A look into aespa's bold foray into EDM, techno sounds with 'Whiplash'
From left are K-pop girl group aespa members Giselle, Winter, Karina and Ningning. Courtesy of SM Entertainment
K-pop sensation aespa is set to make waves again with its new single "Whiplash," an EDM-driven techno track freshly dropped Monday. In a preview unveiled by SM Entertainment, the quartet revealed the creative process behind its signature sound.
"Whiplash" is aespa's fifth mini-album, marking the group's first musical comeback in five months since the smash success of "Supernova," the lead single from its debut full-length album released in May.
The six-track release includes the eponymous title track, "Whiplash," which delves into the EDM and techno genre — a first for the group. In a departure from the high-energy visuals of previous hits like "Supernova" and "Armageddon," "Whiplash" presents a more "minimalist" performance, according to SM, highlighting the group's "sleek choreography and dynamic stage presence."
Other highlights in the album include the hip-hop dance track "Kill It," the atmospheric R&B song "Flights, Not Feelings," the self-love anthem "Pink Hoodie," the alternative R&B track "Flowers" and the pop-rock breakup song "Just Another Girl."
The four members — Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning — reflected on the album's creation, sharing personal anecdotes and discussing their hopes for the project in an interview released through their agency.
Below is an excerpt from the interview. It has been edited for length and clarity.
K-pop girl group aespa unveiled "Whiplash," Monday, marking the group's fifth mini-album since its 2020 debut. Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Q. What was the most important aspect you focused on while preparing for this album?
Karina: I think I was most concerned with how to express the rhythm of the title track, "Whiplash," through the music video and choreography.
Winter: We worked hard on both the performance and the song, of course, but I also contributed a lot of ideas to match the visuals with the album's concept.
Giselle: I paid the most attention to the recording process. There’s always something special to focus on with each comeback, and for this one, I put a lot of effort into the recording. Though there are still parts I wish I could improve, I worked hard, so I hope you listen to it a lot!
Ningning: Since this choreography is a new style compared to our previous ones, I focused more on the poses and angles.
K-pop act aespa recently hit a career milestone with "Supernova" from its May "Armageddon" album. Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Q. What can fans expect from the "Whiplash" performance?
Karina: I thought it was most important to express the rhythm, so I tried to convey that through linear movements like extending the arms.
Ningning: You can expect a cool performance that’s true to aespa’s style, enhanced by styling that perfectly matches the song.
Q. What should viewers focus on when watching the "Whiplash" music video? Do you have any memorable moments from the shoot?
Winter: It’s a bit more stripped down compared to our previous music videos, but still full of cool and refined moments. We also shot in the U.S., and I remember how a hairpin I wore matched my outfit so well that I kept it on throughout the shoot. We laughed a lot when we saw it during the video monitoring later.
Giselle: The overall concept of the music video has a techno vibe, with fashionable and conceptual elements that make it fun to watch. I also found it interesting to work with various props and I remember how surprisingly difficult it was to handle the actual filming equipment. This was also my first time trying toned-down makeup in a music video, which was a new and enjoyable experience.
K-pop group aespa's new release, "Whiplash," includes a total of six tracks spanning different genres. Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Q. Besides the title track, what’s your favorite song from the album?
Karina: "Flights, Not Feelings." The vibe of the song is so good that it makes me want to go for a drive at a vacation spot right away.
Winter: "Flights, Not Feelings." It’s a song that feels different from anything we’ve sung as aespa before. I love both the lyrics and the melody and the more I listen to it, the more I like it!
Giselle: I was amazed by how much I liked "Flights, Not Feelings" even when I first heard the demo. I thought, "We just need to nail this one." Personally, "Just Another Girl" is also a song that suits my taste.
Ningning: "Flights, Not Feelings." It feels healing when I listen to it, and it matches my usual music preferences.
K-pop girl group aespa recently concluded its Asia tour, "2024 aespa LIVE TOUR — SYNK : PARALLEL LINE." Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Q. What kind of success do you hope to achieve with this album?
Karina: Rather than focusing on success, since I personally love "Whiplash" so much, I just hope more people come to know and love it.
Winter: I saw fans’ reactions saying that "Supernova" helped them get through tough times. I hope this album can be something that helps many people in their daily lives, too.
Giselle: I love every song on this album so much that I hope it receives even more love than "Supernova."
Ningning: More than results, I just hope people enjoy both our music and performances together.
Q. Do you have any message for your fans?
Karina: Thank you always for loving our music. To repay your support, we’ve brought music that will make you want to dance, so please give it lots of love and blow off some steam with "Whiplash."
Winter: We’ve prepared songs that really show aespa’s unique colors, so please look forward to it and listen to it a lot!
Giselle: We’ve come back quickly with this new album, and we’ll keep bringing you great results, so stay tuned!
Ningning: We worked hard with the members and staff for this album, so I hope MYs (aespa's official fandom) can wrap up 2024 well while listening to it. We’ll keep working hard to bring you even better music!