LISA's Press Play EP follows SaWaDiKa's 200m YouTube views

The six-track EP closes a seven-week run that took in a video shot in Bangkok, a documentary in Thai cinemas and a Las Vegas residency that grew from four shows to six.

By Pop Radar Asia Desk · 30 October 2026 · 4 min read

อ่านภาษาไทย

The cream and yellow front of Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok under a blue sky, with flags on the roof and a vendor pushing a fruit cart past it — Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok, one of the six SaWaDiKa filming locations The Nation reported. Illustrative photo, not from the shoot.Photo by Jiraroad1 on Unsplash

LISA released Press Play, her first solo EP, at midnight Korea time on 23 October 2026, which was 10pm on 22 October in Bangkok. The six tracks went out worldwide through LLOUD Co. and RCA Records, Bandwagon Asia reported. Sony Music Japan lists a digital release, an imported CD and a Japanese CD.

The EP caps a seven-week run for the Thai artist: a single named after the Thai greeting and shot in Bangkok, a documentary in cinemas and extra Las Vegas dates. That single, SaWaDiKa, produced most of the numbers.

Six tracks built like a film

Yonhap's report, carried by Malay Mail, lists the tracks as Tarantino, SaWaDiKa, V12, Cobra, Cut U Off and Sweat. Press Play is LISA's first release in one year and eight months and follows her debut album, Alter Ego, which came out in February 2025.

In the video for the lead track, Tarantino, LISA fights her way through a hotel to deliver a note to the director Quentin Tarantino, Bandwagon Asia reported. Sony Music Japan says the EP was made to be enjoyed like watching a film once the listener presses play.

Japan gets its own campaign from Sony Music Japan. The Japanese CD sells for 3,080 yen including tax. From 24 to 31 October, five Thai restaurants in Tokyo and Yokohama are giving a sticker to customers who say "Sawadika! Press Play".

SaWaDiKa by the numbers

The SaWaDiKa video went live at 7am Bangkok time on 4 September 2026 (3 September in the Americas), going by the release time Gulf News gave. It drew 70.8 million YouTube views in its first 24 hours. Among LISA's solo videos, only her 2021 debut LALISA, at 73.6 million, did better on day one.

It passed 100 million views just over 48 hours after release and debuted at No. 13 on Spotify's Daily Global chart with 2.787 million streams, Bandwagon Asia reported. On 8 October, about 34 days in, it passed 200 million views. Gulf News reported it was the first music video released in 2026 by a K-pop act to reach that mark.

On Billboard, the song entered the Hot 100 at No. 69, which Sony Music Japan and Sports Kyunghyang describe as her highest debut on that chart, then fell to No. 93. It also entered the Billboard Global 200 at No. 23 and the Global Excl. US chart at No. 13, then slipped to No. 54 and No. 35, Soompi reported. It is her third solo song to stay on the Hot 100 for more than one week, after MONEY in 2021 and BORN AGAIN in 2025.

A Bangkok shoot with a tourism tie-in

Director Bang Jae Yeob shot the video in late July 2026 at six Bangkok locations with more than 100 Thai crew members, The Nation reported. They include Hua Lamphong railway station, the Dib Bangkok art museum in Khlong Toei and Chaloem Khet 1 Road. Because a foreign company holds the copyright, the shoot counted as a foreign production and needed permission from the Department of Tourism, whose Thailand Film Office published the location list.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand, which has LISA as an Amazing Thailand ambassador, posted a four-stop tuk-tuk route from the Grand Palace to Yaowarat Road. On 5 September, Sony Music Thailand shared pictures of a tuk-tuk convoy, decorated with images and the song's title, driving around the city, Thansettakij reported. None of the reports we read gave a figure for visitors or spending linked to the video.

A documentary at the Thai box office, then Las Vegas

Always Lalisa, a documentary directed by Sue Kim, premiered at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival and opened in cinemas worldwide from 12 October.

VIVA LA LISA at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace was announced for 13, 14, 27 and 28 November. Those four shows sold out in under ten minutes, and on 29 September two more dates, 12 and 29 November, were added for six in total, Fox5 Vegas reported. Fox5 and Sony Music Japan both describe LISA as the first K-pop artist to hold a Las Vegas residency.

The next number to watch is Billboard's album chart covering Press Play's first full week of sales and streams, due in early November. The residency opens on 12 November.

FAQ

When did LISA release Press Play?

At midnight Korea time on 23 October 2026 (10pm on 22 October in Bangkok). It has six tracks, led by Tarantino.

How many YouTube views does SaWaDiKa have?

The video drew 70.8 million views in its first 24 hours and passed 200 million on 8 October 2026, about 34 days after release, Gulf News reported.

Where was the SaWaDiKa video filmed?

At six Bangkok locations, including Hua Lamphong railway station, in late July 2026, according to The Nation.

When are LISA's Las Vegas shows?

VIVA LA LISA plays The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on 12, 13, 14, 27, 28 and 29 November 2026.

Sources

LISAPress PlaySaWaDiKaBillboardYouTubeLas Vegas