LISA and MINNIE Return to Their Thai Roots With Same-Day Releases

Two Thai-born K-POP stars released new music on the same day. BLACKPINK member LISA and i-dle member MINNIE both released solo EPs on Oct. 23, with each project highlighting their Thai roots.

LISA released her new EP, "PRESS PLAY," on Oct. 23. It marks her first album release in about one year and eight months, following her debut full-length solo album, "Alter Ego," which arrived in February 2025.

The six-track EP traces LISA's journey from growing up in Thailand to becoming a global star.

She hinted at the album's direction in September with the pre-release single "SaWaDiKa." The title comes from a Thai greeting, while the track combines a hip-hop sound with LISA's rap. Filmed in Bangkok, the music video features elements of Thai culture, including tuk-tuks and Muay Thai.

LISA has songwriting credits on all six tracks, including "SaWaDiKa." The album connects her Thai roots with her present identity as a global artist. She previously explained on an American television show that the project reflects her journey from Thailand to where she is today.

MINNIE released her digital EP, "i love you to the moon and back," at noon on the same day. It follows her first solo mini album, "HER," released in January 2025, by about one year and nine months.

Released on her birthday, the project is also her first Thai-language EP.

The three-track release features the title track "to the moon :)," along with "insomnia" and "เมฆขาว (white clouds)." The songs explore different sides of love, from wanting to stay with someone special to the loneliness of waiting for a message and longing for someone who has grown distant.

MINNIE participated in writing and composing all three tracks. She also wrote lyrics in her native Thai to express her personal emotions.

To celebrate the release, a pop-up store is running in Bangkok until Oct. 25. On the final day, MINNIE will hold a special live event for local fans.

Both artists were born in Thailand and debuted in K-POP groups before branching out as solo performers. LISA debuted with BLACKPINK in 2016, while MINNIE debuted with i-dle in 2018. Both have since developed their individual musical styles through solo releases.

The two artists express their Thai roots in different ways. LISA puts Thai culture and her personal journey at the center of her new EP, while MINNIE uses her native language to explore emotions surrounding love. Their simultaneous releases highlight how two Thai-born K-POP stars are incorporating their cultural backgrounds into their solo music.