BLACKPINK LISA Traces Her Thai Roots on New EP 'PRESS PLAY'

BLACKPINK member LISA is back with new solo music after about a year and eight months. She released her first solo EP, "PRESS PLAY," on global music platforms at midnight KST on Oct. 23.

The EP is her first release since her debut studio album, "ALTER EGO," which came out in February 2025.

"PRESS PLAY" follows the Thai-born star's journey from her roots to her rise as a global artist. In September, LISA appeared on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and said the album tells her story from where she began to where she is today. She also said she incorporated elements of Thai culture into the music.

She explained the title on the show, too. The songs each have a different mood, she said, but together they unfold like a film. That idea inspired the EP's title.

The album has six tracks: "SaWaDiKa," "V12," "Cobra," "Tarantino," "Cut U Off" and "Sweat."

LISA first teased the comeback on Sept. 4 with the pre-release single "SaWaDiKa." The title is a Thai greeting that means "hello." The track pairs a hip-hop beat with her signature rapping. Its music video was shot in Bangkok and features Thai cultural elements such as Muay Thai and tuk-tuks, the three-wheeled taxis common throughout the city. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100, the main U.S. singles chart, at No. 69.

Last month, on Sept. 27 (local time), she won Best Pop at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles for "Dream," a track from "ALTER EGO." Best Pop is one of the show's main categories, and she is the first Asian solo artist to win it. The trophy is her fourth VMA overall. She previously won Best K-Pop in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

Next up is the stage. In November, LISA will headline her own residency, "VIVA LA LISA," at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Six shows are planned, running from Nov. 12 to 14 and from Nov. 27 to 29.

The comeback also arrives as the singer faces dating rumors. Reports and online posts about her being seen several times with Thai actor and model Blue Pongtiwat have recently spread online. On Oct. 19, photos that reportedly showed the two together in Thailand circulated as well. Neither side has made an official statement about the rumors.

For LISA, "PRESS PLAY" is more than a new set of songs. It puts her Thai identity at the center of her work, at a moment when her solo career is expanding onto major international stages.