Sawadika

In August 2026, red billboards with the text "Hello สวัสดีค่ะ"^[a] appeared in major cities worldwide, including Bangkok, New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City. A website featuring "Hello" in multiple languages launched featuring a countdown to August 24.^[1] At the end of the countdown, Lisa announced "Sawadika" would be released on September 3 as the lead single of her first extended play, Press Play (2026).^[2] On August 28, Lisa shared a snippet of the track in a TikTok video featuring her dressed in gear in a boxing ring.^[3] She also released several concept photos for the single presenting traditional Thai symbols through a futuristic high fashion concept. In the first set of photos, she wore a contemporary take on Muay Thai attire, including boxing shorts with "Lisa" embroidered on the waistband. A second set of teasers showed her on a tuk tuk wearing a leather bodysuit and high-heeled lace-up boots, drawing from boxing footwear and Muay Thai styling.^[4]

"Sawadika" is an homage to Lisa's home country of Thailand, with the title translating to "hello" in Thai.^[2] Produced by Thom Bridges and Ojivolta, it marks a return to her rap roots, with her rapping "I’m that bitch on your TV / In my Ferrari, indigo / La Lalisa, la diva" in the chorus.^[5] The song captures Lisa's identity atop her distinctive rap prowess and signature hip-hop sound.^[6]

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), thanked Lisa for her use of the Thai greeting in a comment under the singer's Instagram announcement, writing "The phrase you are promoting adds even greater resonance to the warmth and friendliness of the Thai people — 'sawasdee ka'."^[7]

An accompanying music video was directed by Bang Jae Yeob, a Korean director known for his work on K-pop videos, and released on YouTube alongside the single.^[6] Filmed in Bangkok, Thailand, Lisa walks through several iconic locations in the city wearing outfits such as a red, cut-out leather bodysuit and boxing shorts with "Sawadika" in rhinestone letters across the waist.^[5] She also wears a black feathered catsuit and a spangly burgundy two-piece with matching headphones as she walks at night with her crew of dancers in black. For a rooftop dance, she wears a towering black feather headdress, before switching to a neon blue bikini with matching hair in an underground tunnel.^[8] Locations featured in the video include Hua Lamphong railway station on Rong Mueang Road, Soi Ngam Du Phli, Soi Charoen Khet 1, and DIB Bangkok.^[9]

According to YouTube, "Sawadika" garnered 73.3 million views in 24 hours, becoming the biggest music video debut of 2026 and the eighth-biggest of all time.^[10] The video broke the previous 2026 release record of BTS's "Swim", which received 33 million views in 24 hours.^[11] "Sawadika" is also the second most-viewed debut by a soloist in history in 24 hours, behind Lisa's own "Lalisa" (2021), which opened with 73.6 million views and remains the record-holder for the biggest opening day by a solo artist.^[12] Syrian artist Zeina accused the music video of plagiarizing her design for a coined headphone, but later revealed she had been officially credited.^[13]

Lisa made the television debut of "Sawadika" at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on September 27, 2026.^[14]

Credits adapted from Spotify^[15]

• Lisa – vocals, composer, lyricist
• Thom Bridges – producer, composer, lyricist
• Ojivolta – producer
• Kuk Harrell – recording engineer, vocal producer
• Fermin Suero Jr. – assistant engineer
• Manny Marroquin – mixing engineer
• Trey Station – assistant mixing engineer
• Ramiro Fernandez-Seoane – assistant mixing engineer
• Randy Merill – mastering engineer
• Mark Williams – composer, lyricist
• Raul Cubina – composer, lyricist
• Rachel West – composer, lyricist
• Danny Chung – composer, lyricist

• List of K-pop songs on the Billboard charts
• List of number-one songs of 2026 (Singapore)