LISA says she initially felt anxious about her first solo Las Vegas residency, but performing and winning at the 2026 MTV VMAs changed her outlook. Speaking to Jake Shane on “Therapuss”, the BLACKPINK singer also explained the Thai connection behind “SaWaDiKa”, recalled working with Rosalía and laughed about her growing Labubu collection. Six “VIVA LA LISA” shows are scheduled at Caesars Palace in November.
LISA has described feeling nervous while preparing for six Las Vegas concerts, despite her experience touring with BLACKPINK and appearing as a solo performer. In her October 29 conversation with Jake Shane, the 29-year-old singer said the new undertaking initially frightened her. Her mood changed after September’s MTV Video Music Awards, where she performed “SaWaDiKa” and won Best Pop for “Dream”.
That appearance and award provided encouragement before residency rehearsals. She said she now looked forward to starting the shows, rather than feeling the same pressure as before. The distinction concerned a full programme based on her solo repertoire, presented without the other BLACKPINK members, making the engagement different from the group performances already familiar to her.
“VIVA LA LISA” is scheduled at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on November 12, 13, 14, 27, 28 and 29. The initial four concerts sold out in less than ten minutes, leading to two additional dates. She becomes the first K-pop artist with a solo Las Vegas residency, while the interview itself announced no further shows beyond those six.
Much of the conversation concerned “SaWaDiKa” and its relationship with Thailand. LISA chose it as the first single from the six-track “Press Play” EP because its title refers to a familiar Thai greeting. She wanted the opening release to have an immediate connection with her home country, giving that choice a personal basis alongside its musical role.
The song appeared at the VMAs and debuted at number 69 on the US Hot 100. Its Thai references extend into the video, filmed in Bangkok, where a tuk-tuk appears among the images. She described collecting ideas connected with Thailand and discussing how traditional sounds could meet contemporary pop production within the project.
The EP’s inspiration followed an extended stay at home. LISA said she spent approximately six or seven months in Thailand, enjoying more time with family and friends. Having moved to South Korea at 14, she valued returning to everyday habits from the place where she grew up, speaking enthusiastically about the food, weather and time with people close to her.
Those memories provided material she could carry into the new music and visuals. The Bangkok setting and tuk-tuk are concrete examples within “SaWaDiKa”, while the greeting in its title makes the connection audible before a listener considers the video. She presented these choices as part of the release’s identity, rather than incidental details added after the song was finished.
Musical influences also came into the discussion. She remembered hearing Britney Spears as a child through a cousin who was a devoted fan, naming “Toxic” among her favourites and highlighting the 2008 album “Circus”. Dance-pop elements sit alongside the Thai references in “Press Play”, reflecting different parts of the listening history she described to Shane.
LISA also revisited “New Woman”, her collaboration with Rosalía from the 2025 solo album “Alter Ego”. She discussed filming the video and the Spanish artist’s approach to work. The conversation concerned an established collaboration, not an announcement of another shared track, keeping the memory separate from speculation about future recording plans.
The interview’s lighter story involved Labubu. She said she initially knew little about the collectible figures, even though her later public appearance with one attached to a bag helped increase their visibility. During a Thailand visit, friends persuaded her to look for them at a Pop Mart shop, where she was surprised to find most had already sold out.
A green figure reminded her of matcha, but she ended up buying a whole box rather than just one. A friend then began telling her about rare and limited editions, encouraging more purchases. The collection grew beyond what she had originally anticipated, turning a casual visit with friends into an ongoing interest in different versions.
She joked that she had no room left to walk at home. The remark was humorous, rather than a literal account of her living conditions. LISA’s public association with Labubu has become part of the figures’ visibility, but her story does not establish that she created the global trend alone or explain every reason for its popularity.
The conversation placed these personal stories beside preparations for intensive rehearsals and the November opening. After the VMAs and “Press Play”, she is preparing to bring the material into a full live programme. According to her own description, anticipation has replaced much of the fear she originally felt about stepping into the Las Vegas residency setting.
The first show remains scheduled for November 12, followed by two three-night blocks across the month. No additional residency dates were announced in the interview. For LISA, the immediate focus is the six confirmed performances at the Las Vegas venue, carrying solo repertoire, recent Thai-inspired music and renewed confidence into a different kind of stage commitment from the tours that came before.
IMAGE_CREDIT: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
