United Center teleports into aespa’s cyber world

As fans rushed into the United Center Feb. 15, the lights dimmed and submerged the arena in darkness. The crowd cheered as a pulse of red flashed across the televised backdrop. 

The screen came to life, revealing fragmented images of K-pop group aespa’s members — Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning. This was the final American stop of the Synk: Parallel Line tour, which tells the story of an apocalyptic future dominated by AI. The cyberpunk tour features songs from multiple albums including their latest, “Whiplash.”

As the haunting intro picked up, the members emerged from center stage, draped in ethereal white dresses, and stepped into a diamond-shaped formation to perform “Drama.”

“Black Mamba” slithered in next, with the members gliding across the stage with serpentine grace. 

“I can’t find it anymore / The temptation that swallows you, black mamba,” Winter sang.  

After a seductive and sinister performance of “Salty & Sweet,” the singers briefly disappeared, returning with spring-themed dresses under a screen that read,“Welcome to MY World.”

“You should have the most fun tonight because you’re the last tour,” Karina said. “So, if you know the next song, dance with us.”

As “Supernova” erupted in a blaze of red lights, Ningning led the crowd through the chorus choreography. The stage pulsed as waves of crimson light radiated from the ground. Against the fiery backdrop, the group’s pastel dresses glowed like cosmic dust.

Moving away from heavy bass songs, the members sat along on a ledge and delivered the aching melody of “Mine.” They then dove into their soundtrack “Die Trying” for the Netflix film “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” with TOKiMONSTA. 

Jumping from the ledge into “Flights, Not Feelings,” Winter took the wheel as the members shifted into a dynamic car-seat formation. Their arms mimicked seatbelts clicking in, shoulders rolled with the rhythm, as if cruising down winding roads. 

The mood then shifted from girl-boss vibes to the frothy melody of “Better Things.” The screen filled with virtual bubbles floating through the air, swirling like sea foam and washing a whimsical contrast over their synth-heavy setlist.

Suddenly, the screen flickered — static, distortion, and chaos erupted as breaking news videos resurfaced. The apocalyptic world was bleak and colorless as buildings stood torn apart. The members appeared onscreen, looking bruised and glum. 

“How will I exist?” Ningning said. “Is this the real world?”

In the video, Winter frantically flipped through a diary, Giselle fought the relentless interference of static and NingNing ran through dimly lit hallways. 

Silence filled the arena, with attendees holding their light sticks in suspension, a sea of blue frozen in anticipation for the video to unfold.

“Sometimes the truth isn’t one thing,” Karina said. “The truth is a cat in a box. Always think — is this the real world? Am I the only one?”

Giselle then stepped onstage with backup dancers to begin her solo. Wearing a blue mesh top and blue-jeans baggy pants, her pink hair caught the stage lights as she delivered a sultry rendition of “Dopamine.” 

Karina followed with “UP,” strikingly different from the solo before, bringing a burst of hip-hop to the stage. NingNing took over with an elegant rendition of “Bored!” and Winter closed the set with “Spark,” performing with serene, angelic skill as the choreography took on ballet-inspired moves.

The stage darkened once again, the backdrop screening a ballet class with the members moving in eerie synchronicity alongside motionless backup dancers. The apocalyptic tale continued when Winter opened a locker to find a diary. The members realized from the diary the world ended and they were all that was left. 

Pink confetti exploded over the crowd as the band returned, clad in pink hoodies and baggy jeans for “Spicy.”

“‘Pink Hoodie’ is very intense,” Giselle said. “If you want to do cardio, I recommend learning the choreography.” 

Packed with quick, hip-hop-inspired movements, the routine isolates the upper and lower body with sharp precision. Rapid shuffling steps kept the dancers in constant motion, making the choreography playful, powerful and a quick cardio hit.

“Hold on Tight (remix),” “Live My Life” and “We Go” played back to back as audience members jumped and sang along. The lively fanfare was again cut abruptly when the backdrop relit to continue the apocalyptic narrative. 

The screen showed aespa in a wasteland as time rewound. Code and letters crawled over the scene to read, “Hello, World.” Naevis, aespa’s AI counterpart, materialized onscreen to sing “Done.”

The group returned to perform “Whiplash,” leaving crowd members seemingly breathless as the girls danced in perfect synchronicity. “Set the Tone” followed with “Next Level,” this time infused with a rock edge and electric guitar riffs. “Armageddon” transformed into a bass-heavy rock rendition. 

The screen announced a dance challenge for the crowd as it highlighted random attendees who burst into dance as different songs from the set played. 

A video followed with aespa playing a thank you letter to their fans. With a springtime dreamscape and soft, pastel hues, aespa projected the music video for “You” on the screen.

“To you who protected me / Because you are there / I shine even brighter / Let’s always be together,” aespa sang. 

Returning one last time, the members were no longer avatars or AI counterparts. They were four young women — real, tangible and dressed in aespa tour shirts. The quintet harmonized with the audience as they closed the night with two encore songs “ænergy” and “Just Another Girl.” 

When they told the audience it was time to go, the crowd seemed to disagree as they were chanting for aespa to not leave. 

“We actually have one more song,” Giselle said. “I promise this is the final one.”

“Life’s Too Short (English version)” electrified the arena, as the members forged one final moment of connection with the fans. Confetti fell like a digital snowfall as the members took a final group photo with the crowd, closing out their U.S. tour.