Blackpink’s Lisa Recalls Struggling In Early Years Of Her Career: ‘I Couldn’t Sing’

Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal reflected on the struggles that made her doubt her talent and skills as a performer when she was starting out in her career.

The 25-year-old superstar revealed she was plagued by self-doubt back when they were considered rookies in the cutthroat K-pop industry.

“That whole year between ‘As If It’s Your Last’ (2017) and ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ (2018) was rough for me,” Lisa said in a new interview with members of Blackpink for the cover story of Rolling Stone magazine's June issue.

The “Money” singer said self-doubt almost crippled her confidence to the point that she lost her voice in one of the most important moments of her journey as an artist.

“I couldn’t sing. When I went to the studio to record, nothing came out. I cried,” Lisa told the outlet.

While she did not mention what made her feel that way, the singer said it left a negative effect on her mindset, adding that she was afraid of disappointing her group by causing a delay or affect the recording of their comeback music.

“I felt like I was bringing the team down,” she revealed.

Lisa said it was Blackpink’s main producer, Teddy Park, who helped her get herself together and let go of the negativity that hounded her.

“Teddy pushed me hard: ‘You can’t? No. Try harder. Go back in there.’ Because of Teddy, I overcame that time,” she shared.

Jennie quipped, “Oppa (older brother) directs all of Blackpink. He knows us incredibly well. He pushes us hard. ‘Again, again, again,’ he’d say.”

Blackpink is the first Asian female musical act to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. They are also the third music group comprised of all girls to make it on the cover of the prestigious magazine after the Spice Girls and Destiny’s Child.

Also in the interview, Jennie said it was a tough road before they became K-pop idols.

“We were on survival mode,” the “SOLO” singer said. “Every month, our friends were forced to leave, go home. Getting stressed? Having it rough? Those feelings were a luxury. What mattered was debuting."

Members of the group said they spent several years training in the music studio before they finally debuted as Blackpink. Lisa had to leave Thailand and live alone in Seoul while Rosé relocated from Australia to Seoul to become YG trainees.