female Group (“Next Level”).
Melon Music Awards
Record of the Year; Best New Artist; Best Female Group; Top 10 Artist.
MTV Europe Music Awards
Best Korean Act.
Group debut
aespa debuted with “Black Mamba.”
Official Videos by Year
Representative hits and recent title tracks, arranged from newest releases to debut.
KISS N TELL
KISS N TELL · First Japan mini album
A bright house-based dance-pop release from aespa’s first Japanese mini album, presented with a summer amusement-park concept.
LEMONADE
LEMONADE · Second studio album
The lead music video from aespa’s second full album opens the group’s 2026 album chapter with a synth-bass-driven electronic dance track.
Dirty Work
The lead song from aespa’s 2025 single album Dirty Work.
Whiplash
Whiplash · Fifth mini album
The title track moves into a streamlined dance direction. Placing it after the Armageddon videos makes the change of pace within aespa’s 2024 releases easier to follow.
Armageddon
Armageddon · First studio album
The other title track from the first full-length album. Watch it alongside “Supernova” to compare how two songs from one album establish distinct musical and visual identities.
Supernova
Armageddon · Pre-release title track
One of the two title tracks associated with aespa’s first studio album. The bass-driven production and rapidly exchanged vocal lines are central to the song; it later won Song of the Year at the Korean Music Awards.
Drama
Drama · Fourth mini album
A return to a more forceful mood after the MY WORLD releases. This title track is a useful bridge between the group’s 2023 output and the full-album era that followed.
Spicy
MY WORLD · Third mini album
The MY WORLD title track offers a brighter entry point into aespa’s music. Pair it with the pre-release above to hear two different sides of the same mini album.
Girls
Girls · Second mini album
The title track continues the group’s early fictional-world storyline. Watch it after “Savage” for a chronological introduction to this part of aespa’s visual identity.
Savage
Savage · First mini album
The title track of aespa’s first mini album takes the group’s forceful electronic direction further. Pair it with “Next Level” to follow the development of their early sound.
Next Level
Digital single
A key early release built around contrasting musical sections. Listen for the transitions between the main hook and the mid-song change in rhythm; the song later earned major Korean Music Awards recognition.
Black Mamba
Debut single
Start with the debut that introduced aespa’s electronic sound and virtual-world identity. It provides the reference point for the more elaborate storytelling of the group’s next releases.
Official Links & SNS
News & Further Reading
Selected overseas coverage, newest first.
Festival coverage featuring aespa’s performance outfits in Chicago.
MAY 29, 2026 · VOGUEInside aespa’s LEMONADE visual concept ↗A group interview about the video’s retro styling, self-confidence message and preparations for the new album era.
MAY 29, 2026 · NMELEMONADE: an overseas album review ↗NME reviews the second studio album’s electronic and hip-hop direction alongside the group’s earlier releases.
MAY 14, 2026 · NMEWDA collaboration and the world tour ↗Coverage of the G-DRAGON collaboration, the new album announcement and the 2026–2027 world tour.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 · NMEaespa discuss Rich Man and their evolving sound ↗The members discuss the single’s self-belief message and their approach to different musical genres.