Aespa squeezes out sophomore studio album with star-studded 'LEMONADE'

From left, K-pop girl group aespa members Ningning, Winter, Giselle and Karina pose during a press conference marking their sophomore studio album release at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday. Yonhap

K-pop girl group aespa is bottling adversity into a dance track. The group's second studio album, "LEMONADE," drops Friday, anchored by a synth-heavy eponymous title track built around the idiom "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

The four-member group — Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning — met with the press Thursday afternoon at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa district, a day ahead of the album's 1 p.m. release.

The 11-track album follows aespa's 2024 debut full-length album "Armageddon," which produced two major hits in the title track of the same name and prerelease single "Supernova."

SM Entertainment, the group's label, said the new record features songs "that add to the listening experience through music capturing sincere emotions and attitudes toward life, each in its own genre and mood."

Aespa's Karina speaks during a press conference held to commemorate the group's "LEMONADE" album release at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday. Yonhap

"The new studio album carries a lot of meaning for us," Karina said. "So many people showed love for our first one, so we've been preparing with both pressure and excitement. We put a great deal of thought into what to show people. I think we'll be able to show how much we've grown."

The title track, "LEMONADE," is an electronic dance track driven by a heavy, addictive synth-bass sound. The members said the song carries a message of turning hardships into opportunity.

"Even when a dangerous, chaotic situation hits, the message is about blending it all up and drinking it down and doing that with a sense of fun," Winter said. "The bass really stayed with me. It had a strong, intense feel from the very first listen. The overall vibe is cool, which makes the timing feel right for summer."

Aespa's Winter poses during a press conference held to commemorate the group's "LEMONADE" album release at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday. Yonhap

Lead vocalist Ningning shared a behind-the-scenes moment from recording.

"There's a playful ad-lib we recorded right after one of the verses," she said with a giggle. "I also have a part in Spanish, and I checked my pronunciation every single time we recorded."

The album contrasts sharply with the prerelease double title track "WDA (Whole Different Animal)," a heavy hip-hop number featuring G-Dragon that arrived alongside dark, high-impact visuals. Giselle described the two songs as occupying entirely different emotional registers.

"'WDA' is dark and overwhelming," she said. "But 'LEMONADE' is witty and kitschy."

Aside from G-Dragon, the album features Latin pop artist Becky G and rapper Ty Dolla $ign, reflecting what the group described as an expanded ambition for the record.

Aespa's Ningning addresses the press during a media event held to celebrate the group's "LEMONADE" album release at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday. Yonhap

The members closed the press conference on a note of measured confidence.

"I think we as artists need to have confidence," Ningning said. "When you make something with conviction, that's what actually reaches the listener. There are so many people around us who work hard to make aespa what it is. That's part of where the confidence comes from."

Karina echoed the sentiment while keeping expectations grounded.

"I'd obviously love for this album to do as well as our first, I won't pretend otherwise," she said with a laugh. "But more than anything, I want people to get energy from it. The trials and hardships in your life are the lemons. The goal is to make something delicious out of them."

Aespa's Giselle poses during a press conference held to celebrate the group's second full-length album release at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday. Yonhap