Welcome to Aespa’s World
When Aespa walk out of their trailer, it feels as if three goddesses have descended onto New York City. There’s almost a collective gasp in the artists’ village at Governors Ball; everyone is waiting to get a glimpse of the first K-pop group to perform at the festival. Surrounded by their team, the three members present, Karina, Winter, and Ningning, are in the midst of a quick jaunt around the city: Winter threw the first pitch for a Yankees game on Thursday night with the other two behind her, they have their Gov Ball performance on Saturday, and they leave on Sunday.
One of their members, Giselle, has been down for the count for health reasons this week and didn’t perform with them. “We’re sad she couldn’t come on this trip, but health always comes first so we want her to rest and feel better,” Ningning says. She alludes to the fact that their set was in honor of her.
Aespa, the four-member SM Entertainment K-pop group, debuted in late 2020 with their hit single, “Black Mamba.” Dubbed “Representatives of the Metaverse Era,” their music has hyperpop influences and their videos feature AI and other tech-based elements. The group has released three EPs and a song for the movie Tetris, performed at Coachella, and spoke at the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Their second mini-album, Girls, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, and their third EP, MY World, was just released in May.
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To put it simply, they’re ready to take the world by storm. After taking pictures, answering questions, and filming videos, Aespa take the stage, and waves of fans run over to watch them. The group bust down the house with “Salty & Sweet” and slow things down with “Life’s Too Short,” all before ending the set with “Black Mamba” and “Spicy.” It’s clear their fanbase, called MYs, is solid, and yet another K-pop group has taken over.
Here, Aespa speak with ELLE.com about their groundbreaking Governors Ball set, what their fans mean to them, and how their music is evolving.
How did you prepare for your Governors Ball performance?
Karina: We prepared all the songs with band arrangements. I’ve been wanting to perform with the band at the festival, and I’m glad that we were able to do it at Gov Ball. And we worked on the set list thinking about what our global fans will look forward to at the festival!
How did it feel to perform at the festival?
Karina: I was so excited and happy to perform at a festival since Coachella last year. It was my first time performing with a band, which will remain as an unforgettable memory. However, it would have been nice if the four of us had performed as a whole. We practiced a lot so that no one would feel Giselle’s vacancy. If there is a good opportunity next time, I want to revisit as a whole group of four.
What did it mean to you to be the first K-pop group to perform at Governors Ball?
Winter: We are so honored. I can definitely feel the global growth of K-pop and we will work hard to continuously contribute to its growth and to be part of this momentum.
What are your favorite songs to perform and why?
Ningning: I like all the songs because they’re all made to be performed on stage. But it was my first time performing with a band which felt different and such a new experience for me.
Which number has the hardest choreography?
Karina: I personally think “Savage” was the most difficult thing to learn. It was difficult to learn at first because there is a lot of small and fast but detailed dance movements. The more I practiced, the more I got to learn about the beats and learn which dance style fits best on my body.
Left to Right: Ningning wears an Aniye Records top and Shushu/Tong bottom, Karina wears an Aniye Records top and a Venté skirt, Winter wears an Area top.
You’ve experienced a lot of firsts as a group: the first K-pop artist chosen as an ambassador to Givenchy, the first K-pop group to perform at Outside Lands. What does it mean to be responsible for so many firsts?
Winter: We are so grateful to have these opportunities to be recognized as the “first” K-pop artist in many of the achievements that we have accomplished. I am thankful that many people are looking forward to our accomplishments and putting faith in us, and we will work hard to meet everyone’s expectations. Also, I hope we are making our fans, MYs, proud.
A lot of critics have said this new EP, MY World, shows a different side of Aespa, a softer side. Why did you embrace this change in your music?
Karina: We are always open to changes and we are confident that we’re able to pull off any concept. As an artist, I want to show various sides of myself and I will continue to do so.
What has fan reception been like in the U.S.? How does it feel to be achieving success here?
Winter: I feel like our MYs in the U.S. always welcome and cheer for us so passionately. Their energy fuels us and motivates us constantly.
Your fans are so important to you. What would you say to them today?
Ningning: I had so much fun. It was so nice to meet our fans in the U.S. since it’s been a long time. The weather was really nice and everyone and everything looked so pretty. I hope there will be more opportunities like this in the future! Let’s meet again during our tour in the U.S. soon.
This interview has been edited, translated, and condensed for clarity.
Samuel is the Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief at ELLE Magazine. His interests include music, theater, books, video games, and anything to do with Taylor Swift. He famously broke both his arms at the same time in fourth grade.