Keeping up with K-Pop: aespa boots up with new single “Hold On Tight”

I didn’t think that aespa’s single for an Apple Original Film would sneak its way to being one of my favorite releases of 2023, yet here we are. 

The K-Pop sensation released their single for the film “Tetris” entitled “Hold On Tight” on March 30. This film follows the founding of the iconic video game “Tetris,” and the challenges of bringing this game to the masses. 

Using the melody of the original Tetris soundtrack as a guide in the instrumentals, this OST (original soundtrack) elevates aespa’s sound to the next level. 

The song is a mixture of EDM, electronic dance music, and hyper-pop beats. It’s out of this world, and sounds like a song straight out of “Tron.”

While this song is heavily driven by the melody from the game, the elevated beat helps modernize without straying too far from that futuristic Tetris sound. 

This song makes me feel like an important computer hacker. It transports me into a realm where green coding fills the dark air. It’s a sci-fi thriller put into a two-minute and 29-second song. 

It tells a story based on the instrumentals alone, yet the song has very clever lyrics that describe elements of the game in reality. 

One of my favorite lyrics comes at the start of the song, with Karina singing, “Situation critical, it’s heavy. A million blocks of obstacles, you help me.”

Just with that lyric alone, for those who know the game, describes it perfectly. Its genius writing is not needed to make this song a hit, but it does add extra depth. 

On top of this, aespa uses this song to flash their vocal abilities. Normally, we see aespa having more rap-centered songs, so it’s refreshing to hear their singing abilities demonstrated so cleanly. 

My only issue with this song is that it’s too short. I could listen to this song for ten minutes if provided the option, the instrumentals are that stellar. I understand it is for a film and there probably were limitations, but I wish they released “Hold On Tight (10 Minute Version).”

This song was an unexpected success and in a week full of new releases. To have a single from “Tetris” stand out illustrates how aespa is a group to keep your eyes on, and I cannot wait to see their next project.