[Dispatch=Park Hye-jin] "We are starting a new worldview. This time it's not 'metallic taste' but 'sour taste'. This summer, we'll take care of keeping things cool!"(Karina)

aespa opens a new door in Chapter 3. They added a sour and sweet taste to the metallic taste. Dubbed 'metal-sour-sweet'. It contains a bold message that they will even grind up crises and drink them.

This is a full-length album two years after 'Armageddon'. If the first full-length album 'Armageddon' was an album that 'built' aespa's worldview, this 'Lemonade' is the point where 'cracks' appear in that worldview.

Winter said, "There are witty songs and also songs with weight," adding, "It contains a new direction and a solid message. I hope you feel that we've opened a new door."

aespa held a press conference on the 28th at Sofitel Hotel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, celebrating the release of their second full-length album 'Lemonade'.

The members said, "Many new sides that we wanted to show are included. We think we'll be able to introduce them in an enjoyable way," and "We packed in diverse music."

◆ "Lemonade, a new chapter"

aespa has unfolded a worldview that goes back and forth between virtual and reality. Karina said, "In Chapter 2, we showed 'multiverse' and broadened the spectrum, and this time it's 'COMPLaeXITY'. It's cracks appearing in the real world."

She continued, "It's not that we panic because cracks appear, but we turn that crisis into an opportunity. That's exactly the story of Chapter 3," adding, "It's a worldview of seizing opportunity within the cracks."

Giselle said, "Actually, there are rules embedded in past songs like 'Next Level,'" and "Messages like 'never look back' and 'do not covet things in the wilderness' are connected to 'Lemonade'. It will be a fun story if you keep that in mind while listening."

The new album 'Lemonade' contains a total of 11 tracks. Karina said, "This full-length album is very meaningful," and "It's burdensome because you loved the first full-length album so much, but we prepared it with excitement. It's a second album that came out with that much deliberation."

Winter said, "Because it's a full-length album, we tried to infuse our diverse atmospheres and stories into each track," and "I hope many people listen and feel 'aespa, as expected.'"

Ningning emphasized, "aespa has its own intense charm, but at the same time you'll be able to feel a slightly more relaxed, cool energy. We prepared with confidence."

◆ "Double title, sour taste added"

It's a double title track. It opens the chapter with 'WDA' (Whole Different Animal). Karina said, "It means a transcendent being. The song is grand, and the performance is intense. It's a cold-textured song, and we tried to express a solid aespa," she said.

She previewed a changed image in the music video. Ningning said, "True to the song title, we boldly attempted posing, acting, and makeup to strongly show aespa transforming into a different entity."

GD is featured. Karina said, "It was a song we had in mind for featuring from the moment we received the demo," and "It was the part we were anticipating, but because sunbae GD brought it to life, it became an even cooler song."

'Lemonade' is a song that added freshness to the metallic taste. Giselle said, "If 'WDA' is dark and overwhelming, 'Lemonade' is much more kitsch and mischievous. There are contrasting charms."

Winter said, "It's the song that best captured aespa's wit," and "There's a saying, 'If life gives me lemons, I'll make lemonade.' No matter what dangerous situation comes, the message of refreshingly grinding it up and drinking it is delivered wittily."

She continued, "The bass is attractive," and "Overall it has a cool feeling, so I think the timing matches well with summer. It's close to sour taste. Fans called it 'metal-sour-sweet,' and I like it," she laughed.

Karina said of the performance, "It will be a choreography you'll want to follow," and "It's an upbeat song. It's a song that's great for exciting the mood."

◆ "Roll, first challenge in rock"

As a full-length album, care was put into the B-side tracks. Winter said, "We tried to include different charms that aespa can show in each track. It connects well with the direction of the worldview that aespa will open anew."

In particular, they challenged the rock genre. Regarding 'Roll', Karina said, "We made a lot of effort so you can say 'aespa suits this genre too!' You'll say 'aespa does this?'"

aespa's signature 'metallic taste' is also maintained. Karina said, "'SHAKIN' is one of the 'metallic tastes' we're confident about," and "It's a song we look forward to performing. The message is that we'll shake up someone else's world, and we'll shake the hearts of many people."

'Switchblade' is an electronic dance song. Global hip-hop artist Ty Dolla $ign is featured.

Winter said, "Switchblade refers to a folding automatic knife. We used it as a metaphor for transforming into multiple forms in any situation," and "Like a switchblade, it contains both flexibility and strength simultaneously. It also matches well with our metallic taste."

There are also rock songs 'Can't Help Myself', hyper-pop 'Camouflage', R&B 'My Plan', pop-rock 'Til We Die', 'Bite', and others.

Karina emphasized, "As you listen to the B-side tracks, there will be many songs where you start with question marks and eventually change to exclamation marks."

◆ "Complexity, starting from the cracks"

Karina said, "I hope this album does better than the first full-length album, but since it's an album we put out with the motto of 'grinding up the lemon of hardship and making lemonade,' I hope many people gain energy from it rather than results."

aespa's distinctive musical perspective is expected to continue. Ningning said, "We debuted with a worldview, but over seven years of activities, it seems we're gradually finding our own image."

Giselle said, "Since we're a group with a clear concept, next time we'd like to try a concept that's cybernetic yet cute."

aespa will start their new world tour 'SYNK : COMPLaeXITY' from August. The concert is structured around the keyword of 'cracks'.

It's their first time entering Gocheok Dome. Winter said, "When I see artists who fill Gocheok Dome, I think they're amazing, and at the same time I wanted to become that kind of artist," and "It still feels unreal. I've gained a new mindset to deliver even better influence."

They expanded the region to North and South America and Europe. Karina said, "I'm anticipating meeting many new fans in new cities," and "We'll incorporate the new worldview and new songs all into it."

aespa will release 'Lemonade' on the 29th at 1 p.m.

<Photo=Seunghoon Lee, Photographer>