"Welcome to My World" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa featuring Naevis. It was released as a pre-release single for their third extended play My World by SM Entertainment on May 2, 2023.
Background and release
On February 16, 2023, Lee Sung-soo released a 30-minute video stating: "Lee Soo-man was the reason why Aespa's music has been delayed" and that the group was supposed to release new music on February 20. Moreover, he added that Soo-man wanted to start "injecting environmentalist motifs of tree-planting and sustainability into songs" which were eventually later scrapped as they "did not fit the world of Aespa" and made the group "upset". On March 16, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing a record in early May. On April 17, it was announced that the group's third extended play titled My World, and containing six tracks, would be released on May 8. It was also announced that "Welcome to My World" would be pre-released on May 2. On April 26, it was revealed that Naevis, the AI character in Aespa's SMCU storyline, would featured in "Welcome to My World" as a virtual artist. The song alongside its music video was released on May 2.
Composition
"Welcome to My World" was written by Ellie Suh (153/Joombas), Hyun Ji-won, and Danke (Lalala Studio), composed and arranged by Mich Hansen, and Jacob "Ubizz" Uchorczak with Celine Svanbäck, and Patrizia Helander participating in the composition. It was described as a "dreamy" and "majestic" pop and alternative pop song characterized by "guitar riff and orchestra" with lyrics about "inviting Naevis [and the listener] to the music world of Aespa". "Welcome to My World" was composed in the key of G major, with a tempo of 152 beats per minute.
Music video
The music video portrays the members "taking a road trip to a forest and connect with nature" with "a mysterious aura [following] them [throughout] their journey", later revealed to be Naevis, "a personified AI system from the group's [world]".
Commercial performance
"Welcome to My World" debuted at number 122 on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated April 30 – May 6, 2023; on its component charts, the song debuted at number 34 on the Circle Download Chart, number 157 on the Circle Streaming Chart, and number 162 on the Circle BGM Chart. In the following week, it ascended to number 64 on the Circle Digital Chart, and number 68 on the Circle Streaming Chart. In Singapore, the song debuted at number 26 on the RIAS Top Regional Chart in the chart issue dated May 5–11, 2023. In Vietnam, the song debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 in the chart issue dated May 18, 2023.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from EP's liner notes.
Studio
SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, digital editing
Seoul Studio – recording
SM Starlight Studio – digital editing
Doobdoob Studio – digital editing
SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing
821 Sound Mastering – mastering
Personnel
SM Entertainment – executive producer
Aespa – vocals, background vocals
Ellie Suh (153/Joombas) – lyrics
Danke (Lalala Studio) – lyrics
Hyun Ji-won – lyrics
Mich Hansen – composition, arrangement
Jacob "Ubizz" Uchorczak – composition, arrangement
Celine Svanbäck – composition
Patrizia Helander – composition
Kriz – vocal directing, background vocals
Goldbranch – orchestral recording, orchestral arrangement, orchestral programming SM Classics Town Orchestra – orchestral Moon Jung-jae – piano, orchestral recording Lee Jong-han – orchestral programming Noh Min-ji – recording, digital editing Jeong Ki-hong – recording Choi Da-in – recording Lee Chan-mi – recording Jeong Yu-ra – digital editing Jang Woo-young – digital editing Nam Koong-jin – mixing Kwon Nam-woo – mastering