Lisa shows different colors of herself in ‘Alter Ego’: ‘I’m just being a girl’

Lisa as her alter egos Sunni and Kiki, respectively, for “Alter Ego.” Image: Courtesy of LLOUD CO. and RCA Records

Whenever Lisa steps onstage, she is like a firecracker, emitting a charismatic aura that instantly commands attention. But with her solo debut album “Alter Ego,” she wants to display herself as a girl with different colors to show.

“Actually, I started working on my album a year and a half ago,” the Thai singer and performer told global reporters in a panel weeks before “Alter Ego’s” release. In the midst of album preparations, Lisa made her acting debut in the third season of “White Lotus,” preparing for her 97th Academy Awards performance, and running the ropes in her self-managed label LLOUD Co., among her other activities.

Despite this, Lisa emulated a childlike excitement as she spoke about the production of her first album as a solo artist. She was introduced as the main dancer and lead dancer of Blackpink in August 2016 and was propelled into global superstardom. Her solo debut took place in September 2021 until she finally had the chance to call the shots in her own career.

“I started from trying to do some new stuff which I haven’t done before: the new style, new color of Lisa, finding the right song, [and] the right style for this album,” she said of her album. “Ohmigod, it turns out that I can do so many, so many styles!”

Lisa as her alter ego Vixi. Image: Courtesy of LLOUD CO. and RCA Records

Creating ‘Alter Ego’

Having a lot of styles prompted Lisa to ultimately name her first solo record “Alter Ego.” While other artists focus on putting out a cohesive release, the 27-year-old singer-rapper embraced her multiple sides. “It just has a lot of colors of Lisa into one album.”

“I think it’s a fun concept. And here we are,” she continued. “I never really think of that. I’m just doing what I love and I’m just lucky. I’m so grateful that they love my work. I hope that they enjoy this album.” Covering multiple genres, the album contains the tracks “Born Again (featuring Doja Cat and Raye),” “Rockstar,” “Elastigirl,” “Thunder,” “New Woman (featuring Rosalia),” “Fxck Up the World (featuring Future),” “Rapunzel” (featuring Megan Thee Stallion),” “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me),” “When I’m with You (featuring Tyla),” “Badgrrrl,” “Lifestyle,” “Chill,” “Dream,” “Fxck Up the World (Vixi solo version)” and “Rapunzel (Kiki solo version).”

Lisa as her alter ego Speedi. Image: Courtesy of LLOUD CO. and RCA Records

It also explores Lisa’s different alter egos Roxi, Kiki, Vixi, Sunni and Speedi, with their respective personalities being showcased on their respective tracks. Roxi is hungry to “command the stage,” while Sunni enjoys “sun-kissed days and sea-breezy nights” and finds sanctuary on the beach. On the other hand, the Y2K-inspired Kiki “lives for the thrill,” Speedi is a sports car driver “built for the rush,” while the final alter ego Vixi is the self-proclaimed villain with a two-sided backstory.

If Lisa would choose which alter ego she is most similar to, she said it is all five of them. “All of them are really close to me. I’m just being a girl. Girls just have their moods — different every day. So I guess these five are all me, in a different mood of myself,” she said.

However, she had a girlish smile as she confessed that Vixi is her favorite alter ego. “She is the main girl in the album — the main character. Vixi’s fearless and I think we have a lot in common, I would say.”

While Lisa had a relaxed demeanor throughout the media panel, she was aware of the many hats she wore throughout the album’s production. Now that she is her own boss, juggling multiple responsibilities at once is a “huge challenge.” However, she believes that she is simply lucky enough to have her own creative space.

“I think it’s a huge challenge to do this. I’m just so lucky and happy to have my own creative space — I didn’t think too much. I’m just so lucky to have a supportive team, Team Lloud,” she said. “Whatever I just put it on, they are just like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ To be honest, it’s not easy, but I had fun working on this album.”

One of the challenges in the production of “Alter Ego” was finding the “middle ground” within Lisa’s different personalities. “It’s more like trying to find a middle ground for the album. I don’t want it to be too different from each other,” she said of the album’s creative process and finding its signature sound, noting the differences between her alter egos.

“I just want at least something different, but not too much,” she shared. “I think it’s really hard to find a middle ground and to find the right title track for this album. I think that’s the most challenging part.”

Lisa as her alter ego Sunni. Image: Courtesy of LLOUD CO. and RCA Records

At the same time, recording for “Alter Ego” took place in Lisa’s home country Thailand; Seoul, South Korea; and Miami and Los Angeles in the US. “It was everywhere,” she said while laughing at the memory. “I’m just so lucky to do two things at the same time. My schedule last year was so packed.”

Despite her superstar status, the childlike smile of Lisa — who noted “Fxck Up The World” as the song reflecting herself at the moment — grew wider when it was pointed out that she was one of the Asian artists who paved the way for global recognition. Now that she has an album she can fully call her own, she hopes the record will remind her fans and casual listeners to feel empowered to be themselves.

“For this album, I want people who listen to this album to feel confident, and it empowers them. It’s fun and has a really different style in this album and I hope they enjoy it. The new Lisa — I mean the different colors of Lisa,” she said.