Aespa returns with refreshing, summery ′Lemonade′

▲ K-pop girl group aespa poses for photos during a press conference in Seoul on May 28, 2026, to promote its second studio album, "Lemonade." (Yonhap)
▲ K-pop girl group aespa poses for photos during a press conference in Seoul on May 28, 2026, to promote its second studio album, "Lemonade." (Yonhap)

aespa-new album

Aespa returns with refreshing, summery 'Lemonade'

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- K-pop girl group aespa is back for the summer season with its second studio album, "Lemonade," centered on an intense electronic dance music (EDM) sound.

At a press conference in Seoul, the quartet introduced the lead track "Lemonade" as a "refreshing" shift in its musical identity. The album will arrive at 1 p.m. Friday, two years after the group's inaugural studio album "Armageddon" in May 2024.

"People often describe our music as having a 'metallic taste,' but we've returned with a 'sour taste' this time," the group told reporters. "Along with aespa's signature intensity, you can feel a more relaxed, cool energy from this album."

The lead track "Lemonade" employs driving synthesizer bass to portray resilience and wit, according to the band.

Leader Karina explained that the song carries a message of overcoming adversity. "It's about treating the trials and pain that come your way as lemons and grinding them into a delicious lemonade," she said. "We hope people receive energy from listening to this song."

Beyond the lead track, the 10-track album includes the prereleased hip-hop track "WDA," featuring K-pop star G-Dragon; the bold dance track "Shakin'," which carries a confident message of shaking up the listener's world; the rock-infused "Can't Help Myself"; the hyper-pop "Camouflage," characterized by sophisticated synthesizers; and "Switchblade," featuring American hip-hop star Ty Dolla Sign.

Moving into the middle of aespa's narrative journey, the album marks a significant, one-step expansion of the group's unique fictional universe based in a virtual world.

Rather than simply continuing its previous storylines, the group chose to center the new release on the concepts of a "crack," forming across a multiverse and parallel worlds. For aespa, this "crack" in the multiverse is not merely a crisis, but a medium that opens up new possibilities.

"This second album takes our unique fictional universe a step further," Winter said. "You'll feel our familiar intensity, but also a more solid message and direction. We would be grateful if fans feel that aespa has opened yet another new door."

Karina noted that "turning crisis into opportunity" is the very theme of this chapter.

To bring this expanded universe closer to the fans, aespa will hold extensive promotional events. The group will run a pop-up store at IFC Mall in Seoul's Yeouido business district from Friday to June 7. Pop-up stores will open simultaneously in other major cities, including Los Angeles, New York and China's Shenzhen. The events will later continue in more than six other cities such as Bangkok, Tokyo and Taipei.

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