K-pop girl group Aespa returns with their third mini-album, "My World," on May 8, showcasing their musical prowess that has been overshadowed by the vast concepts of wilderness, avatars, and virtual reality.

SM Entertainment, Aespa's agency, described "My World" as an album featuring a variety of genres that allows listeners to explore Aespa's new musical world. The group, which has gained attention for its unique concepts and immense scale, focuses more on music in this album.

Concept photos and teaser videos released in advance reveal a side of Aespa that has never been shown before. While their previous songs, such as "Black Mamba," "Next Level," "Savage," and "Girls," were intense and exuded girl crush vibes, "My World" presents a more tranquil and warm atmosphere, showcasing a significant transformation for Aespa.

The reason behind this dramatic shift in concept lies in the change in the group's narrative background. Aespa previously centered their story in the wilderness, but in "My World," they return to the real world and embrace a new beginning. To fully understand the story unfolding in "My World," one must first delve into the universe of "Wilderness."

In the past, Aespa communicated with their virtual world avatar friends and allies, "ae," but one day, they suddenly lost connection. The villain "Black Mamba," driven by greed, was responsible. Aespa's debut song, "Black Mamba" (2020), foreshadows the battle against the villain, and the song "Next Level" (2021) depicts Aespa's journey to find the Black Mamba in the wilderness.

Aespa and ae have an ally, "NAVIS." With NAVIS's help, Aespa finally confronts Black Mamba in the wilderness and captures their battle in their first mini-album, "Savage" (2021). Aespa and ae ultimately triumph over Black Mamba, and they continue their story with a more evolved NAVIS. This narrative is expressed in their second mini-album, "Girls" (2022), which concludes the first season of the SMCU (SM Culture Universe) Aespa universe.

"My World," released after "Girls," marks the beginning of SMCU Aespa Universe Season 2 and revolves around Aespa inviting NAVIS to the real world. Although the album invites listeners to Aespa's unique musical world, it also focuses more on musicality than the solid Aespa universe.

In "My World," Aespa's music transcends the intense battle with Black Mamba in the wilderness and is finally unlocked. While the Aespa universe is scaled down as they return to the real world, the album compensates with a richer musical experience, setting it apart from previous releases.

"My World" features six songs from various genres, including the R&B track "Thirsty" and the ballad "Till We Meet Again." The pre-released song "Welcome to My World," which was released on May 2, received rave reviews for its dreamy atmosphere, orchestral performance, and exceptional vocals from Aespa members. SM Entertainment stated, "My World captures various emotions and tones that only Aespa can express."

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