Whiplash is the fifth extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on October 21, 2024, and contains six tracks, including the lead single of the same name.
Background and release On September 23, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their fifth extended play titled Whiplash with the lead single of the same name on October 21. Three days later, the promotional schedule was released. On October 11, the track listing was released alongside the highlight medley teaser video. Nine days later, the music video teaser for "Whiplash" was released. The extended play was released alongside the music video for "Whiplash" on October 21.
Composition Whiplash contains six tracks. The lead single, "Whiplash", was described as a EDM-based song featuring "strong and fast-paced bass and house beats" with lyrics about "moving forward without hesitation with your own standards and criteria without being confined by a frame". The second track, "Kill It", was described as a hip-hop dance song characterized by "catchy synth" with lyrics "expressesing a warning message to those who send unreasonable criticism". The third track, "Flights, Not Feelings", was described as a R&B song featuring "a vintage yet mysterious rhythm" with lyrics "about having fun [while] letting go of bad feelings and living freely".
The fourth track, "Pink Hoodie", was described as a hip-hop dance song featuring "unique synth sound and energetic bassline" with lyrics "wittily expressing the message of loving yourself as you are and having confidence". The fifth track, "Flowers", was described as an alternative R&B song featuring "sophisticated guitar riff" with lyrics "comparing the feelings of falling in love to flowers". The last track, "Just Another Girl", was described as a pop rock song characterized by "a rough guitar sound" with lyrics "conveying a warning message to a betrayed lover with a feeling of relief".
Commercial performance In United Kingdom, Whiplash debuted at number 53 on the OCC's UK Album Downloads Chart.
Promotion Prior to the release of Whiplash, on October 21, 2024, Aespa held a live event on YouTube, TikTok, and Weverse, aimed at introducing the extended play and connecting with their fanbase. Additionally, a pop-up store named "Aespa Week – #Whiplash_mood" was opened in Seoul, South Korea, running from October 21 to November 3.
Accolades + Awards and nominations for Whiplash Award ceremony Year Category Result MAMA Awards 2025 Album of the Year TMElive International Music Awards 2025 International Digital EP of the Year
Track listing
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes.
Studio SM Dorii Studio – recording , digital editing SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording , digital editing, engineered for mix SM Droplet Studio – recording , digital editing, engineered for mix Vibe Music Studio 606 – recording SM Wavelet Studio – recording, engineered for mix , digital editing Golden Bell Tree Sound – recording Sound Pool Studio – digital editing 77F Studio – digital editing SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing SM Starlight Studio – mixing SM Big Shot Studio – mixing 821 Sound – mastering
Personnel
Aespa – vocals, background vocals Leslie (XYXX) – lyrics Marcus "MarcLo" Lomax – composition Neil Ormandy – producer, composition, arrangement Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell – composition, background vocals Lewis Jankel Shift K3Y – producer, composition, arrangement Hyun Ji-won – lyrics Imlay – producer, composition, arrangement, vocal directing, synthesizer, FX, instrumental Ejae – composition Kirsten Collins – composition Lee Hye-yum (Jam Factory) – lyrics Honey Noise (The Hub) – producer, composition, arrangement, drums, bass, piano, synthesizer, programming Brown Panda (The Hub) – producer, composition, arrangement, drums, bass, piano, synthesizer, programming Frankie Day (The Hub) – composition Chanti (The Hub) – composition Lee Eun-hwa (153/Joombas) – lyrics Didrik Thott – composition Sebastian Thott – producer, composition, arrangement, drums, bass, synthesizer, programming Maria Marcus – composition Ji Ye-won (153/Joombas) – lyrics Sofia Kay – composition Chantry Johnson – producer, composition, arrangement Noémie Legrand – composition Lee Seu-ran – lyrics Fabian Torsson Phat Fabe – producer, composition, arrangement Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker – composition Ellen Berg – composition Nermin Harambašić – composition Maxx Song – vocal directing Emily Yeonseo Kim – vocal directing Realmeee – vocal directing MinGtion – vocal directing Red Anne – vocal directing Saay – vocal directing Kriz – background vocals Kwon Ae-jin – background vocals Jeong Jae-won – recording , digital editing Noh Min-ji – recording , digital editing, engineered for mix Kim Joo-hyun – recording , digital editing, engineered for mix Kwak Jeong-shin – recording Kang Eun-ji – recording, engineered for mix , digital editing Kim Kwang-min – recording Jeong Ho-jin – digital editing Woo Min-jeong – digital editing Kim Cheol-sun – mixing Jung Eui-seok – mixing Jeong Yoo-ra – mixing Lee Min-kyu – mixing Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts + Chart (2024) Peakposition Croatian International Albums (HDU) 10 Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) 4 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 17 Nigerian Albums (TurnTable) 74 South Korean Albums (Circle) 1
Monthly charts + Chart (2024) Peakposition Japanese Albums (Oricon) 5 South Korean Albums (Circle) 2
Year-end charts + Chart (2024) Position Japanese Albums (Oricon) 94 South Korean Albums (Circle) 22
+ Chart (2025) Position Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 45
Certifications
Release history + Region Date Format Label Various October 21, 2024 South Korea CD February 24, 2025 Vinyl LP
References