Drama (Aespa EP)

Drama is the fourth extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on November 10, 2023, and contains six tracks including the lead single of the same name.

Background and release
In February 2023, during their inaugural concert, Synk: Hyper Line, the group performed the then-unreleased songs: "Hot Air Balloon", "YOLO", and "Don't Blink". On October 10, SM Entertainment announced that the group would be releasing their fourth extended play titled Drama on November 10. An introduction teaser video was also released on the same day. Six days later, the promotional schedule was released. On October 30, the mood sample teaser video was released, followed by the highlight medley teaser video on November 3. On November 6, teaser videos inspired by the concept of television drama were released for Winter and Giselle, with Karina and Ningning's teasers following the next day. On November 9, the music video teaser for "Drama" was released. The extended play was released alongside the music video for "Drama" on November 10.

Conception
According to SM Entertainment, Drama will showcase Aespa "evolving personalities" with "fresh music" while "also build[ing upon] on a previous narrative thread" as the group is "now breaking out from the trauma caused by a series of events with 'Synk Out', and 'Hallucination Quest' [in the SMCU's storyline for Aespa]".

Composition
The standard edition of Drama consists of six tracks of various genres including hip hop, dance, and acoustic pop. As with the group's previous releases, Drama will "bring a new chapter to their SMCU lore" by writing stories through "unique music and visuals". The lead single "Drama" was described as a hip-hop and dance song characterized by "an aggressive drum sound and sophisticated synth bass" with lyrics about having "confident attitude that every story begins with Aespa". The second track "Trick or Trick" is a dance song with "heavy bass", and "a hypnotic charm". The third track "Don't Blink" is a "country-like" song with "rusty synth" focusing "Aespa's vocals". The fourth track "Hot Air Balloon" has lyrics that "described a journey up into the sky with someone special". The fifth track "YOLO" is a pop-punk song with "mixture of pop and metal guitar". The sixth track "You" carries lyrics filled with "full of sincerity towards the [group's fans]". In the digital edition that features the group's previously released English single "Better Things" as a bonus track, stands out as an "up-tempo" dance song characterized by "rhythmic percussion sound" with lyrics about "shrugging off the past" while "focusing the given time on more valuable things".

Commercial performance
Drama debuted at number three on South Korea's Circle Album Chart in the chart issue dated November 19–25, 2023. In Japan, the EP debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums in the chart issue dated November 15, 2023; on its component chart, the EP debuted at number 11 on the Top Download Albums. On the Oricon chart, the EP debuted at number 11 on the Albums Chart, and number ten on the Combined Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 27, 2023.

In the United States, Drama debuted at number 33 on the Billboard 200, and number two on the Billboard World Albums in the chart issue dated November 25, 2023. In United Kingdom, the EP debuted at number ten on the OCC's UK Album Downloads Chart, number 33 on the UK Albums Sales, and number 45 on the UK Physical Albums in the chart issue dated November 17–23, 2023. In Australia, the EP debuted at number four on the ARIA Top 20 Hitseekers Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 20, 2023. In France, the EP debuted at number 30 on the SNEP's Top Albums in the chart issue dated November 17, 2023. In Hungary, the EP debuted at number 19 on the MAHASZ Top Albums 40 Chart in the chart issue dated November 10–16, 2023. In Poland, the EP debuted at number 28 on the ZPAV's OLiS in chart issue dated November 10–16, 2023. In Scotland, the EP debuted at number 43 on the OCC's Scottish Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 17–23, 2023. In Spain, the EP debuted at number 79 on the PROMUSICAE Top 100 Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 10–16, 2023.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)'s Global Music Report for 2023, Drama was the twentieth best-selling album worldwide, having sold 1.5 million units.

Critical reception
Abbie Aitken writing for Clash called Drama as "a welcomed expansion to the Aespa universe [by] present[ing] the vocal prowess of [Aespa] and highlights their versatile musicality". She concluded that the "narrative got slightly muddled [by] the overall energy, especially from [the lead single], [making the listener] felt rousing [while] eager for more".

Promotion
Prior to the release of Drama, on November 10, 2023, Aespa held a live event called "Aespa Drama Countdown Live" on YouTube, TikTok, Weverse, and Idol Plus, aimed at introducing the extended play and connecting with their fanbase. Additionally, the group launched a pop-up store named "Aespa Week? Drama City?" in Seoul, South Korea, running from November 10 to 26, to "commemorate the release of the extended play".