Giselle (singer)
As the first Japanese member of SM Entertainment's Aespa, she brings a sharp, multilingual rap style to the group's futuristic concept.
Born 2000 (age 26)·Japanese singer and rapper·Birthday: October 30·Generation Z
Biography
Born Aeri Uchinaga in Seoul to a Japanese mother and a Korean-American father, Giselle's background was transnational from the start. Raised primarily in Japan, she was fluent in Japanese, Korean, and English—a linguistic trifecta that made her a standout trainee when she joined SM Entertainment after a brief, open audition. Her training period was remarkably short, just under a year, before she was unveiled as the fourth and final member of Aespa in 2020. The group's complex lore, blending AI avatars and a digital universe called the 'KWANGYA,' required performers who could embody a cutting-edge aesthetic. Giselle filled the main rapper position, delivering verses with a relaxed, confident flow that contrasted with the group's often frenetic production. Her presence added a crucial layer of global appeal, and she quickly became known for her stylish, off-duty fashion sense and her candid, witty demeanor in interviews. As part of Aespa, she helped propel the group to rapid international success, with hits like 'Next Level' and 'Savage,' representing a new generation of K-pop idols who are inherently global citizens.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Giselle was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Giselle Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Giselle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as the main rapper of Aespa in November 2020 with the single 'Black Mamba.'
- Co-wrote lyrics for the B-side track 'Lucid Dream' on Aespa's 'Savage' EP.
- Performed as part of Aespa at major global events like the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Did You Know?
She is the first and only Japanese member to debut in an SM Entertainment girl group since Girls' Generation's Yuta in 2007.
Giselle attended the International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo.
She learned to play the piano as a child.
“I want to be a bridge, to connect our different cultures through music.”
