Aespa continue their remarkable 2024 reign with the confident and bold Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album. Members KARINA, GISELLE, WINTER, and NINGNING made their highly anticipated return on October 21. This year has been nothing short of epic for the K-pop quartet, with the monumental success of their first full-length album, Armageddon, and their second world tour “LIVE TOUR – SYNK : PARALLEL LINE.” The six-track Whiplash EP is a sonic representation of aespa’s star power. Equipped with bold lyricism, experimental explorations, and impressive vocal performances, Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album reaffirms aespa’s distinct identity.
Give ‘Em Whiplash
The EP makes a grand opening with its namesake and title track, “Whiplash.” “Whiplash” is a momentum-building house record paired with pulsating bass. The song is co-produced by British DJ, Shift K3Y, who is behind other house hits like “Love Line (with Tinashe)” and “Better Off Without You.” Aespa’s vocal delivery is more relaxed in the first verse, making the high notes in the pre-chorus and bridge all the more explosive. The lyrics are overflowing with aespa’s charisma. The members embrace their influence with lines like “Wherever I am can’t stop me / I’m the coldest / I’m the only Game-Changer bringin’ the new era.” Reflecting on aespa’s impressive 2024 run, these lyrics are hard to refute.
“Whiplash” also serves up fashion runway realness. Not only are the house elements reminiscent of catwalk soundtracks, the music video embodies the song’s sophisticated aura. The music video is director MELTMIRROR’s first K-pop work, and their creative vision compliments aespa’s aesthetic. The visuals are a complete reversal from the vibrant imagery in “Supernova.” “Whiplash” features a simple mise-en-scène, with only two sets and a limited color palette. However, this simplicity is in harmony with aespa’s commanding presence. “Whiplash” leaves no room for boredom, with flashy cut-ins on the beat and dynamic tracking shots. The unique blocking and cinematography allow aespa to work every angle, whether it is through posing or choreography. The music video is minimalist, yet bold in its execution.
At The Center Of The World
The fierceness emanating from “Whiplash” is doubled on the EP’s following track, “Kill It.” “Kill It” is a hip-hop and dance fusion track packed with intensity. The metallic synths and hi-hats create a strong soundscape. The track lives up to its name as it is complete with the sound of a slicing blade. WINTER delivers a standout vocal performance on this song, showcasing two different rap flows in addition to strong vocal belts. A press release revealed that the song “conveys a warning to anyone sending hate to the group.” Lines like “Keep off my side, keep out my sight / I’ll dance on top of the standards aimed at me” emphasize this sentiment.
Aespa dial the intensity down on the third track, “Flights, Not Feelings.” The pace slows with this R&B mid-tempo track coupled with aespa’s airy vocals. GISELLE flaunts her rap abilities in the second verse as her rhymes play around with the melody. “Flights, Not Feelings” is reminiscent of relaxing lo-fi beats with its soft kicks and harp trills. As the song’s title suggests, aespa encourage listeners to redirect their energy towards more fulfilling avenues. They share in the bridge, “I unfold a map without a path / And simply let my heart flow to wherever it goes / Flying now.”
Just like a comfortable hoodie, aespa fit right into their classic sound with “Pink Hoodie.” The hyperpop adjacent bassline and fluctuating synths create a campy dance hit. “Pink Hoodie” represents confidence and comfort in oneself. The song’s confident energy oozes from the jump thanks to NINGNING’s effortlessly cool intro. The infectious chorus invites listeners to chant along as aespa repeats, “Pink hoodie, ayy, oh.” The bridge switches the vibe, in true SM Music Performance (SMP) fashion, with a more EDM-focused sound and emphasis on vocals.
New Dimensions And Endeavors
“Flowers” is an alternative R&B track showcasing a new side of aespa. A captivating guitar riff carries their intimate, almost hushed vocals. KARINA’s slightly raspy, low register vocals shine in this sultry track. “Flowers” is a more mature sound for the quartet, budding with vivid lyrical imagery. GISELLE raps, “You’re my dahlia, tulips and daisies / A slowly spreading fragrance / Violet sunset, it seems like it doesn’t exist in this world.”
The EP comes to a close with “Just Another Girl,” ending on an uplifting note. “Just Another Girl” is an upbeat pop-rock song that sits among the likes of “Live My Life” and “Life’s Too Short” in their discography. A recurring theme with these tracks are their motivating lyrics, and “Just Another Girl” is no exception. The lyrics are described in a press release as “the story of love’s betrayal and knowing your own worth — even if it means enduring heartache in the short-term.” The first verse is the typical, heartbroken reaction to a lost love. However, aespa eventually recognize that they were out of their deceitful past lover’s league all along.
Whiplash – The 5th Mini Album proves that aespa is an irreplaceable force. The EP was met with meteoric reception — and is still actively dominating numerous global charts. “Whiplash” debuted at No. 7 on Melon’s Top 100 chart and recorded over 500,000 cumulative album sales on its first day. Ahead of award show season, aespa are also gearing up for the North American and European leg of “LIVE TOUR – SYNK : PARALLEL LINE.” With back-to-back successes, these KWANGYA starlets have the whole world awaiting what else they are capable of.
Tune into aespa’s upcoming activities on their X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!
Interested in other K-pop artists making global waves? Check out EnVi’s coverage of Rosé’s solo comeback, “APT.,” here!
