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 the singer'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 Lisa's 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]

An accompanying music video was directed by Bang Jae Yeob, a Korean director known for his work on K-pop videos, and released 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]

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 and wrote, "The phrase you are promoting adds even greater resonance to the warmth and friendliness of the Thai people — ‘sawasdee ka’."^[7]