Known for her rapid-fire rap and irreverent, emotionally charged lyrics, MILLI has quickly risen up the ranks from being an up-and-comer in the music scene to being the face of Gen Z rap in her home country. The 22-year-old Thai rapper first burst onto the scene with her debut single "Phak Kon" (พักก่อน) in 2020, followed by "Sud Pang" (สุดปัง). But it was only until the debut of her breakout album BABB BUM BUM in 2021, that she catapulted into mainstream success, elevating her from rising talent to a star in her own right. In the short four years since, MILLI has won the "Best New Asian Artist" award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and became the first Thai solo artiste to perform at the Coachella Music Festival.

Besides clinching musical awards and breaking records (like boosting the sales of mango sticky rice during her viral Coachella performance), the Thai rap sensation also frequently makes waves with her musical collaborations. Her most notable partnerships so far are with K-pop icons like Jackson Wang and Changbin from Stray Kids—giving rise to electrifying tracks like "Mind Games" and "Mirror Mirror". As a Thai artiste putting her home country on the map, MILLI has also been seen turning heads at 88rising’s Future Asian Music (FAM) showcases, which culminated in a public concert at Bangkok’s iconic Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

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But there’s more: MILLI’s international collaborations are now reaching beyond the realm of music, with the rapper set joining South Korean e-sports titans T1 at their annual homeground event on July 26. And in the midst of it all, MILLI has been reinventing herself with her 13-track sophomore album HEAVYWEIGHT, which Spotify featured on the Times Square billboard in New York City after its release earlier this month. Ahead of the highly anticipated release, we caught up with MILLI on her musical journey so far and what it means to represent Thailand on the global stage.

HEAVYWEIGHT is such a bold title. What does it represent ?

It definitely represents the chaotic and fast-paced nature of my life. The past five years of pursuing my musical dreams has felt like a whirlwind, and I feel like I'm growing so fast despite only being 22. I've constantly tried to push myself creatively and it definitely helps to have a good support system—my team, my family and my fans. Overall, I've injected this emotional energy into the album, and what you get are versatile beats from dynamic and hard-hitting to calm and relaxing.

What’s different about how you approached this album?

For my debut album [BABB BUM BUM], I really wanted to show that I could do a bit of everything—dabbling into all kinds of genres from pop to jazz and rap. It was really about showing off my versatility as an artiste. As for this second album [HEAVYWEIGHT], I've had a year to work on it and felt pressured to deliver another version of myself. I would say that HEAVYWEIGHT is more representative of my true self, with an experimental edge as I explored different ways of making music—from toying with instrumentals to exploring other methods of rapping.

You’ve become a prominent face of modern Thai identity on the global stage. How do you stay grounded?

It has always been such a great experience preforming on international stages and meeting fans abroad. But the life I live in Thailand is honestly way more grounding. I still live the same way I did before I became a known artiste—I still ride my bicycle around my neighbourhood, go for grocery runs and party like any regular 22-year-old. Even when I do get recognised, I rarely get harassed so I'm really grateful that Thai people respect my space.

You’ve collaborated with icons like Jackson Wang and BIBI. Who pushed you the most creatively?

I've collaborated with so many talented artistes that sometimes I have to Google which song is mine because I can't remember. But if I had to pick an artiste that really pushed me out of my comfort zone, it would be Changbin from Stray Kids. When I sent over my verse for "MIRROR MIRROR", he got back to me with a whole page of suggestions to make the song better. He pushed me to practice the new flow and because of that, I learnt to rap in a different style.

What was the most emotional or powerful track to record on HEAVYWEIGHT, and why?

"Invisible Tears". I think people usually perceive me as a very energetic person and they've never seen me cry. Sometimes people forget that I'm more than just a public figure and that I'm not immune to hate messages. I still have the habit of scrolling through comments and I tend to take it all in, good or bad. That said, I'm learning every day to push past the hate and feel uplifted by the kind words left by my fans.

You’re known for your unapologetic self-expression, both in lyrics and in fashion. Have you always felt confident?

I'm confident about things I'm already good at like making music or shooting a music video—these things come more naturally to me. But when it comes to my image— like my hair, make-up or clothes—I have a lot more doubt and I tend to rely on my team and close ones to make decisions on my behalf.Each time before I perform, I'll ask everyone on my team, and even backstage staff, if my outfit looks okay and the reassurance helps.

As a Gen Z artiste with major influence, how do you feel about your responsibility to younger fans?

I've always let them decide if I'm a good or bad influence. As much as I strive to be a role model, I'm still young and cannot always be the ideal standard for everyone. I'm just glad when I meet someone who says I inspire them. Previously, I had a bad experience when I blurted out something without thinking. So now, I'm a lot more careful with my words. That situation taught me the power of speech.

You have literally stepped into the ring for HEAVYWEIGHT. Tell us what led you to take on your first-ever Muay Thai fight.

It was definitely a dream come true to participate in a fight since I've been learning Muay Thai for two years now. Training and, actually being in a real fight, feels super different. I'm already looking forward to my next fight. People always think there's a lot of anger and a sense of recklessness in Muay Thai, but it's actually a sport where you need to be calm. You need to be conscious of yourself and your opponent at all times and be analytical. Even when I went to Japan to perform, I would find time in between dance practices to train at the Muay Thai gym. Just being in the zone of training hard has helped me deliver my all into creating this album.

Tell us more about your upcoming collaborations.

I'm so excited to share that I've collaborated with so many cool artistes from the region. This time, I worked with female rappers from Japan and Korea, two other Thai artistes, a girl group and one of the best DJs of all time!