My World is the third extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group Aespa, released by SM Entertainment on May 8 2023. The EP comprises six tracks and runs for a total length of 20 minutes 23 seconds. It was issued in four physical versions with eleven distinct cover artworks and made available for digital download and streaming worldwide.
Background and release
Following a series of postponed release plans earlier in 2023, SM Entertainment announced in March that Aespa would return with new music in early May. Promotional material—including teaser videos and a tracklist reveal—identified “Welcome to My World” (featuring the AI character Naevis) as a pre‑release single, issued on May 2, 2023, and “Spicy” as the lead single, released concurrently with the EP on May 8. The group performed several unreleased songs during their February 2023 concert Synk: Hyper Line, hinting at the EP’s musical direction.
Composition and concept
My World marks a stylistic shift from the darker, hyper‑pop and cyber‑punk aesthetics of Aespa’s previous releases (Savage 2021 and Girls 2022) toward a brighter pop sound drawing on dance, R&B, synth‑pop, dream pop, and alternative pop elements. The EP’s narrative is framed as the group’s return from the fictional realm of “Kwangya” to the “real world,” a concept reflected in the lyrical themes and visual styling of the promotional material. The title track “Welcome to My World” incorporates pop, dream‑pop, and alternative‑pop influences with guitar riffs and orchestral touches, while “Spicy” is characterized as an experimental dance‑pop and synth‑pop song featuring an intense synth‑bass line. The remaining tracks explore a range of styles, including hyper‑pop (“Salty & Sweet”), modern R&B (“Thirsty”), minimal pop (“I’m Unhappy”), and a balladic closing piece.
Singles
- “Welcome to My World” (pre‑release single, May 2 2023) – features backing vocals from Naevis, an AI character within Aespa’s SM CU storyline.
- “Spicy” (lead single, May 8 2023) – achieved a top‑three position on South Korea’s Circle Digital Chart and was accompanied by a music video released on the EP’s launch date.
Commercial performance
My World debuted at number 1 on South Korea’s Circle Album Chart, selling 1,420,178 copies in its first week. The Recording Industry Association of Korea (KMCA) subsequently certified the EP double‑million for surpassing two million cumulative sales. In the United States, the EP entered the Billboard 200 within the top ten, becoming Aespa’s second release to reach that position.
Critical reception
Music critics generally gave My World favorable reviews, noting the group’s expanded sonic palette and the EP’s cohesive blend of varied genres. Reviewers highlighted the brighter pop orientation and the effective integration of the AI character Naevis as a novel collaborative element.
Track listing
- “Welcome to My World” (featuring Naevis) – pop/dream‑pop
- “Spicy” – experimental dance‑pop/synth‑pop (lead single)
- “Salty & Sweet” – hyper‑pop/dance
- “Thirsty” – R&B/modern pop
- “I’m Unhappy” – minimal pop ballad
- (closing track) – balladic composition
Personnel and production
The EP was produced by SM Entertainment’s in‑house team, with songwriting and arrangement contributions from various Korean and international composers. Naevis, the virtual AI vocalist, was programmed and mixed as part of SM CU’s ongoing narrative integration.
My World solidifies Aespa’s transition from a virtual‑centric concept toward a more conventional pop identity while retaining the group’s overarching sci‑fi storyline.