The screams were loud and very clear at the premiere of Always Lalisa at the Toronto International Film Festival. Before, during, and after mega pop star Lisa hit the stage at Roy Thomson Hall, the atmosphere was more akin to a concert than a film premiere. The film itself is a mellower experience — spending time with the artist creating, hustling, doubting, and reflecting.
Director Sue Kim’s documentary, which comes out next month in Imax, follows Lisa (full name: Lalisa Manobal) during her one-year break from the mega K-pop group Blackpink. The cameras follow the artist as she makes her debut solo studio album and wrestles with forging her own path. There is anxiety along the way as well as intense dedication and showmanship.
For fans, it’s an up-close portrait of a singer who’s changed lives while still trying to figure out her own. Lisa’s debut studio album, Alter Ego, is all about exploring the different facets of herself. As the hardcore fans surely know, there’s Vixi, Kiki, Speedi, Roxi, and Sunni.
During the film and post-screening Q&A, Lisa spoke about crafting these identities, the reception to her new career turn, and what Coachella meant to her. Here are eight things we learned.
One Year of Freedom
Lisa declares she “finally gets to live my life” once the break from Blackpink kicks in — with all respect and love to her band mates. She’s speaking more to contractual stipulations she faced from YG Entertainment, including bans on alcohol and dating, among many other rules. “There were certain things that I had to hold in and repress,” she said. For example, the yearning love song “Dream.”
Releasing “Dream”
The song represented a new level of not only freedom but vulnerability for the artist. She had to keep relationships secret. “I was worried a lot when recording ‘Dream,’” she says in the film. When she reached age 25 or 26, she noted, she no longer wanted to hide her romantic life from her work. As for the identity of the person “Dream” was about, Lisa adds with a laugh: “The fans thought they figured it out, and I don’t think so.”
Singing Her Heart Out
A new level of vulnerability wasn’t the only cause for nervousness for Lisa in releasing her debut solo studio album. In Blackpink, she was cast as a rapper and the group’s main dancer. When she tried to share her singing voice with the powers that be at YG Entertainment, she was met with a stinging rebuke when they heard her cover of Bruno Mars’ “Talking to the Moon.” The takeaway for the artist: “I felt they were telling me singing isn’t for me.”
The Leak
Before her millions of fans got to hear what her voice is capable of, though, she felt another setback. There was a leak. A few days before the album’s release, tracks were put online. The leaker was never found. Whoever they are, Lisa respectfully says, “I just want them to respect our work a little more.” The artist adds that she doesn’t want this to happen to any other artist, not just herself.
The White Lotus Gig
During the one-year break from Blackpink, Lisa proved herself as more than a talented singer. She showed off her acting chops in Mike White’s third season of The White Lotus. White appears in the doc, all smiles while talking about the performer. Initially, he was uncertain. Is this stunt casting? Will this require more security? Is this too much?
A meeting with the musician changed his mind.
Lisa sought the gig partly out of love for her mom, who plays a major role in the doc and her life. “I heard from a friend, ‘You should try [for the role]. It’s a good opportunity,’” Lisa says. “My mother really wanted to go into acting; it was her childhood dream.”
The Reception to Alter Ego
While her performance on The White Lotus was well-received, the ultimate release of Alter Ego was met with a divisive response not dissimilar to that of season three of the HBO show. The doc displays negative reviews from fans and critics.
Lisa takes it all in good stride, though. “Seeing the reactions, I felt sad,” but “I tried not to overthink it too much … I’m proud, and that’s enough.” Lisa adds that she’s not an artist who bothers herself with: “I should have done it this way, or I should have done it that way. I’m not that person.”
Embracing Alter Egos
The documentary is about, after all the years of training, touring, and managing expectations, her discovering what kind of person she is. “I have five egos,” Lisa says. “I feel like everyone has their own alter egos. Sometimes you’re like, I wanna be fierce. Sometimes when you’re scared to do something, you try to bring your alter ego up. You’re not yourself for a second. The five alter egos are true to me.”
The Big Show
Coachella is the grand finale of both the one-year break and the documentary. It’s a spectacle-filled, characters-driven happy ending to the journey. The stakes of the gig constantly weigh on Lisa during the documentary, though. The album — everything — builds to this show. For Lisa, the ending is the ultimate make-it-or-break-it moment for her. “It has to be perfect,” she says. “I won’t feel as recognized as a solo artist if Coachella is not perfect.”
