With unstoppable momentum, aespa soared to new heights with their 4th EP, Drama in 2023 followed by the explosive success of their first studio album, Armageddon, the year after. The members, consisting of Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning, have been praised equally for their vast improvement in performance and vocal ability since then, leading to the very polished aespa that MYs got to witness joyfully in person at the Los Angeles stop of the aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK: PARALLEL LINE.
The tour is aespa’s second world tour to date, with most dates being in bigger venues than their first tour, SYNK: HYPER LINE. The tour was made to support Armageddon and the group’s current metaverse concept storyline. The storyline explores the multiverse version of the members in which they have superpowers.
Being in a K-pop girl group is a gargantuan task, and having tough skin is the only way a group can survive any criticism that comes their way. aespa is no stranger to this fact, and their dedication to their performances at this show made them shine brighter than a dying star.
aespa’s concept has generated mixed reactions amongst critics and fans at the beginning of their career, with many finding the lore hard to follow. The group’s direction became a topic of conversation, notably with the original version of “Drama” being about planting trees and sustainability.
Immediately upon arrival to the darkened arena, “Welcome to MY WORLD” echoed to set the stage to immerse the crowd in aespa’s metaverse world. A world of dramatic dialogue unfolded as the aespa members questioned their existence with frustration in the opening VCR. The members have shown their acting prowess in past conceptual videos, serving as a delightful reminder of how well-rounded they are.
After the grand display of breathtaking visuals of the members breaking into the Real World, aespa emerged in all-white ensembles with intricate pearl detailing and tulle to perform “Drama.” The heavy, dark remix reverberated throughout the arena as MYs sang along passionately.
The charisma was undeniable, with the members’ unique colors shining through: Ningning’s elegant and swan-like movements, Karina’s fierce and piercing precision, Giselle’s coquettish confidence, and Winter’s absolute effortlessness were a delight to watch. Their hard work had clearly paid off–and it was only just the first song.
aespa sustained the high-octane energy up for the next couple of songs, “Black Mamba” and “Salty & Sweet” from their earlier releases that focused heavily on metallic percussion and compressed beats, a staple in hyperpop. The blend of intense group choreography and deliberate slowdowns highlighting individual members was a refreshing departure from the standard K-pop concert. It glimpsed into the unexpected twists to come, proving that this was not the average K-pop show.
After a short VCR that showcased their superpowers in search of something unknown, a dubstep introduction snapped the crowd back to the members, performing the 2024 smash hit, “Supernova.” The members wore pastel-colored dresses with a touch of chrome, symbolizing their femininity and their uniqueness. The viral “Ah, body bang!” transition echoed thunderously around the arena with everyone yelling it back, causing Karina to briefly break out of character to a shy but proud smile of acknowledgment.
Their strong feminine power was amplified during “Mine,” as the members danced sensually around a metal cube structure surrounded by backup dancers. Giselle shined brightest with her flirtatious nature on full display.
It wasn’t until forty minutes into the show that the members finally addressed the crowd, an interesting choice considering ments have been a staple of what makes a K-pop show, well, a K-pop show. In fact, aespa only spoke four times throughout the concert. Even when they spoke, the members did not do the usual introductions and chatter about the current city and its iconic landmarks (no mention of In-and-Out!), or gave detailed explanations of what they performed.
While the decision may seem strange, it subverted expectations, which is what aespa is about at their core. The simple, short, and natural conversations that took place during the ments helped the audience focus on the performances and the hard work the members had put into perfecting their craft.
After briefly introducing a new song for the tour, aespa performed “Die Trying,” an OST for Netflix’s Rebel Moon: Part 2 in collaboration with TOKiMONSTA. The industrial soundscape of the song perfectly illustrated the complexities of aespa’s discography. The Korean public has described aespa’s music as “iron-flavored,” a term used to describe compressed and distorted percussion instruments. aespa is known for popularizing hyperpop, a genre with endless possibilities.
As the members walked down the extended stage, aespa sang the saccharine B-side “Flights, Not Feelings” from Armageddon. It marked the first time that night that aespa let their guard down that night as they, playfully interacted with the crowd. A cameraman stealthily went on stage to capture their coyness to much cheer and fanfare.
