Global sensation aespa affirms their status as one of K-pop’s hottest girl groups right now with their latest release, “Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album” – out now via SM Entertainment / Virgin Records. Listen below.
The new six-track EP builds on a phenomenal year that has seen aespa launch their first full-length album “Armageddon” and kick off their second world tour, which hits North America and Europe in 2025. The “2024 – 25 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : PARALLEL LINE” takes over London’s OVO Arena Wembley on 2 March. Full dates below.
Title track ‘Whiplash’ is a sassy house record with a punchy bass beat and lyrics that ooze the ‘it girl’ confidence befitting of a K-Pop group that has been smashing records all summer. The infectious track is co-produced by British DJ and producer Shift K3Y, who has also worked with Becky Hill. Watch the music video.
The accompanying tracks hear aespa deliver their signature confident anthems while also expanding their sonic palette to embrace different genres.
‘Kill It’ brings out their unapologetic side on a hip-hop/dance fusion track, using bristling metallic synths and aespa’s powerful vocals to convey a warning to anyone sending hate to the group. ‘Flights, Not Feelings’ slows the EP down to an R&B mid-tempo pace, highlighting the group’s effortlessly ethereal vocals. The uplifting lyrics encourage listeners to leave behind bad feelings, live freely and enjoy life.
‘Pink Hoodie’ delivers classic aespa, with syncopated synths and a deep, resounding bassline. The lyrics continue the theme of confidence, playing on a metaphor of feeling comfortable in yourself like a well-loved pink hoodie.
‘Flowers’ is an alt-R&B track with a refined guitar riff and sensual lyrics drawing on floral imagery to describe falling in love. The EP ends on ‘Just Another Girl’, a bouncy pop-rock song with grungy guitars that contrasts their clear, bright vocals. Despite the upbeat, anthemic feeling, the song follows the story of love’s betrayal and knowing your own worth – even if it means enduring heartache in the short-term.
“Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album” follows aespa’s monumental first full-length album “Armageddon”, which saw the already hugely successful girl group solidify their legendary status in Korea and beyond. ‘Supernova’, their first single off the LP, spent 15 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Korea’s domestic music streaming platforms Melon and Genie – setting a record on Melon for the longest-running number one in the platform’s history.
aespa – Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album
Listen to Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album by aespa.
