Key Takeaways
- LISA’s six-track EP, Press Play, arrives October 23, 2026, via LLOUD and RCA Records.
- Led by the rap-heavy “SaWaDiKa,” the project draws on LISA’s Thai roots and her journey to global stardom.
- The EP arrives ahead of Viva La Lisa, her first Las Vegas residency, which opens in November.
With Press Play, LISA is bringing her Thai roots into the next chapter of her solo career. The BLACKPINK rapper and singer, born Lalisa Manobal, releases the six-track EP on October 23 via LLOUD and RCA Records. Her solo catalog has grown from 2021’s two-song Lalisa to 2025’s debut studio album, Alter Ego, which used five personas to explore different sides of her music. This time, she is framing the project around her own journey from Thailand to the global stage.
LISA launched her own company, LLOUD, in 2024, and its RCA partnership gives her ownership of her solo recordings. The new EP’s lead single “SaWaDiKa” turns a Thai greeting into a statement of confidence, pairing her rap delivery with a Bangkok-shot video. The upcoming “Tarantino” adds a cinematic reference to a project LISA says should be heard as a whole. Press Play also arrives just before Viva La Lisa, her first Las Vegas residency, which opens in November. Here’s everything you need to know about Press Play.
Official Tracklist & Release Date
Press Play arrives October 23, 2026, via LLOUD and RCA Records. The official Spotify pre-release listing confirms the following six-track sequence:
1.“SaWaDiKa”
2.“V12”
3.“Cobra”
4.“Tarantino”
5.“Cut U Off”
6.“Sweat”
What Does LISA’s Press Play EP Title Mean?
The title is an invitation to hear the songs together. LISA told The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that the EP follows “my journey from my roots to where I am right now today,” with Thai elements running through the music.
“Every single song has their own character, their own vibe and we combine it together,” she said. “It’s like a movie. So you just press play.”
Representing Thailand has long been part of her solo music. “I just want people to know I’m Thai,” she told Rolling Stone in 2022. “Some people don’t know: ‘Oh, she’s part of a girl group from Korea, so maybe she’s Korean.’” In the same interview, she praised how Rosalía made her Spanish culture part of her music.
LISA had already asked producer Teddy to bring Thai sounds into her 2021 solo debut “Lalisa.” He incorporated traditional Thai music into its dance break, she told Billboard. Press Play continues that exploration, this time with LISA explicitly framing the whole project around her journey from home to the global stage.
What Are the Press Play Singles?
- “SaWaDiKa” (September 3): The lead single flips the Thai greeting for “hello” into a boast about LISA’s success, with references to a Geneva timepiece and a Ferrari. Its Bang Jae Yeob-directed video was shot in Bangkok, incorporating Muay Thai boxing imagery and tuk-tuks. The song debuted at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- “Tarantino” (October 23): LISA announced the second single on October 14, sharing artwork that shows her holding a red envelope over part of her face. The teaser connects the track to the EP’s title with the lyric, “It’s a movie, baby, come and press play.” The full song and its production credits are still forthcoming.
What Does “SaWaDiKa” Mean?
“SaWaDiKa” is a stylized spelling of sawatdee ka, a Thai greeting meaning “hello.” The ka ending adds politeness and is conventionally used by women speaking Thai. The phrase also appeared in LISA’s “HELLO SAWADIKA” teaser campaign ahead of the single’s announcement.
In the song, that everyday greeting becomes a confident introduction. LISA opens with “Hello, sawadika” before rapping about her success and luxury lifestyle. For a project she describes as a journey from her Thai roots to her life today, it’s a fitting opening: she greets a global audience in the language of home.
Who Is Featured on Press Play?
No guest artists are named on Press Play’s current official tracklist. The Spotify preview lists LISA alone on all six songs. That is the announced artist billing ahead of release; complete vocal and personnel credits have not yet been confirmed for the full EP.
Who Produced Press Play?
Full track-by-track production credits for Press Play have not yet been released, but the advance single already has confirmed personnel on Apple Music:
1. “SaWaDiKa” — Thom Bridges and Ojivolta, with vocal production by Kuk Harrell. Bridges has worked with KATSEYE and John Summit, while Ojivolta is a songwriting and production duo known for their work with Kanye West and Jon Bellion. LISA also shares a composition and lyrics credit on the song.
Full track-by-track producer credits for the remaining five songs will be added here when the EP is released.
What Does Press Play Sound Like?
The first single points toward LISA’s rap-led side. Her label described “SaWaDiKa” as a return to her “rap prowess and core hip-hop sound,” according to Just Jared. Its sharp rap delivery sits over heavy bass and sputtering drums, turning the repeated greeting into the song’s central hook.
In an October 16 Z100 interview, LISA indicated that some of that hip-hop direction carries into the rest of the EP. Asked about her hip-hop icons, she named Doja Cat and Rihanna as favorites.
The preview of “Tarantino” also features pounding percussion. The full six-song set has not been released yet, so its complete musical range remains to be heard.
What Does Always Lalisa Reveal About LISA’s Solo Career?
Sue Kim’s documentary Always Lalisa opened in IMAX and cinemas worldwide on October 12 for a limited release. It follows the solo period in which LISA made Alter Ego, rather than the recording of Press Play, and includes family and friends from Thailand. The film captures LISA adjusting to making music outside BLACKPINK’s established label system. During solo recording sessions, LISA initially wasn’t sure she could speak directly to the producers. She wanted LLOUD to give her a team focused on her solo work and more freedom to try different musical styles: “I just wanted to explore more in my music and style,” she told Vanity Fair, “and I wanted people that were only focused on my stuff.”
How Can You Buy Press Play and Other LISA Products?
You can pre-order Press Play on ultra-clear vinyl, CD, or an artist-exclusive CD edition through LISA’s official US store. An Asia-exclusive red-marble vinyl is listed through her official Asia store.
For collectibles tied to the EP, visit LISA’s artist page on Complex Shop. The ESCO x LISA Hangerpack contains nine trading cards and one foil card, with 50 subjects spanning Press Play, Alter Ego, and more. Hand-signed LISA autograph cards are randomly inserted. The collaboration opened with an exclusive 48-hour Complex presale on October 19, ahead of its wider retail launch on October 23.
Complex also carries the LLOUD x Von Dutch Hollywood capsule, which debuted at ComplexCon earlier this month. LISA’s brand teamed with Von Dutch Hollywood on apparel and accessories, including a Logo Tee, Logo Hoodie, and Logo Trucker Hat.
Viva La Lisa Las Vegas Residency Dates
LISA’s first Las Vegas residency opens at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in November. Before Press Play was announced, a June Vanity Fair profile reported that she was exploring new music with an eye toward giving returning concertgoers a different experience in Vegas.
According to Caesars’ announcement, she is the first K-pop artist to have a Las Vegas residency. The original four shows sold out in under ten minutes, prompting the addition of two dates for a six-night run:
- November 12, 2026
- November 13, 2026
- November 14, 2026
- November 27, 2026
- November 28, 2026
- November 29, 2026
The EP arrives just ahead of her first run of Las Vegas shows.