Continuing the previous song’s flourishing forest imagery displayed on the LED screens, “Better Things” revealed a deep sea filled with life and activity with vibrant coral and aquatic creatures. The members also used their handheld mics during this portion in lieu of headsets, an indication of aespa’s confidence in their vocals. As the show progressed, the atmosphere shifted from the cold, chic vibe of the opening tracks to a warmer and livelier mood.
The next VCR presented an unanswered existential question left unanswered at the beginning of the show. “Who am I in here?” pondered Giselle in the film. As the audience was left in anticipation, Giselle ended the VCR with the words, “Are you ready to meet me?”
According to an interview done by LA Weekly before the show, the members had a “hands-on role in the creative process” for their solo stages, which in turn, allowed them to “perform in a more personal and meaningful way.”
Giselle was up first with “Dopamine,” one of the four solo releases created specifically for the tour. The R&B track depicts Giselle as a confident and independent woman wanting a man not for love but for physical needs and desire. She flawlessly executed her direct forwardness in both her rap delivery and choreography, leaving the crowd roaring with excitement. Her performance abilities have grown tremendously over time. Giselle unlocked her potential, fully comfortable in her own talents and hard-earned skills.
Continuing the confidence streak was Karina with “Up,” a fan favorite. Her piercing eyes could cut through metal – her dance being just as sharp and precise. Karina was fierce in her conviction, and the lyrics depicted a confident woman doubling down on expressing her love. Her hair flips extruded such self-assurance that the crowd was hooked, captivated by her dance moves.
Ningning was next with “Bored!” Her nimble movements and airy vocals illustrated the internal struggle of restlessness and indifference with unrequited love. While Ningning didn’t hold back her physical strength and vocals in earlier songs, she did for her solo. The performance was subdued and subtle, seemingly foreshadowing a big, dramatic performance to come soon after.
Winter’s performance was the last solo, and it did not disappoint. “Spark” asks the listener to give their love the “spark” to ignite, doubling down on pursuing a relationship. Winter didn’t ask the audience to pay attention: she commanded them to do so.
The performance was grand, including an army of backup dancers, tight camerawork, and deliberate lighting that illustrated how to be fiercely independent and feminine at the same time. While the choreography was tight, with some tutting and voguing, it was also fluid and relaxed, like water. It’s interesting to note that the choreography performed at this stop changed from the original version. Whether it was a deliberate creative choice or not, it captured the song’s soaring and transformative energy.
Winter’s solo was a highlight of the show, delivering a catharsis that matched the section’s theme: aespa was feeling stuck and confused about one’s self before unlocking each member’s talents and strengths.
This theme was further explored in the next VCR, which depicted aespa as ballerinas. While there were pops of random fans animalistically screaming their favorite members’ names, much to the crowd’s amusement, the audience saw the members’ mundane and very confining routine of ballet dance practices. As the routine repeated itself, the constant repetition created a sense of anxiety.
The environment shifted when Winter opened her locker to find a blacked-out piece of paper, a reminder of aespa’s superhuman abilities and the unseen entity trying to silence them. A butterfly emerged shortly after, and the members followed to an open field before the screen turned all white.
The members returned adorned in very simple outfits: pink jackets, white tank tops, and high-waisted light wash jeans to perform “Spicy” and “Pink Hoodie.” The casual outfits and laidback energy from the members were fun to watch, a smooth exit from the earlier theatrics and drama.
As aespa took a brief hydration break, the members checked in with the crowd and introduced the next few songs as tracks to dance to. The members also gave some shoutouts to Tori Kelly and, much to everyone’s genuine surprise, EXO’s Suho for attending the concert.
While the lights went dark again, the theme of the infamous video game, Tetris, played slowly, building up anticipation for “Hold on Tight,” a song created in support of the Apple+ film of the same name. Ningning effortlessly delivered the opening verse with strong vocals while the LED screens depicted the start of the game. As the members continued to have fun by interacting with the audience and with each other, a “system failure” glitch flashed across the screen. aespa and their backup dancers got their moment to shine during this intermission, freestyling to roaring cheers of encouragement.
The group also performed “Live My Life” from Armageddon and “We Go,” another OST track for the Korean dub of Pokémon Horizons: The Series. In the final chorus, a burst of pink cherry blossom confetti enveloped the ground floor.
