BLACKPINK's Lisa Brings Thailand to American Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

BLACKPINK's Lisa had plenty to promote during her first sit-down interview on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," however the topic of Thailand repeatedly found its way into the conversation.

Lisa appeared on the U.S. late-night program on September 16 for her first sit-down talk interview on the show, following her previous appearance as a musical guest in 2021. The singer arrived to the program during an especially busy period in her solo career, with new single "SaWaDiKa," upcoming EP "PRESS PLAY," documentary "Always Lalisa" and Las Vegas residency "VIVA LA LISA" giving her plenty to discuss.

Yet rather than making the appearance feel like a straightforward promotional stop, Lisa repeatedly brought the conversation back to her home country and the Thai influences which have become increasingly visible throughout her solo work.

That began naturally with "SaWaDiKa" as the title plays on the Thai greeting "sawatdee ka," giving Fallon an opportunity to try the phrase himself as Lisa explained its pronunciation and meaning. What could have simply been an explanation of a song title instead became a small introduction to Thai language and culture for a mainstream American television audience.

Furthermore, during the interview, Lisa introduced Fallon to some of her favorite tastes from Thailand, including som tam, or green papaya salad, bringing a piece of Thai food culture directly onto the show's desk. The segment remained deliberately playful, but it also reflected just how naturally Lisa now incorporates her background into international appearances.

That has increasingly become a defining characteristic of her recent solo activities.

"SaWaDiKa" itself was filmed in Bangkok and builds its concept around Lisa's Thai identity. During her conversation with Fallon, she also spoke about reconnecting with her roots after spending more time in Thailand with her family and childhood friends, and how that experience influenced her latest music.

Even one of the interview's more personal moments returned to her life before global fame. Lisa recalled that her father used to call her a "superstar" when she was young, joking that his repeated encouragement may have helped manifest the career she eventually built.

Her alternative career plans were considerably more modest. Asked what she might have done had music not worked out, Lisa said she could have become a dance teacher or even a performer at Disneyland which is an amusing contrast with a career that will soon take her to her own Las Vegas residency.

The appearance comes as Lisa's individual career continues to expand well beyond conventional K-POP promotions. "Always Lalisa," directed by Sue Kim, recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and documents a pivotal period in which Lisa pursued solo music, acting and other projects independently before returning to BLACKPINK activities.

Her six-track EP "PRESS PLAY" is scheduled for release on October 23, while "VIVA LA LISA" will follow at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in November.

For all those increasingly global projects, however, Lisa's latest appearance made one thing particularly noticeable: the bigger her individual platform becomes, the more visibly Thai her solo identity appears to become.