aespa freshly squeezes 'Lemonade' this summer, serves fans 2nd album

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aespa freshly squeezes 'Lemonade' this summer, serves fans 2nd album

Published: 28 May. 2026, 21:14 Updated: 29 May. 2026, 16:31

SHIN HA-NEE
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Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Girl group aespa poses for photos during a press conference for its second full-length album, ″Lemonade,″ held at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on May 29. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Two years ago, girl group aespa sealed its distinctive place in K-pop with “Armageddon” (2024), a critically acclaimed full-length album that pushed the quartet’s signature futuristic, sleek sound into its narrative peak.

With its second full-length album, “Lemonade,” aespa is squeezing a new world out of sourness — because when life gives aespa lemons, the girl group does not merely make lemonade. It squeezes harder.

“'Lemonade’ [the title track] is a song that best captures aespa’s signature wit,” said member Winter during a press conference at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on Thursday, a day before the release of its second full-length album.

Girl group aespa in a promotional photo for its second full-length EP, ″Lemonade″ [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

“There’s this saying, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’” she continued. “It is one of my favorite songs because the song is our witty interpretation of that positive message.”

The album will mark a new chapter of the intricate storytelling woven throughout the group’s discography, said Karina.

“Our world building expands anew with this album,” she said. “Our style has been described a lot as a ‘metallic taste,’ but this time, we are going with something sour, to hopefully make the summer feel more refreshing.”

Girl group aespa poses for photos during a press conference for the release of its second full-length album “Lemonade” at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on May 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

The quartet’s second full-length album, “Lemonade,” arrives about two years after its first studio album, “Armageddon” and eight months after its sixth EP, “Rich Man” (2025).

The album, set to be released at 1 p.m. Friday, features 10 tracks: the title track “Lemonade,” the pre-release single “WDA (Whole Different Animal)” featuring G-Dragon, and B-sides “Shakin’,” “Can’t Help Myself,” “Camouflage,” “Bite,” “Switchblade” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, “Roll,” “My Plan” and “‘Till We Die.” The physical edition also includes a remix version of “Lemonade” featuring Becky G.

The latest album arrives with high expectations, following the success of aespa’s first full-length album, “Armageddon.” The 2024 release was both a commercial and critical hit: At the 22nd Korean Music Awards — a critics-led ceremony judged by musicians and industry experts with a focus on musical quality rather than sales figures — aespa won three awards, including Song of the Year.

“Our first full-length album received so much love, so we felt a lot of pressure,” Karina admitted. “But we also prepared it with excitement. We discussed a lot with the company and thought hard about what kind of new side of ourselves we could show, and this album is the result of all that.”

aespa’s Karina answers questions during a press conference for the release of the group’s second full-length album “Lemonade” at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on May 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

aespa’s Ningning answers questions during a press conference for the release of the group’s second full-length album “Lemonade” at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on May 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

aespa debuted with its first digital single, “Black Mamba,” under SM Entertainment in 2020. The quartet, comprised of members Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning, is best known for hit songs such as “Next Level” (2021), “Spicy” (2023), “Drama” (2024), “Supernova” (2024) and “Rich Man” (2025).

One of the most distinctive elements that sets aespa apart is its elaborate world-building.

In the group’s first chapter, which began with “Black Mamba,” aespa was introduced as an act existing between the physical and virtual worlds. With “Armageddon,” that narrative expanded into a multiverse, where the members encountered alternate versions of themselves.

aespa’s Winter answers questions during a press conference for the release of the group’s second full-length album “Lemonade” at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on May 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

aespa’s Giselle answers questions during a press conference for the release of the group’s second full-length album “Lemonade” at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in southern Seoul on May 28. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Now, with its new “Lemonade” era, aespa enters a third chapter. The members’ repeated crossings between realities and parallel universes have created “complexity” — a rupture in reality itself.

But aespa is not rattled by the disruption. Instead, the quartet declares that it can handle any complexity thrown its way.

As self-assurance and confidence remain central to aespa’s musical narrative, the members define that confidence as something rooted in staying true to oneself.

“We often become very conscious of what others think, and even when we want to take charge of our own lives and do what we like and love, we hesitate a lot,” said Winter. “So, we want to give people the energy to exist as themselves. I think the most important thing is knowing yourself.”

Coinciding with the album’s release, SM Entertainment is launching a sweeping pop-up project, titled “aespa Week — Make It Lemonade.” From Friday to June 7, experience zones, themed displays and merchandise and photo booths will be set up in multiple outdoor riverside locations across Seoul and the IFC Mall in western Seoul.