‘SYNK: Parallel Line’ Tour Review: aespa Balances Intensity and Innovation in Electrifying Show

On February 11, 2025, K-pop powerhouse aespa brought their highly anticipated SYNK: Parallel Line world tour to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Hours before the concert, eager fans—known as “MYs”—lined the streets surrounding the venue, braving the frigid weather to secure their spots for what promised to be a spectacular performance.

Typical of K-pop concerts, the crowd was diverse, with attendees ranging from hardcore MYs brandishing official Sbongs (aespa’s clear, dome-topped lightsticks) to casual fans holding lightsticks from other K-pop groups. The presence of attendees who might not have been die-hard followers of the group suggested aespa’s growing global influence, especially after its recent surge in popularity in South Korea.

A Grand Opening: Setting the Stage

As the lights dimmed and the opening visuals played on the massive LED screens, anticipation filled the air. The quartet—Karina, Winter, Ningning, and Giselle—emerged in elaborate white crinoline dresses, launching into the concert’s first song, Drama. The stage design featured towering digital backdrops, laser effects, and synchronized lighting that enhanced the futuristic, cyberpunk aesthetic aespa is known.

However, an unusual sight caught the attention of concertgoers: a noticeable lack of energy in Section 17, where many remained seated during the first song. This was highly atypical for a K-pop show, where fans are usually on their feet from the first note. It wasn’t until the group transitioned into a remixed version of their debut single, Black Mamba, that the entire arena seemed to come alive.

Setlist Highlights and Surprises

aespa delivered a meticulously choreographed setlist featuring 24 songs, a mix of fan favorites and unexpected selections. While the group is known for its high-energy performances, this tour leaned even more heavily into fast-paced, dance-heavy tracks, leaving little room for ballads or mid-tempo moments.

One of the night’s early highlights was Supernova, aespa’s 2024 chart-topping hit that spent over 100 days at No. 1 in South Korea. Produced by three-time Grammy winner Dem Jointz, the track’s deep bass and syncopated beats filled the arena with pulsating energy, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The third segment of the show featured solo performances from each member, an upgrade from their 2023 tour, where individual stages were not officially released as singles. This time, Karina’s Up, a song that had already made waves on Korean charts, received one of the loudest cheers of the night, demonstrating how well fans had embraced these solo ventures.

Controversial Setlist Choices

Despite the overall high energy, some fans were disappointed with the omission of past hits like Girls and Savage, both staples in aespa’s previous tours. Instead, the setlist included tracks such as Die Trying (inspired by Netflix’s Rebel Moon), Hold on Tight (from the Tetris soundtrack), and We Go (from Pokémon Horizons: The Series). While these songs showcased aespa’s involvement in global projects, they took up space that could have been used for fan-favorite tracks.

Another divisive moment came with the inclusion of Done—a single performed not by aespa but by naevis, a Vocaloid character tied to aespa’s lore. While Done was an interesting experiment in AI-generated music, it didn’t land as powerfully as Welcome to MY World, a previous aespa track that also featured naevis but still centered around the members themselves.

Vocals vs. Choreography: A Delicate Balance

The concert’s fast-paced nature raised discussions about aespa’s vocal performance. The relentless choreography meant that by the 17th song (We Go), the members were visibly exhausted. Unlike previous tours where the group had opportunities to showcase their vocal prowess, this setlist left little room for them to demonstrate their singing abilities fully.

While Winter and Ningning are widely regarded as two of the strongest vocalists among fourth-generation K-pop idols, their moments to shine vocally were mostly reserved for the encore. The reliance on pre-recorded harmonizations during some of the more demanding numbers led to renewed debates over lip-syncing in K-pop.

Encore and Unexpected Crowd Participation

Before the encore, the concert took a fun turn with a fan dance cam segment. Audience members were randomly selected and challenged to perform aespa’s signature choreography. The crowd cheered as fans flawlessly executed moves from Next Level and Whiplash, proving that MYs came prepared.

The night’s most unexpected and heartwarming moment came when the camera landed on an older gentleman with a long gray beard—likely accompanying a younger fan. To everyone’s delight, he enthusiastically joined in, pulling off dance moves that earned some of the loudest applause of the evening.

For the encore, aespa closed with Just Another Girl and Life’s Too Short, the only mid-tempo songs in the entire set. These tracks provided a much-needed cooldown and allowed the group to directly interact with the audience, waving, throwing confetti, and taking in the moment before exiting the stage.

Final Thoughts: A Spectacle Worth Witnessing

aespa’s SYNK: Parallel Line tour stop in Newark was a testament to the group’s rapid evolution and ability to captivate a global audience. Despite some questionable setlist choices and the physically demanding pace of the performance, the concert successfully delivered a visually stunning and sonically immersive experience.

As aespa continues its tour across North America and beyond, the question remains: will they adjust their approach to better balance choreography and live vocals? Either way, one thing is certain—the group’s star power is undeniable, and their influence in the K-pop industry is only growing stronger.

For those who missed the concert, check out this live performance of Next Level from the Prudential Center: