In her track “FXCK UP THE WORLD (Ft. Future),” K-pop superstar Lalisa Manobal, known mononymously as LISA, sings, “They want the old LISA, then listen to my old shit.” Ironically, we haven’t seen significant artistic growth from the singer as a soloist or through her time in BLACKPINK. Manobal presents herself as an entertainer rather than a creator, with her natural talent for dancing and captivating stage presence being her leading attributes to the group.
Following suit with the other three members of the band, LISA finally released a full solo project. On her debut album “Alter Ego,” LISA took a creative leap to explore different versions of herself, creating five different alter egos to feature on the record: Vixi, Speedi, Roxi, Kiki and Sunni. When asked about the decision-making process behind the project, the singer stated that she wanted to find a way to expand upon the experimentation of styles we see within the tracks. Each alter ego came with a full personality profile, album cover variation and even a comic book tie-in.
Although LISA’s knack for a spectacle shines on “Alter Ego,” listeners become more familiar with fictionalized characters instead of Manobal herself. There’s never a distinct feeling that you’re really listening to different developed “characters,” but just slightly different iterations of LISA’s persona in BLACKPINK. Even if you can notice the difference, it feels unnecessary rather than inventive. Sunni features on cute, slow-tempo songs like “Dream” and “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me).” Roxi is the badass, guitar-wielding persona, claiming high-energy tracks like “Rockstar” and “BADGRRRL.” The decision to divide songs between alter egos feels like an afterthought to justify the chaotic tracklist, instead of a conscious decision that informed the album from the beginning.
For example, the groovy, upbeat “Rapunzel (Ft. Megan Thee Stallion)” plays on how much money LISA has as she sings, “Livin’ lavish while we still young / Spending that shit ‘til we go dumb.” Immediately after, the album awkwardly transitions to “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me),” a soft love song sampling Sixpence None The Richer’s “Kiss Me.” These huge tonal shifts never come across as a change in alter ego, and instead each track feels haphazardly put together.
But even if they may not be cohesive, there’s no denying that the tracks on “Alter Ego” are fun to listen to. With collaborative verses from Rosalía, Raye, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Future and Tyla, there’s something for everyone in this project. The tracks present a moxie you can’t help but respect. Although she’s been doing it since 2016, LISA’s lyrics about her wealth, beauty and popularity still work after years on end. Tracks like “Rockstar” and “Lifestyle” have a sense of charm that comes off as enticing rather than purely egotistical, as LISA confidently spits out lyrics like “Every city that I go is my city” and “It’s not hype, hype, baby, I’m a rockstar.”
The experimentation of style is arguably the best part of the album — especially when you look at the tracks individually instead of as a collective body. “New Woman (Ft. Rosalía)” and “Born Again (Ft. Doja Cat & Raye)” incorporate funk, pop and electronic elements, providing a genuine sense of artistic merit. Even in slower tracks like “Dream,” there’s a certain level of vulnerability unlocked with the mix of light instrumentation and personal lyrics exploring a past relationship. While creating music in the hip hop and trap genres may be nothing new for LISA, the album still provides moments of freshness. “FXCK UP THE WORLD (Ft. Future)” is a stand-out track, which is brought to the next level with the addition of Future’s verse.
No matter how addictive or ambitious “Alter Ego” may be, there’s still a sense of wanting more from LISA across the 15 tracks. Between the short length of the songs, the noticeable last-minute addition of some of the features — with both “FXCK UP THE WORLD” and “Rapunzel” having solo versions at the end of the album — or the lack of commitment to the fictionalized concept, it’s clear that there’s still some work to be done in order for LISA to establish her identity as a solo artist. However, between the success of this project and her breakout role as an actress on “The White Lotus,” it’s clear that LISA isn’t slowing down anytime soon when exploring new possibilities, proving that there’s still a bright path ahead for the star.
Contact Amelia Knust at [email protected].