GISELLE has made her mark in K-pop as a member of aespa, combining rap, vocals, and a multilingual background with an interest in exploring different musical styles. Since debuting with SM Entertainment’s girl group in 2020, the Japanese singer and rapper has participated in group releases, collaborated with other artists, and shared insights into the musical influences shaping her sound. But how much do you really know about her journey?
Born Aeri Uchinaga on October 30, 2000, GISELLE was born in Seoul, South Korea, to a South Korean mother and a Japanese father. She grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and became fluent in English, Japanese, and Korean. Her international background would become one of the distinctive parts of her identity as an artist working in the Korean music industry.
Before pursuing music professionally, GISELLE attended Tokyo International School and International School of the Sacred Heart. She discovered K-pop during her sophomore year of high school, an experience that helped introduce her to the industry she would eventually join. Interestingly, she attended the same school as Rima, a member of the Japanese girl group NiziU.
After graduating, GISELLE returned to South Korea to audition for SM Entertainment. Passing the company’s Saturday auditions took four attempts, but her persistence paid off. She subsequently completed 11 months of training before SM Entertainment introduced her as the third member of aespa on November 6, 2020. Her stage name, GISELLE, was given to her by a senior at the company who helped train her.
Aespa officially debuted on November 17, 2020, with the single “Black Mamba.” The group marked SM Entertainment’s first new girl group since Red Velvet debuted in 2014. As aespa developed its sound and international presence, GISELLE continued to showcase her abilities as a rapper and vocalist, contributing to the group’s identity alongside Karina, Winter, and Ningning.
Think you know GISELLE’s journey from her school days in Japan to her debut with aespa and collaborations with other artists? Take this 10-question quiz to test your knowledge of her background, career milestones, and musical influences. Find out whether you’re a casual listener or a true MY!
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Answer Key:
A. Uchinaga Aeri
B. October 30, 2000
C. Gangnam District
B. English, Japanese, and Korean
C. Rima of NiziU
C. Four
B. November 6, 2020
D. “Black Mamba”
A. BOL4
B. Stevie Wonder
How Did You Score?
8-10 Correct: You’re a true MY with impressive knowledge of GISELLE’s journey! From her international upbringing and determination to join SM Entertainment to aespa’s debut and her collaborations beyond the group, you’ve got the details covered. You’re clearly paying attention to more than just the music.
5-7 Correct: You know plenty about GISELLE’s background and career, but a few details may have escaped you. You recognize her major milestones and musical influences, so you’re well on your way to mastering her story. Revisit some of aespa’s early releases and her collaborations before trying again.
1-4 Correct: There’s still a lot to discover about GISELLE! Her journey includes four audition attempts, an international upbringing, and musical interests that stretch from R&B to rock. Explore aespa’s discography and GISELLE’s collaborations, then take the quiz again to see how much you’ve learned.
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