The group aespa has released a new track titled “Dirty Work.”

My experience with K-pop is next to none. That said, sometimes it’s useful to get an outsider’s perspective. I’ve listened to one or two songs by Blackpink, and that’s about it.

If you’re already a fan, you probably know that aespa is a four-member K-pop group made up of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The reason I chose to write about this track is because there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on. I can’t trace all of it historically, but I can definitely describe what I hear.

The first thing that hits me is attitude—and lots of it. It radiates from every aspect: from the group’s imagery to the sound choices in the song, and most of all, the vocal performances.

As with other K-pop songs I’ve heard, the real essence isn’t so much in the lyrics, but in how they’re delivered. Even though the lyrics don’t read like poetry, there’s something refreshing about a track that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is. Dirty Work is about having fun—and I’m having a lot of fun listening to it.

The track is packed with different sections, each with its own intricate instrumental setup. What stands out to me most is the vocal delivery, paired with trap drums and a booming 808 bass.

These elements, combined with a glitchy background synth line and electrified synths/guitars, really define the sound of the track. The instrumentation sounds like Dirty Work—confident, slick, and bold. I think aespa, along with producers Evan Blair and IMLAY, have done a great job thematically tying it all together.

Music can do anything—you can write sad lyrics over a happy beat, or go all-in on one mood. In the case of aespa’s Dirty Work, they’ve written something dripping with attitude.
I love it.

Go give it a spin—you might just get hooked on K-pop too.

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!