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".[1] 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.[2] Six days later, the promotional schedule was released.[3] On October 30, the mood sample teaser video was released,[4] followed by the highlight medley teaser video on November 3.[5] On November 6, teaser videos inspired by the concept of television drama were released for Winter and Giselle,[6] with Karina and Ningning's teasers following the next day.[7] On November 9, the music video teaser for "Drama" was released.[8] The extended play was released alongside the music video for "Drama" on November 10.[9]
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]".[10]
The standard edition of Drama consists of six tracks of various genres including hip hop, dance, and acousticpop. 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".[10] 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".[11] 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]".[11][12] 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".[13][14]
Drama debuted at number three on South Korea's Circle Album Chart in the chart issue dated November 19–25, 2023.[15] In Japan, the EP debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums in the chart issue dated November 15, 2023;[16] on its component chart, the EP debuted at number 11 on the Top Download Albums.[17] On the Oricon chart, the EP debuted at number 11 on the Albums Chart,[18] and number ten on the Combined Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 27, 2023.[19]
In the United States, Drama debuted at number 33 on the Billboard 200,[20] and number two on the Billboard World Albums in the chart issue dated November 25, 2023.[21] In United Kingdom, the EP debuted at number ten on the OCC's UK Album Downloads Chart,[22] number 33 on the UK Albums Sales,[23] and number 45 on the UK Physical Albums in the chart issue dated November 17–23, 2023.[24] In Australia, the EP debuted at number four on the ARIA Top 20 Hitseekers Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 20, 2023.[25] In France, the EP debuted at number 30 on the SNEP's Top Albums in the chart issue dated November 17, 2023.[26] In Hungary, the EP debuted at number 19 on the MAHASZ Top Albums 40 Chart in the chart issue dated November 10–16, 2023.[27] In Poland, the EP debuted at number 28 on the ZPAV's OLiS in chart issue dated November 10–16, 2023.[28] In Scotland, the EP debuted at number 43 on the OCC's Scottish Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 17–23, 2023.[29] In Spain, the EP debuted at number 79 on the PROMUSICAE Top 100 Albums Chart in the chart issue dated November 10–16, 2023.[30]
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".[12]
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.[32] 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".[33]
^The IFPI Global Albums chart ranks, in order, the albums that generated the most money globally across streaming, download, and physical record sales (combined) in a calendar year. The Global Album Sales Chart measures global unit sales across all physical formats, as well as full album downloads.
^Park, Soo-in (October 11, 2023). 에스파 11월10일 'Drama'로 컴백, 신드롬 또 일으키나 [Aespa's comeback with 'Drama' on November 10th, will it cause another syndrome?] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Naver.
^Park, Dong-seon (October 16, 2023). 에스파, 신보 'Drama' 스케줄러 공개 [Aespa unveils new album 'Drama' scheduler] (in Korean). ET News. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Na-yul (October 30, 2023). 에스파, 'Drama' 무드 샘플러 공개..드라마틱한 변신 [Aespa unveils 'Drama' mood sampler..dramatic transformation] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seong-myeong (November 3, 2023). 에스파 '드라마' 강렬한 퍼포먼스 예고 [Aespa's 'drama' strong performance preview] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyung. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Na-yul (November 6, 2023). 에스파 윈터X지젤, 'Drama'서 수준급 연기..10일 컴백 [Aespa Winter X Giselle, Top-notch acting in 'Drama'..comeback on the 10th] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via Naver.
^에스파 '드라마' 발매기념 팝업스토어 연다 [Aespa opens a pop-up store to celebrate the release of 'Drama']. Sports Kyunghyung. November 7, 2023. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Go, Seung-ah (November 9, 2023). 에스파, 카리스마 넘치는 매력...신곡 '드라마' 뮤비 티저 공개 [Aespa, charismatic charm...New song 'Drama' music video teaser released] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Ji-hye (November 10, 2023). 에스파, 오늘(10일) 새 미니앨범 베일 벗는다..新 '드라마퀸' 탄생 [Aespa unveils new mini album today (10th)..new 'drama queen' born] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abCho, Hye-jin (November 3, 2023). '컴백 D-7' 에스파, 트랙 포스터 속 '하이라이트 메들리' 이목 ['Comeback D-7' Aespa, attention is drawn to the 'highlight medley' in the track poster] (in Korean). X-ports News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abcAitken, Abbie (November 10, 2023). "aespa – Drama". Clash. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (July 31, 2023). 에스파 서머송 온다, 8월 18일 영어 싱글 'Better Things' 발매 [Aespa Summer Song Comes, English single 'Better Things' released on August 18th] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Naver.
^週間 アルバムランキング – 2023年11月27日付 [Oricon Weekly Albums Ranking – November 27, 2023]. Oricon (in Japanese). November 13–19, 2023. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^週間 合算アルバムランキング – 2023年11月27日付 [Oricon Weekly Combined Albums Ranking – November 27, 2023]. Oricon (in Japanese). November 13–19, 2023. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
^ ab"The ARIA Report: Week Commercing November 20, 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1759. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 20, 2023. p. 25.
^ ab"Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 46. hét" [Album Top 40 Chart – Week 46 of 2023]. MAHASZ (in Hungarian). November 10–16, 2023. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^Jo, Hye-jin (November 6, 2023). 에스파 윈터·지젤 수준급 연기력...주연 된 'Drama' 공개 [Aespa Winter and Giselle's top-notch acting skills...'Drama' starring the main character revealed] (in Korean). X-ports News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via Naver.