aespa is the 2026 Lollapalooza act that is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment.
SM Entertainment introduced aespa in 2020, making the group the agency’s first new girl group since Red Velvet. The original lineup consists of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The name combines “avatar” and “experience” with “aspect,” reflecting the group’s early concept of human members interacting with digital avatar counterparts.
aespa officially debuted in November 2020 with “Black Mamba,” a single tied to the group’s futuristic SMCU storyline. Their music mixes K-pop with electronic, hip-hop, hyperpop, and dance influences. The group’s early releases included the EPs Savage and Girls, followed by major hits such as “Next Level,” “Spicy,” and “Supernova.”
A common mix-up is confusing aespa with BLACKPINK or NewJeans, which are also South Korean girl groups but were formed by different companies. (G)I-DLE is another prominent K-pop girl group, associated with Cube Entertainment rather than SM.