LISA Announces ‘PRESS PLAY’ EP and Sets ‘SaWaDiKa’ as September Lead Single
LISA has announced her new six-track EP PRESS PLAY, due October 23, 2026. The BLACKPINK member will begin the project’s rollout with “SaWaDiKa” on September 3 as she continues expanding her solo career across music, television and film.
The LISA PRESS PLAY EP will arrive October 23, 2026, as the BLACKPINK member begins another chapter of her solo career. LISA revealed the six-track project on August 24 and will launch its rollout with a new single, “SaWaDiKa,” on September 3. Her official PRESS PLAY landing page now lists the October release date and provides pre-save and pre-add options for the project.
The release follows LISA’s debut full-length solo album and places her Thai identity at the center of the new campaign. Official materials describe PRESS PLAY as both a reflection on her career so far and a project honoring her roots in Thailand, while the title of its first single draws directly from a Thai greeting.
LISA PRESS PLAY EP will feature six tracks
Official physical editions confirm that PRESS PLAY contains six songs. LISA’s official Asia store listing for the CD describes the project as the follow-up to her debut full-length album and sets its release date for October 23.
A complete six-song track list has not been publicly detailed in the materials reviewed for this article, so the announcement currently establishes the project’s size, title and release schedule without revealing every song.
The physical rollout includes CD and vinyl configurations, along with artist-exclusive and regional variants. Those formats are already being offered for preorder through LISA’s official stores, giving the campaign a more extensive launch than a digital-only release.
The project arrives after a period in which LISA has expanded well beyond group activity with BLACKPINK. Her solo work has increasingly moved between music, acting and other entertainment formats, giving PRESS PLAY a different context from the beginning of her individual recording career.
SaWaDiKa will begin the new era on September 3
Before the EP arrives in October, LISA will release “SaWaDiKa” on September 3. The title is styled from the Thai greeting commonly transliterated from “sawasdee ka,” immediately connecting the single’s branding with the project’s emphasis on her Thai background.
Billboard Philippines confirmed the new EP and single, reporting that “SaWaDiKa” will serve as the first release from the project and that PRESS PLAY follows LISA’s 2025 album Alter Ego.
The Thai connection is particularly notable because LISA was born in Thailand before eventually moving to South Korea and joining BLACKPINK. Rather than treating that history as background biography, the language used around PRESS PLAY positions it as part of the project’s creative identity.
That does not establish what “SaWaDiKa” will sound like. No genre description, production credits or complete lyrical details for the single were included in the verified materials reviewed here, so those elements remain open until LISA releases additional information.
PRESS PLAY follows an unusually broad year for LISA
The official release materials frame the new music against a period of significant activity outside conventional album promotion. LISA appeared in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus, expanding her profile as a screen performer while continuing her music career.
She has also been the subject of the documentary Always Lalisa, which is scheduled to be presented at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival before the October EP arrives. The timing means the documentary and new music will place two separate parts of her solo career in front of audiences within a matter of weeks.
The rollout is also unfolding during a busy period for BLACKPINK’s members individually. Billboard Brasil’s report on the announcement notes that LISA’s new release joins other solo activity from members of the group during the same period.
The October release keeps LISA’s solo catalog moving forward
PRESS PLAY represents a relatively quick return to a multi-track solo project following Alter Ego. The new EP is not being positioned simply as a continuation of that record, however. Its official description emphasizes a more personal focus and specifically connects the music to LISA’s journey from Thailand to an international pop career.
Listeners can already access the project’s official PRESS PLAY music-service page, while physical editions are available for preorder through her regional stores.
Several important details still remain for the next stage of the campaign. The full track list, collaborators and production credits have not been completely disclosed in the sources reviewed, and the musical direction of “SaWaDiKa” will become clearer when the single arrives.
For now, the calendar is firm: “SaWaDiKa” is scheduled for September 3, followed by the six-track PRESS PLAY EP on October 23. The announcement gives LISA a defined fall solo rollout while making her Thai roots one of the clearest themes surrounding the project.
About the author
Annelise Sylta
Annelise Sylta is an accomplished digital marketing and public relations professional with an MBA from FIDM. Her academic background and industry experience have shaped her strategic approach to communications, branding, and audience engagement. She has also been invited to contribute to The Showbiz Journal, where she shares insights informed by her expertise and professional perspective.