The next VCR connected all of the diverging storylines together by showing all the different versions of aespa. As the four different versions of the members come together in the same flower field, the threatening entity was revealed: Black Mamba. In a display of amazing CGI effects, Black Mamba dominated across the screen until green light beams cut through the snakeskin. The audience was introduced to the one who eliminated Black Mamba: naevis.
naevis, a virtual avatar central to aespa’s storyline since their debut, performed “Done,” her debut track released in September 2024. She was a guide for aespa to defeat the Black Mamba and sacrificed her life to save the universe. Or so everyone thought, until naevis returned in a different way into the Real World, still learning how to navigate outside of the virtual realm she was in.
The performance was equal parts eerie and fascinating. naevis performed like any other real-life K-pop idol with choreography, however, her vocals weren’t as definitive and distinct, still sounding robotic. Her facial expressions were void of any human emotion, a stark contrast to aespa’s performances throughout the night.
It was clear the visual effects were done with care and detail by perhaps a village of engineers and artists, but the silence from the crowd was deafening. This would come to no surprise: the mixed reactions on naevis have existed since her first appearance in aespa’s music videos.
This contrast was amplified by the re-emergence of aespa in the last set of songs before the encore. The cheers were deafening as they wasted no time, performing “Whiplash,” “Set the Tone,” and “Next Level” with all the power they could muster as if it was the last time they would ever perform. The impalpable chemistry between the members was evident throughout the set.
The rock versions of “Next Level” and “Armageddon” were exhilarating, supplementing aespa’s unbelievable vocals and dance abilities. It was at this point where aespa diverged, delivering ad-libs and encouraging the audience to sing along and interact with them. The crowd did not stutter at all to ensure everyone in Inglewood heard, “Imma get it done / oh-eyo-eyo” and “Throw it back, throw it back, throw it back” beyond the confines of the arena walls. It was a bonafide testament to aespa’s power and exponential growth since their debut in 2020 and the resiliency of their fandom to overcome so many different obstacles that came aespa’s way.
As MYs waited for the members to come out during the encore, the camera crew looked through the crowd to find fans to dance aespa’s iconic choreography. The camera didn’t shy away from spotlighting Suho and Tori Kelly again, much to their surprise and the enjoyment of the crowd.
For the encore, aespa performed a fan favorite, “aenergy” and “Just Another Girl” from their recent release, Whiplash. They also performed “Life’s Too Short (English Version),” a song directed at aespa’s haters, continuing on with more fan service and cute interactions with each other.
The members were awkwardly adorable during their last ment and group photo, which generated a lot of laughter. (“We’re so cute, right?” Karina quipped). It was a refreshing take on what happens at the end of a K-pop show, usually punctuated by inspirational and, at times, dramatic monologues about life. Sometimes it’s okay to be silly.
Giselle asked, “Is there an LA thing?” to customize their goodbye for the stop, to which the crowd responded with the K-pop concert staple of barking. Winter rejected the idea, stating comically through a translator, “No, we already did that in Oakland!”
The aespa members decided to do cat ears and meow loudly as a goodbye, which led to utter chaos with the crowd repeating “Bye!” instead of meowing. Ningning adorably fired back, “You have to say meow!” while Karina, the meme aficionado, didn’t hesitate for a moment to do the “Sad Meow Meow Song” meme, further egged on by Winter and Giselle until the show ended.
aespa has proven themselves that they are diamonds of the fourth generation of K-pop: when put under pressure, they become something beautiful.
The setlist and performances told a story of aespa and it made sense of all the twists and turns of their career. As the members were lost in their VCRs, they found themselves and were able to step into their superpowers. On stage, aespa performed with newfound confidence.
Everyone was at their best and celebrated by the audience’s roaring cheers. The show subverted expectations and changed the usual markers of what makes a K-pop concert: no long and emotional ments, a cohesive VCR storyline, a thought-provoking message to the audience, and most importantly – a well-rested and prepared group delivering it all effortlessly. If that isn’t progress, then what is?
While many have a lot to say about their direction, their music, and even the members themselves, it will not sway Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning to conform. Life is too short to not be different.
aespa will be continuing their SYNK: PARALLEL LINE world tour by performing in the U.S. East Coast, Canada, and Mexico before moving on to their European leg. The final shows will take place on March 15-16 at KSPO DOME in Seoul.