The girl group aespa (consisting of members Karina, Winter, Giselle, and NingNing) has broken their 10-month silence, returning to the music scene with yet another groundbreaking performance. Having debuted in 2020 with the concept of a 'metaverse girl group', they have now released their third mini-album, showing remarkable growth and pouring out their best achievements yet. As the heat of May approaches, they are captivating their listeners with an image that is even more free-spirited and cheerful, perfectly suited for the upcoming summer.

Their new album, 'My World', has set a new record for K-pop girl groups with a staggering 1.8 million pre-orders. This follows their previous album, 'Girls', solidifying their status as a million-seller for two albums in a row. They have also topped the iTunes 'Top Album Charts' in 20 countries worldwide, including Japan, Finland, Brazil, Singapore, and Thailand, and have recorded first place in both the new song and music video charts on China's QQ Music.

"The Real World" of Season 2, Departing from the Wilderness

Season 2 of aespa's narrative has departed from the 'wilderness' that served as the backdrop for their previous aespa world view and returned to the 'real world'. The album includes a total of six songs: the title track 'Spicy', 'Welcome To MY World', 'Salty & Sweet', 'Thirsty', 'I'm Unhappy', and 'Til We Meet Again'. 'Spicy' is a dance song featuring a powerful synth bass sound and dynamic beats. The lyrics capture the uninhibited charm of aespa, and the members' youthful energy stands out in a fresh atmosphere, different from the intense music they have presented so far.

In a recent press conference, aespa shared, "We listened to the title song a while ago and remembered it after just one listen. When choosing the title song, we proposed to the company that 'Spicy' would fit well with the season, and it was beautifully incorporated into our performance." Proudly, they added, "At the point when we returned to the real world, it's a song that fits perfectly with summer." They also expressed their commitment to living up to their fans' expectations, given the record-breaking album pre-order numbers, saying, "We believe our unique concept and the love for that atmosphere contribute to this achievement. We aim to be artists who meet and exceed our fans' expectations."

Excluding Profoundness and Darkness, Embracing 'Liveliness'

Indeed, aespa has made a significant transformation. From their debut until now, they have carried an adventurous and combative image, centered around the narrative of defeating the Black Mamba in the virtual world 'wilderness'. However, 'My World' is different. They are expanding their musical spectrum with an even brighter energy.

"We think of ourselves as a group with two sides," aespa explained. "This is the first time we've tried cute and popular music. We're not afraid of change and we actually enjoy it. We will continue to take on various challenges in the future." They expressed their excitement to show a "high-teen" image suitable for their age, saying, "It's a great joy to be able to present a fun song after only telling dark stories. We've had an itch to let loose on stage. Let's have a cool summer with aespa's 'Spicy'."

The Rise of 4th Generation Girl Groups... Tokyo Dome Entry in Sight

aespa is becoming increasingly competitive in the wave of 'fourth-generation girl groups', which includes Louserafim, IVE, and others. Beyond releasing hit songs and embarking on their first solo concert world tour, they have been showcasing their unique music and performances. aespa stated, "We don't see it as a competition with them. We all want to promote Korea under the name of K-pop." They added, "We believe we have our own character and distinctiveness, so we want to show our evolution."

This August, they are looking forward to performing at the Tokyo Dome, a stage often referred to as a dream venue for many artists. This is a remarkable achievement given that they've only debuted less than three years ago. They are also set to break the record for the shortest time for a foreign artist to perform at the Tokyo Dome. aespa revealed their ambitions, saying, "There are still many songs we've kept hidden. We're extremely confident. You can look forward to some amazing songs." They added, "You'll be able to see a new side of aespa that you've never seen before."

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