Kia Forum Inglewood, CA
Contact: teamaespa@ssmandl.com
Web: aespa.com
Players: Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning
Aespa’s innovative visuals and bombastic music have made them stand out above the rest. Lights went down at exactly 8 p.m. at the Kia Forum to the sounds of “Welcome to MY World”—the perfect song to hype up the crowd. Bringing the “Drama,” the group made their grand entrance appearing behind some screens wearing frilly white dresses. A group of dancers joined next and seamlessly glided through the theatrical beats of the music. Aespa started the night strong performing some of their most popular songs right out of the gate, from “Black Mamba” to the bombastic hit “Supernova.” The group delighted fans with 24 songs, opting to chat less with the audience in lieu of delivering an entertaining show filled with all their hits. Choreography for each song was elaborate and elevated each performance—the dramatic leg drops from “Black Mamba” and the elbow raises from “Whiplash” got the biggest cheers.
Throughout the night, Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning each took turns sharing the spotlight and showcasing their talents. The girls aren’t confined to specific roles, each being good at singing and dancing. Together, the group is an unstoppable force. Yes, most K-pop groups use backtracks during live performances—especially on choreography-heavy songs—but aespa used it sparingly that night. Their powerhouse vocals were easy to identify, and they sounded great. Winter and Ningning, having the strongest vocals, effortlessly belted out high notes that earned loud howls from their fans. Towards the middle of their set, each member performed a solo song. Giselle started off the segment with the sultry R&B track “Dopamine,” Karina showed off her impressive dance moves with “UP,” Ningning’s melodic vocals for “Bored” caught everyone’s attention, and Winter ended on a high note by performing “Spark” with euphoric visuals and choreography.
Aespa’s music is filled with witty lyrics and catchy choruses that work well in live performances. Songs like “Spicy” and “Next Level” felt like a singalong as everyone in the venue loudly sang each and every word. The night concluded with an encore performance of “ænergy,” “Just Another Girl,” and “Life’s Too Short.”
