LISA’s New EP, TBZ Kevin Moon Calls Out Cultural Appropriation, Zhoumi Named CEO

BLACKPINK’s Lisa Announces New EP and Reveals Title Track

BLACKPINK’s Lisa is gearing up for her next solo release with her upcoming EP “PRESS PLAY,” which will mark her first new project following her 2025 full-length album “Alter Ego.”

Lisa will kick off the new era with the pre-release single “SaWaDiKa” on September 3, ahead of the EP’s official release on October 23. “PRESS PLAY” will contain six tracks in total, though the complete tracklist has yet to be unveiled. For now, “SaWaDiKa” is the only confirmed song from the upcoming project and has also been announced as its title track.

The title “SaWaDiKa” is derived from “sawatdee ka,” a Thai greeting meaning “hello,” with “ka” being the polite ending commonly used by women. The Thai title has immediately caught fans’ attention, with many hoping it could hint at a stronger Thai musical influence throughout both the title track and the EP.

However, there has been no official announcement confirming what genres or musical styles Lisa will explore on “PRESS PLAY.” While the title and early visuals have sparked speculation about a project inspired by her Thai roots, fans will have to wait for the album previews and additional tracklist details to get a clearer idea of what Lisa has in store.

SUPER JUNIOR-M’s Zhoumi Appointed CEO Of SME And Tencent Music Ent. Group Joint Venture

SUPER JUNIOR-M’s Zhoumi has taken on a new role at SM Entertainment, this time, as the CEO of a newly established joint venture between the K-pop agency and Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME).

On August 27, SM Entertainment announced the launch of STE in Beijing, a company formed through SM and TME’s ongoing partnership. Zhoumi has been appointed as its CEO, with STE set to spearhead the companies’ efforts to establish and manage a new Chinese idol group. The group is expected to debut within the next two to three years, with STE overseeing everything from auditions and casting to its activities in China following debut.

The joint venture will also be responsible for managing the Chinese activities of several SM artists, including NCT DREAM’s Renjun and WayV members YangYang and Xiaojun. The partnership follows a memorandum of understanding signed by SM Entertainment and TME in May 2025.

“I’m pleased to serve as the representative of the joint venture, which was created based on the strong trust and strategic vision of SM and TME. By combining SM’s strengths in IP and content production with the characteristics of the Chinese market, I will present differentiated content and create meaningful results as a bridge between the two companies,” said Zhoumi.

It’s not every day that we see an idol take on the role of CEO within the company they are signed to, but Zhoumi’s situation is a little different. Yes, he remains signed to SM Entertainment and is still a member of Super Junior-M, though he was never part of Super Junior’s main lineup. He and Henry Lau were introduced specifically for the Mandarin sub-unit, following fan opposition to expanding the original group’s 13-member lineup.

ICYMI:

• ITZY’s Chaeryeong is set to make her solo debut in November.

• LE SSERAFIM’s Miyawaki Sakura has been named to Forbes Japan’s 30 Under 30 list this year.

• fromis_9’s Park Jiwon reveals on “Knowing Bros” that the group received no income or settlements until their seventh year, saying, “I lived on an allowance from my mom.”

THE BOYZ’s Kevin Moon Calls Out Black and Queer Cultural Appropriation in K-Pop

On August 28, THE BOYZ’s Kevin Moon is spoke out about cultural appropriation in K-pop, taking to Twitter to call for greater recognition of the Black and queer communities whose cultures have heavily influenced the industry.

“Appropriation after appropriation / Black and queer culture / Absolutely no flowers given / And I have a problem with that”

Kevin continued by questioning the way K-pop sometimes celebrates elements of marginalized cultures without acknowledging their origins. “No but it’s all ‘we featured a drag queen’ ‘we’re doing house now’ but where’s the real recognition and celebration,” he wrote.

He also pointed to the industry’s trainee system and the responsibility that comes with being young artists working within it. “It’s like you’ve spent 3-10 years of being a trainee and it’s supposedly okay for you to do what feels cool to you despite there being centuries of martyrs? Cmon. But these kids are young. Which is why the system is askewed,” Kevin said. He added, “I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got awareness and humility and that should be a K-pop starter pack.”

K-pop fans have been calling out the appropriation of Black and queer culture for years, and recent incidents show the conversation is still ongoing. At the same time, there have been signs of progress. After their debut track “WAYF BOYS DO ACTUALLY,” WAYF BOYS explicitly acknowledged African American music as an inspiration and expressed their respect for the culture. While there is still a long way to go, moments like these suggest the industry may be slowly moving toward greater cultural awareness and accountability.

Upcoming Tours & Performances

• TXT (TOMORROW X TOGETHER) announces its “STEAL THE WIND” world tour, with stops in 23 cities and additional dates to be revealed.

• TEN is bringing his “US Showcase Tour” to 14 cities across the United States.

• ONEUS unveils “FULL MOON WORLD TOUR 2026: PHASE Ⅱ,” featuring 20 global dates with more stops to come.

Favorite New Music This Week

ENNIE’s “Fallen Angel” finds the BLACKPINK star embracing a softer, more atmospheric side of pop, trading the maximalist energy of her earlier work for dreamy textures, folk-inspired instrumentation, and understated vocals. The three-track EP feels intentionally intimate, building an immersive world around vulnerability, desire, and the darker complications of romance.

The title track sets the tone with delicate guitar, wispy vocals, and subtle electronic distortion that gradually disrupts its otherwise tranquil soundscape. Rather than following a conventional pop structure, “FALLEN ANGEL” unfolds loosely, allowing its textures and vocal effects to drive the song forward. “HEAVEN” deepens that hazy atmosphere with darker electronic production and a more emotionally turbulent performance, while “Less than a Lover” provides a warmer, breezier finish through echoing vocals and a nostalgic, lo-fi-inspired sound.

“Fallen Angel” is less concerned with explosive hooks than creating a distinct sonic environment, showcasing her growing confidence in using texture and atmosphere as storytelling tools.

NEXT WEEK’S COMEBACK SCHEDULE

• Monday, August 31, 2026

  • TAEMIN(SHINee): Album “PHASE 1: Soft Violence”

  • HyoRiSoo (Girl’s Generation): Debut Single “Skibidi”

• Tuesday, September 1, 2026

  • 82MAJOR: 2nd Single Album “HEAT”

  • CHUNGHA: Digital Single “Mexico”

• Wednesday, September 2, 2026

  • TUNEXX: 2nd Mini Album “Blue Mode”

  • ICHILLIN’ J: 1st Digital Single “Look At Me!”

  • izna: 1st Japanese Mini Album “Handle With Care”

• Thursday, September 3, 2026

  • KWON EUNBI: Digital Single “Dejavu”

  • LISA: Pre-release Single “SaWaDiKa”

• Friday, September 4, 2026

  • MONSTA X: Ep “The Phase”

  • JISOO: Single “Click”

• Saturday, September 5, 2026

  • n/a

• Sunday, September 6, 2026

  • n/a

— Javeria Yousuf

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