Savage (EP)
Savage is the debut extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. The EP was released by SM Entertainment on October 5, 2021, and is available in three different versions: P.O.S, Synk Dive and Hallucination Quest. The group's debut mini album features six songs including the lead single of the same name. Aespa sought to make an EP that could show the group's capability of a diverse musical spectrum. Primarily a pop record with elements of dance pop, hyperpop and electropop among others. Production of the album was handled by a wide array of producers including  Yoo Young-jin, Kenzie, Brandon Green, Marcus Lomax, and Hayley Kiyoko, with SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man serving as the album's executive producer. Lyrically, the album continues to expand the virtual universe of Aespa. The mini album received both commercial success and positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the dark, futuristic "cyberpunk" style featured in the album as well as the wide variety of music genres. The extended play marked Aespa's first and highest entry on the US "Billboard" 200, debuting at number 20, and peaked at number 1 on the Gaon Album Chart. "Savage" has  since been certified 2× Platinum by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for selling 500,000 units. To promote the album, Aespa appeared on several South Korean music programs including "M Countdown", "Music Bank", and "Inkigayo". Background and recording. On September 13, 2021, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their first extended play titled "Savage" on October 5, containing six tracks. The EP was released for pre-order on September 14. On September 27, the tracklist and lead single "Savage" were revealed. The tracklist included participation from an American singer-songwriter Hayley Kiyoko on the closing track "Lucid Dream . In an interview with the Grammy, Giselle revealed that they actually didn't get to meet her and do an actual collaboration [even though] the song was made by her." The making of "Savage" marked the first time all the Aespa members recorded together in a studio, a process that turned out to be "a lot of fun for the members, who are all close friends." Ningning said that they had a great time recording the EP and got to try genres they haven't done before. According to the "Paper magazine", Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment  and executive producer of their EP, "personally directed every small detail" of their production, including the pronunciation of every syllable. Composition. "Savage" is primarily a pop record, expanding on dance pop, hyperpop and electropop genres with a dark, futuristic "cyberpunk" style. It further incorporates an eclectic mix of house, deep house, R&B, dubstep, trap music, trance, hip hop and other genres. Divyansha Dongre of "Rolling Stone India" described the mini album as a "multi-genre six-track EP." "MTV" stated that "Savage" "blends dance and pop with elements of house, trap, rap, and other genres." "Rolling Stone" noted that the  record "showcases futuristic elements in its visuals and sound," and "further expands on the virtual world of Aespa." Songs. The opening track, "Aenergy" was described as a "uplifting anthem" that explores "the group's members and the characteristics they showcase throughout their superheroine-like story, declaring each members' in-universe skills and abilities." The lead single, "Savage" was described as "brilliant" in its eclectic blend of genres, including trap music, dubstep and intense power balladry with "drums and basses" as the main focus. Narrating the group's ongoing efforts to defy the Black Mamba, the track further elucidates Aespa and  ae proceeding to the virtual world of Kwanga with the help of nævis. The song blends "addictive" hooks, rap verses and ad-libs while displaying the group's ability to take on varied vocals. "NME", positively compared the track to the music of a Scottish musician Sophie Xeon. "I'll Make You Cry" was described as a dance-pop "fierce revenge anthem" with "a unique rhythm", "twinkling beats" and "ear-catching synth sound". "Haunting" belts escalate its "already tenacious" atmosphere, with "strong" vocal performances and "fierce" lyrics. The "eccentric", "high-energy" song, "Yeppi Yeppi" is a "bubbly" song with combination  of "deep house, trance, synthwave, and trap" genre, with lyrics containing "positive message that if you think of yourself as beautiful rather than other people's opinions, then you will be happy". Winter named the song as her personal favorite. "Iconic" was described as a dance-pop song with "a force of revving production and fizzing hooks." The song starts first with "strong" hip hop. Then, once it gets a few moments into the track, it turns into "a series of alternatingly sweet and sassy verses all about how iconic Aespa is." The closing track, "Lucid Dream" is a dream  pop alt R&B tune that emits a "hazy, ambient vibe" and features a "glitchy" electronic bridge. The song is a "poignant blur" of "hypnotic" synthesisers and "gentle" trap beats regardless, mixed with "intricate" layers of breathy vocal. Promotion and release. On September 14, 2021, "Savage" was made available for pre-order in three versions: P.O.S, Synk Dive and Hallucination Quest. From September 23 to 25, version Hallucination Quest of concept photos for the extended play was released. The Synk Dive and another Hallucination Quest versions of concept photos were released on September 26 and 29, respectively. The album tracklist was  revealed on September 27. The teaser for the music video of the mini album's lead single of the same name was released on October 4. The album was released on October 26, 2020, in CD and digital formats. The music video for the lead single "Savage", directed by 725 (SL8 Visual Lab), was released to SM's YouTube channel in conjunction with the release of the EP. Following the extended play's release, on October 5, 2021, Aespa held a live event called "SYNK DIVE: aespa Savage SHOWCASE" on YouTube to introduce the extended play and communicate with their  fans. The group also performed on NBC's "The Kelly Clarkson Show" on October 16, making their broadcast debut on US television network. Critical reception. AllMusic critic David Crone stated that the EP is "a glitchy, futuristic take on the K-Pop mini-album" that continues to "demonstrate the star power of Aespa's leading foursome". Tamar Herman of the "South China Morning Post" summarized "Savage" as "cohesive listening experience" that is "invigorating and satisfying", adding it was "successful in showcasing what the members of Aespa have to offer as one of most ambitious newer female K-pop acts out  there." She also included it on her list of best K-pop releases of October 2021. Carmen Chin from "NME" awarded the EP four stars out of five, writing "Savage's brand of vibrant, punchy electronic pop falls perfectly in sync with the unconventionality aespa have so boldly presented in their one year as a group." MTV's Regina Kim stated that "Savage provides a sonic backdrop that exists outside this imagined world," and added that the mini album is "giving listeners glimpses into an overarching fable." In her review for "PopMatters", Ana Clara Ribeiro described "Savage" as "like a  well-scripted, high-budget cyberpunk film" that "doesn't necessarily make you feel good, but it is good, and that’s why you watch it" because it "entertains and fascinates." She also pointed out the track "I'll Make You Cry" as a highlight on the EP. Commercial performance. On October 5, it was reported that the EP had reached 401,088 pre-order sales. According to South Korea's Hanteo Chart, the EP was the "best-selling debut album for girl group's on the chart" after it sold more than 200,000 copies on the second day of its release . In South Korea, the EP debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated October 3–9, 2021. The mini album also topped the daily as well as weekly charts in various album charts such as Hanteo Chart, Synnara Record, Kyobo Bookstore, and Gaon Retail Album Chart. Within 15 days of release, it was reported that the mini-album sold 513,292 copies. In Japan, it peaked at number 18 on "Billboard Japan"s Hot Albums chart and at number 7 on Oricon's Albums Chart. Aespa had also made their debut on the "Billboard 200" chart with the mini album  at number 20, becoming the highest charting debut album by a K-pop girl group to appear on the chart. "Savage" had also clinched the top spots on Billboard's World Albums and Independent Albums charts. The EP debuted at number 2 on the Top Album Sales chart, as the set was purchased by nearly 17,500 copies in America. Track listing. Notes Credits and personnel. Credits adapted from the liner notes of the EP. Musicians Technical