Thai pop artist ALLY is stepping onto a wider stage with the release of her first all-English single, “but you,” a track she describes as a reflection of her evolving sound and growing international ambitions.
At 22, ALLY has already built a following in Thailand through performance-driven pop shaped by early influences from K-pop and Western artists like Lady Gaga. But the new single marks a shift in how she connects with listeners beyond her home country.
– Advertisement –
“I think English is like my second language. I feel like the way I express myself in Thai and English is very different. So I thought that, you know, having an English single, English speakers can also understand me a bit better,” said ALLY.
The track, which blends R&B, pop, and lo-fi hip-hop elements, centers on the emotional pull of a relationship that resists definition. For ALLY, the decision to record it entirely in English was both artistic and practical.
“Although I do love singing in Thai because I want, you know, I want to showcase the Thai language and the culture to people from all over the world. I think that it’s just another way I express myself, I think, in English,” she continued.
Born Achiraya Nitibhon, her career so far has unfolded across multiple creative environments. ALLY trained in South Korea as a teenager, an experience she said shaped both her discipline and independence.
“I trained for like skill-wise and I kind of learned how to be independent from Korea because I was living alone at the age of like 13, 14. I had to figure my life out there by myself,” the Thai artist shared.
More recently, she traveled to New York to record “but you” with collaborator JHIN, describing the process as collaborative and informal.
“It was more of a friendly environment because we’re, like, the same age. It’s very chill. I got to learn the ways that he produced music and how he wrote his music, which really inspired me to kind of write my own music,” ALLY explained.
Meanwhile, her Manila visit marks the start of a broader Southeast Asian push. While she has yet to perform in the Philippines, ALLY said the experience of engaging with local media and fans stood out.
“I feel like I’ve gotten to express myself in a way I’ve never done before because I get to speak English and then I get to try a lot of food and the vibes are just great. Yeah, I love the Philippines,” she said.
Even as her reach expands, ALLY remains closely involved in shaping her work, from songwriting to marketing. A music business major at Berklee College of Music, she applies what she has learned directly to her releases.
“I feel like I understand it the best. I understand who I’m talking to, who I want to perform for. And also, I think I have a good understanding of what my listeners want,” ALLY explained.
For her, growth is not just about scale but connection.
“I think, like, the energy I get from the Philippines and everyone there is just so kind. I just really want to go back just to, like, perform and, like, truly, like, enjoy it with you guys in real life,” she stated.
– Advertisement –
