Anderson .Paak has teamed up with South Korean group aespa for “Keychain,” a new single tied to his directorial debut, K-Pops!  The song serves as the first release from a larger music project inspired by the film, which is now playing exclusively in AMC Theatres nationwide.

Announced on Instagram alongside cover art featuring a fuzzy purple bag with miniature charms representing both artists. The track is produced by Dem Jointz, known in K-pop circles for work with acts like NCT, EXO, SHINee and aespa.

Paak said of the collaboration: “I’m excited to join forces with Aespa on ‘Keychain.’ K-Pops! is all about connection, and this track reflects that perfectly. We come from different worlds, but we’re connected by the same passion for music” 

Aespa echoed the enthusiasm, sharing, “Working on ‘Keychain’ with Anderson .Paak was such a fun and inspiring experience for us. We loved being part of a project that looks at K-pop from a fresh perspective, and we’re grateful to contribute our voices.”

Set in Seoul against the backdrop of a televised K-pop competition, K-Pops! centers on a father and son navigating ambition, identity and connection through music. The project grew out of the COVID-19 lockdown, when Paak began creating skits with his son, eventually expanding into a full feature exploring both the mechanics of K-pop and its ties to ’90s R&B and gospel traditions.

Stream ‘Keychain’ – HERE.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com