BLACKPINK's Lisa fuses K-pop and Thai culture on solo album
Summary
BLACKPINK’s Lisa released her first solo album, LALISA, on Friday afternoon KST and said it blends K-pop with Thai culture. She said the lead track includes Thai-style sounds, Thai outfits, and traditional Thai dance movements. Lisa also said she took part in the album-making process from choreography to design and hopes fans see a new side of her.
Key Facts
- The lead single is a hip-hop song with brass riffs and dynamic rhythms, and Lisa said she added Thai-style sounds to it.
- The album includes three other tracks, including MONEY, which Lisa said she desperately wanted to include.
- Lisa said she chose black and gold for the album cover because they are her defining colors.
- She said she included a golden ticket in the album and was inspired by the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
- Lisa is the third BLACKPINK member to go solo, following Jennie and Rose.
Lisa of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK poses during an online media event, Friday. Courtesy of YG Entertainment
By Dong Sun-hwa
Lisa of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has pulled off something that only a few singers are capable of ― felicitously blending K-pop and the culture of Thailand, her native country.
The YG Entertainment star, and one of the very few Thai nationals in the K-pop scene, unleashed her first solo album, “LALISA,” on Friday afternoon (KST). Lisa said that she added “Thai-style sounds” to the album's namesake lead single, which is a hip-hop tune with brass riffs and dynamic rhythms.
“The album and the lead track are titled after my full name, Lalisa Manoban, and through them, I want to display who I truly am,” Lisa said during an online press conference held a few hours ahead of the album's release.
“(Being a Thai K-pop star,) I wanted my album to give a Thai feel as its gem, and YG's producer, Teddy, arranged the lead track in the way I expected. I also sported Thai outfits in its music video and made traditional Thai dance movements.
“In addition, for the first time since my debut in 2016, I hid my bangs for the music video to show my unexplored side to fans.”
On top of the lead track that highlights the singer's hipness and confidence, the album also offers three other pieces, including “MONEY,” an addictive hip-hop number that Lisa desperately wanted to include in her album.
During the session, the K-pop singer ― who looked both thrilled and nervous ― also disclosed that she actively participated in everything from A to Z in the album-making process, taking part in crafting the choreography to designing the album.
“I chose to use black and gold for the album's cover, given that they are my defining colors,” she uttered. “I included a golden ticket in the album as well, which can be a source of fun for fans when they unpack it… I was inspired by the 2005 musical fantasy film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Being the third BLACKPINK member to go solo ― following Jennie and Rose ― Lisa hopes she can walk in their footsteps.
“I have been striving to do as well as Jennie and Rose,” she said, adding that the BLACKPINK members visited the site where she was shooting her music video to support her.
“They all stayed with me until very late,” she said.
The 24-year-old wrapped up the online press conference by disclosing her goal.
“I just hope people can realize my new side,” she said. “And if my fans are happy with my music and performance, I will be content.”
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