ASP have confirmed details of their fifth major single, ‘BA-BY’ (pronounced “Barbie”), the eight-member WACK group’s first physical release under their new lineup. Out on August 20th via avex, the single features two tracks and includes a limited edition with live footage from the group’s WACK in the UK appearances.
The title track is produced and arranged by Yohji Igarashi, known for his work with rapper HIYADAM and remix contributions across the Japanese hip-hop and electronic scenes. Lyrics and co-composition come from Pecori of ODD Foot Works, who also wrote the lyrics for Number_i’s ‘GOAT’, the boy group’s first track to surpass 200 million streams. Despite their collaborators’ hip-hop backgrounds, Pecori made clear that they shaped the track around ASP’s assertive rock style:
“When writing the lyrics, I focused entirely on what I see as ASP’s greatest strength, their punkish ferocity. Contrary to their cute appearance, I imagined them with this gremlin-like vibe. Like, ‘Think I’m harmless? Get too close and I’ll k!ll you♡’ That’s the kind of energy I went for. Let’s get our blood pumping and dance!”
Commenting on the production, Igarashi said the aim was to highlight each member’s individual style within the track’s dense structure:
“I produced this track with the intention of letting each member’s individuality come through, even within its hard-hitting musical style. The highlight is the powerful vocals of each member, which stand strong against the intense soundscape.”
Nara-born rock outfit Age Factory produced the coupling track, ‘Get New MIRAI’, which they released digitally on May 4th. Speaking on behalf of the group, frontman Eisuke Shimizu described the track as a response to an uncertain future, created with ASP’s collective strength in mind:
“The future no one knows exists only within ourselves. I made this track with the hope that all the members of ASP, united as one living entity, would turn it into energy that connects them to a new stage. I’d be happy if ASP could become a source of energy for many people.”
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The artwork for ‘BA-BY’ was directed by JACKSON kaki, who previously worked on the jacket and music video visuals for ASP’s ‘Black Nails’. For this release, he created an imaginary character inspired by the lyrics, assembled through fragmented visual motifs in a deliberately disjointed and unsettling collage.
JACKSON kaki-designed artwork for the limited and standard editions of ASP’s fifth major single ‘BA-BY’.
The first press limited edition will include a Blu-ray compiling footage from WACK in the UK Vol.3 (August 2024), Vol.4 (November 2024), and Vol.5 (March 2025), along with the music video and behind-the-scenes content for ‘TOTSUGEKI!!!!!’. A 52-page photobook covering all five WACK in the UK events rounds out the package.
ASP are currently in the latter half of their nationwide Acid Suspicious Parental Tour, which concludes on August 15th with a sold-out show at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA in Tokyo. The release of ‘BA-BY’ arrives just five days later and coincides with preparations for the group’s first overseas headline run, “ASP in the U.K Tour”, set for September. The UK tour follows nearly two years of regular appearances at WACK in the UK events in London, signalling a shift from showcase appearances toward self-contained live activity in the region.
ASP
BA-BY
Release Date: 20/08/2025
Label: Avex / JPU Records
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
CD: Regular | Blu-ray Limited Edition
