aespa don’t just sing about a techno-utopian future—they’re living in one. Debuting in 2020 with the sinister synth-pop single “Black Mamba,” the Seoul-based K-pop quartet of Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning emerged with four distinct alter egos: their ae avatars, formed in the fantastical parallel universe of KWANGYA and brought together by the mysterious AI leader Naevis. “They can express things that we in real life can’t, or haven’t yet,” Giselle tells Apple Music. Hacking into the musical stylings of hyperpop, glitchcore, and even action-hero movie soundtracks, aespa entered the wilderness of KWANGYA to rescue their ae through the singles “Next Level,” “Savage” and “Girls.” The former Up Next artists know their partnership with the Metaverse concept is unique in K-pop, especially being the first group to be introduced as part of their label SM Entertainment’s SM Culture Universe, a cinematic storytelling universe for music. But the girls take the responsibility with a light touch, and prefer to let their cool, charismatic performances do the talking. Whether issuing bracing commands over skittering trap beats on 2022’s “Illusion” or making striking statements of their heroic prowess in the rumbling electro-groove of “Next Level,” aespa are always looking one step ahead, and with their ae by their side, are willing to embrace and power through any challenges that come their way in an increasingly techno-oriented future.