Music
Review
Aespa bring hyperpop brilliance to Wembley OVO Arena
From silhouettes to supernovas, the K-Pop stars had it all on their return to London
Consisting of members Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning, Aespa are known for their pitch-perfect vocals, Metaverse concept and pushing the limits with their music. This week the K-Pop girl group returned to London for the first time since September 2023 to perform to a sold-out Wembley OVO Arena.
With heavy beats, powerful vocals and bass reverberating around the arena, the show gets off to a fiery start. Alongside the back-up dancers, they perform dance moves perfectly in-sync that almost all K-Pop stans are likely familiar with. Stage outfits are a big part of K-Pop and tonight the four members adorn angelic white outfits in stark juxtaposition to both the back-up dancers behind them in all black and the dark essence of the songs they are performing.
Following the next VCR is the Korean chart smashing ‘Supernova’, its hyperpop brilliance feeling impactful. The next few songs are less powerful, though, ditching intense beats for groovier, feel-good songs such as ‘Flights, Not Feelings’ which, aided by the tropical back-drop design, gives the feeling of being on a holiday. Despite the drop in energy, the girls swapping head-set mics for handhelds allows them to focus more on displaying their vocal talent.
One part of K-Pop concerts that a lot of fans enjoy are the solo stages where each member gets the opportunity to showcase their individuality with songs perfectly suited to each one’s aura. Simplistic yet alluring, the audience are equally captivated by each stage. Since the sets are simple, often just with dancers or, in Giselle’s case, a sofa, it is purely down to their presence to keep the audience engaged and they do a fantastic job of it. A personal favourite comes from Winter’s performance of ‘Spark’, silhouetted by a white sheet that adds a simple yet memorable touch.
The next section is giving Hot Girl Summer and so naturally it starts with ‘Spicy’. The group don’t disappoint, oozing sassiness and attitude in the most fun section of the concert. Accompanied by rockier beats, the girls look to be having a great time as they interact with fans and move around the stage.
For the final part of the show (aside from the encore but we like to pretend we don’t know they’re going to come back out for a few more songs), they take it back to the powerful and fiery energy they have at the start for some of their most successful songs like the pulsing ‘Whiplash’ and a rocky version of ‘Armaggedon’ in an impressive reminder of how many hits they have under their belt.
During her final speech, Winter mentions how everyone seemed happy in London. It may not necessarily be felt in the grand scheme of things, but it definitely rings true for tonight as a happy and satisfied audience leaves the arena.
