aespa really went back to the real world for this one.
On May 2, 2023 at 6 P.M. KST, SM Entertainment and aespa released the pre-release track for the group’s newest EP titled, “Welcome to My World (featuring Naevis).” The EP, “MY WORLD” is slated for release on May 8, 2023.
aespa’s third EP was originally to be released in February 2023, but had been delayed due to the issues surrounding SM Entertainment and its founder Lee Soo-man (LSM). Lee Sung-soo, the former CEO of SM Entertainment and now the Chief A&R Officer of the company, shared in a video that LSM had wanted to incorporate environmentalist motifs of tree-planting and sustainability into their songs, which did not fit into aespa’s concept and made the girls “upset.”
In contrast to the cyberpunk aesthetic that fans are used to seeing aespa styled in, the members are now embarking on a journey “to the real world” with their current “urban” and “kitsch” styling as seen in their current teasers.
“Welcome to My World (featuring Naevis)” is described as a “dreamy” and “majestic” pop and alternative pop song with a guitar riff and orchestra. The song’s lyrics tell the story of how aespa are “inviting Naevis to their music world.”
MYs have been anticipating new music from the 4-member group since the start of the year, and have been given a lot of teasers from the girls themselves following their first concert, “Synk: Hyper Line” last February 2023.
NAEVIS IS FINALLY IN THE REAL WORLD WITH AESPA! pic.twitter.com/XbsbmEeATo
— 하늘 #SPICY (@wntrult) May 2, 2023
its been so long since we’ve heard REAL music in kpop like this…thank you aespa pic.twitter.com/JssikXNzSc
— 갈로르 (@gvlores) May 2, 2023
AESPA JUST DROPPED BOTY (BSIDE OF THE YEAR) IM SOOOO IN LOVE WITH THIS SONG pic.twitter.com/6LIsgejjQx
— 하늘 #SPICY (@wntrult) May 2, 2023
aespa is really the fresh breath of air kpop needs pic.twitter.com/0ALfYW8FQ9
— rie (@LOVENlNG) May 2, 2023
y’all hear that holy chorus good god! welcome to my world is a fucking hypnotic hit! aespa is BACK! pic.twitter.com/WoDgeG72kx
— 📟 ✮ ˚ʚ 泡芙 ɞ˚ (@synkdyve) May 2, 2023
let it be known that welcome to my world is a song ONLY aespa could sing and pull off pic.twitter.com/6LIsgejjQx
— 하늘 #SPICY (@wntrult) May 2, 2023
so we know we've got wtmw, salty & sweet and thirsty on the same album oh aespa's taking it pic.twitter.com/wT0Dw98Or3
— anaya (@kwntrsgf) May 2, 2023
naevis in welcome to my world mv: pic.twitter.com/LXBf79Mx7x
— AESPA D-DAY🌶️ (@user21145) May 2, 2023
dont you all just love how aespa have different vocal tones but compliments each other very perfectlypic.twitter.com/KHV9FosGIz
— ☆ (@nutaeya) May 2, 2023
https://twitter.com/wntrult/status/1653342650349518852?s=20
🦋 the lyrics (of wtmw) talks about inviting naevis to the real world. at the same time, we are inviting listeners to enter aespa’s unique world of discography. #NINGNING #닝닝 #宁宁 pic.twitter.com/UVH3ko4rWG
— 昕 (@endearning) May 2, 2023
this shot on GISELLE is a masterpiece 😭😭😭 THAT EFFORTLESS BEAUTY DAMN!
AESPA WTMW OUT NOW #GISELLE#WelcomeToMYWorld
pic.twitter.com/U7YJ5nXYo8— 🥛still in pcd era! (@milkyaeri) May 2, 2023
im sorry but why do i feel like Welcome To My World is plagiarized? 🫤 i feel like i already heard it somewhere… you know i was really positive with this since the first day but why do it sounds like a song of the year??? pic.twitter.com/tZfFDmh8ap
— 쿠미 (@aerinoglossy) May 2, 2023
aespa will release their song and MV 'Welcome To My World' featuring worldview helper NAEVIS today May 2nd!
the alternative pop song with dreamy guitar riffs and grand orchestration is about inviting naevis to REAL WORLD while also inviting fans into aespa’s music world MY WORLD pic.twitter.com/gbBF3MX3Cq
— 하늘 #SPICY (@wntrult) May 2, 2023
aespa’s definitely not slowing down their game anytime soon, and their sudden change-up from the metaverse to the real world (concept-wise and music-wise) shows so much of their versatility as artists—much like their labelmates.
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