When SM Entertainment confirmed aespa’s June 2025 comeback, expectations soared. Would they dive deeper into their lore-heavy universe? Would the AI twins return? Would we get another genre-bending spectacle like “Savage” or “Spicy”? And how would they follow up the momentum built by Drama, Supernova, Armageddon, and Whiplash?
The answer landed: loud, stripped down, and unapologetically raw on June 27 with Dirty Work, their first-ever single album. It marks a striking pivot from what we’ve come to expect. Because by now, aespa isn’t just a girl group, they’re carving out a genre of their own.
Song Review: “Dirty Work” – aespa Goes Minimal, But Menacing
Right from the opening beat, “Dirty Work” tells you this isn’t about fantasy anymore. This is about power. A slick hip-hop dance track built around a punchy synth bassline, Dirty Work keeps its production sparse, almost deceptively so. But in that space, aespa’s vocals cut sharper than ever.
Karina and Giselle own the verses with clipped delivery and icy precision, while Ningning and Winter inject melody into the otherwise cold, industrial rhythm. There’s a controlled arrogance that replaces aespa’s previous mystique, making this track feel like a statement more than a single.
There’s no traditional climax or vocal high point, but that’s the point, this isn’t about pleasing the crowd. It’s about claiming territory.
Song Score: 4.2 / 5
- Unique tone shift for aespa
- Minimalist, confident beat
- May lack dynamic progression
Lyrics: Bad Business, Dirty Hands
“Real bad business, that’s dirty work.”
“오답을 고른 게 정답인 선택 (Choosing the wrong answer is the right choice.)”
The lyrics aren’t layered in allegory. They’re blunt, confrontational, and proud. “Dirty Work” is a mantra of rebellion, choosing the mess, owning the grind, and rejecting likability in favor of self-determination.
It’s a clever flip. aespa, a group often seen as highly curated and concept-driven, now embraces the image of controlled chaos. They call themselves a mutation, a threat, not the future, but the disturbance.
Lyrics Score: 3.8/5
Music Video: Polished Grit
The MV is a sharp. We get stark industrial visuals, sharp lighting, and high-fashion confidence.
From the early frames to the closing scenes, this MV channels a high-concept femme-fatale aesthetic:
- Snapshot 1 (10% mark): Cool-toned lighting, industrial chic set — establishing aespa as powerful figures.
- Snapshot 2 (50% mark): Mid-MV dance break scene. Lighting is sharper, emphasizing choreographic precision and charisma.
- Snapshot 3 (90% mark): A culmination of style + attitude, bolder color palette, chaotic background elements, heavy symbolism.
The styling is confident without being overbearing. aespa’s facial expressions and camera presence lean more toward mature swagger.
Choreography & Editing
- Choreography is sharp and syncs well with the beat, especially during the “work, work” sections.
- Editing choices favor quick cuts and zooms that match the beat drops, enhancing the punchy rhythm of the song.
- Visual storytelling is minimal; the focus is more on aesthetic branding and attitude than lore.
Synergy with Song
The MV amplifies the lyrics and production:
- Visuals match the “real bad business” energy with moody lighting, bold fashion, and assertive expressions.
- The lack of narrative may feel underwhelming to some, but for a performance-focused single, this is consistent and effective.
MV Score: 4.3 / 5
- High fashion, cool tone
- Performance and direction aligned with message
- Could use deeper visual storytelling
Summary
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Song | 4.2 |
| Lyrics | 3.8 |
| Music Video | 4.3 |
| Overall | 4.1 / 5 |
aespa’s Dirty Work may not push boundaries in composition, but it does push perception. It’s a risk, toning down the chaos to let a more grounded identity emerge. And it pays off. aespa proves they don’t need elaborate worlds or layered mythologies to command attention. Sometimes, all it takes is confidence, cold stares, and just enough bass to make the ground shake.
This isn’t just aespa cleaning house. It’s them doing the dirty work of redefining themselves, one snarl, one verse, one work chant at a time.
