Hallyu Now

LISA's first documentary, "Always Lalisa," had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, landing in TIFF's Gala slot, the same category screening Peter Farrelly's Sylvester Stallone biopic "I Play Rocky" this year. Directed by Sue Kim , whose last film, "The Last of the Sea Women," followed Jeju's haenyeo divers rather than anyone famous, the 97-minute film isn't a career-highlight reel. It's a year of BLACKPINK's biggest solo star stepping outside the group for the first time since childhood, and the trailer alone makes clear she doesn't come off looking comfortable doing it. Kim's background matters here: this wasn't handed to a music-video director looking to flatter a client. A Gala Slot Is Not a Small Deal TIFF's Gala program is reserved for the festival's biggest names, and a K-pop member's solo documentary landing there, rather than in a smaller music or mid...

BLACKPINK's Lisa dropped her new single "SaWaDiKa" at 9 a.m. KST on September 4 — 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET the day before for anyone counting in the US — and it landed on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube at the same moment. This is the first taste of her second solo era, not her debut. That was Alter Ego , the five-persona full album that opened at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 back in February 2025. "SaWaDiKa" leads a different project: a six-track EP called Press Play , out October 23 through LLOUD Co. and RCA Records. What Actually Dropped The title is a stylized spelling of "sawasdee ka," the everyday Thai greeting for hello — not a made-up word, just Lisa writing out how it actually sounds when someone says it fast. The track itself is produced by Thom Bridges with the songwriting duo Ojivolta, and it's a rap song first. Pounding percussion, sharp synth stabs, a hook built for repetition rather than a ballad melody. Lyrically she's back in ...