Dua Lipa

Lipa covered a variety of tracks, from “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys to “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. At 15 years old, her natural talent grabbed the attention of modeling agencies, securing her a spot in entertainment.

Throughout 2013, Lipa endured a strenuous modeling career and decided to change directions. Eventually, she signed a record deal with Warner Bros. and kickstarted her music career. Her first single, “New Love,” showed off her raspy voice while staying true to the sounds of smooth pop. However, Lipa’s next release, “Be the One,” delivered an even more relatable energy. Its dance-pop elements helped the track explode in several countries, including Australia and New Zealand.

Dua Lipa’s single “Hotter Than Hell” met additional success. After the single landed on the UK charts, Lipa became an artist to look out for. It was no surprise the subsequent release of “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100. The dance-inspired track set the tone for the artist’s growing discography. As her fanbase grew, Lipa took control of her popstar persona. She secured collabs on Sean Paul’s “No Lie” and Martin Garrix’s “Scared to Be Lonely,” furthering her status in UK’s music scene in 2016.

Lipa’s popularity soared when her self-titled debut finally arrived in 2017. Her sixth single, “New Rules,” was a certified record-breaker. After taking the no. 1 spot in the UK, the song made a massive impact in numerous countries, including the US. Thanks to “New Rules,” Lipa obtained five Brit nominations. She won two, including British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Act, elevating her status as a soon-to-be popstar. From 2017 to 2018, Lipa took the concert world by storm and headlined her first tour for her self-titled debut.

More collaborations alongside in-demand artists proved Lipa’s growing fame. “One Kiss” with Calvin Harris eased its way onto British radio waves in 2018, delivering a staple dance club sound. Ultimately, the success of “Electricity” with Mark Ronson and Diplo (aka Silk City) allowed Lipa’s career to take a significant turn. Her signature voice paired well with the record producer duo’s electronic elements. Lipa’s musical versatility shined and laid the groundwork for her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Future Nostalgia.

“Don’t Start Now” was a sneak peek into the musician’s fresh persona. Drawing inspiration from old-school disco and nightclub synth-wave, the single became an undeniable smash. Lipa continued to leave her mark on the charts with the follow-up “Physical.” It was the perfect segue into her Future Nostalgia era.

The singer’s second full-length record left a lasting impression during an unpredictable year. Thanks to numerous top 10 tracks, Future Nostalgia became one of the most streamed albums by a female artist on Spotify in 2020. Her modern take on ’80s disco garnered many new listeners and a well-deserved Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. It was a testament to Lipa’s strength as an ever-changing popstar. She aimed even higher by collaborating with other famous musicians like BLACKPINK, Megan Thee Stallion, and Miley Cyrus.

Nearly four years later, the artist’s “Future Nostalgia Tour” launched her success to the next level. Despite postponed and canceled 2020 dates, Lipa wanted the show to go on. She took center stage with choreographed sequences and dream-worthy dance beats. Fans from all over the world, including the US, Latin America, and Europe, witnessed the pop singer up close and personal. Lipa charted new territory with one of the most anticipated tours in 2022 and opened the way for more critical acclaim.

Her youthful electro spirit draws influence from the Ed Banger crowd, most notably the sassy girl-rapper, Uffie, but also the smutty, crashing electro-funk of Justice and SebastiAn. Her bratty, rebellious edge owes itself to hip-hop influences, the likes of Eminem and Lil’ Wayne, while her sound is unmistakably pop, paying homage to the roots of the MTV generation, Britney and Christina Aguilera.

She recorded her unofficial debut, “14”, at the eponymous age of 14 with a loan from her parents and released her first tracks on Myspace, eventually getting her the recognition of a guy known as “Chas”, who ran illegal warehouse raves where she played her first gigs with the unconditional support of her parents.

She then got signed to Atlantic Records, and released her first official EP “You’re The One”, featuring the title single, which made the Billboard charts.

Her official debut full-length on Atlantic, “True Romance” (2013) – its namesake being the Tarantino-penned 1993 film with Christian Slater – blended the brooding gothic synth-pop of the 1980s with the recalcitrant, twee girl-pop of the 1990s.

Her latest, “Sucker” (2014) takes her sound in a more pop-punk, alternative direction, with nods to Weezer, The Hives, and The Ramones as inspirations. The album is also marked with a star-studded production team, including Norwegian DJ, Cashmere Cat, and Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij.

Charli is the heralded co-writer of “I Love It”, which was to be Swedish duo Icona Pop’s breakout hit. She wrote it upon the request of the duo’s producer, who sent her some audio tracks. She scrawled the lyrics with a kind of hell-raising pop-punkness that well-befitted the duo. It got them a No.7 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after featuring in an episode of US coming-of-age drama “Girls”. After the episode aired the track amassed a great number of digital downloads and sales.

Charli didn’t record the song herself due to a bizarre neurological condition called synaesthesia, the tendency for the senses to involuntarily cross over so it is possible to “smell” words and “taste” colours. In her case, she feels she is able to “see” sounds. She later reflected that “I Love It” didn’t have the right “look” to fit her work. Nevertheless she performed the song with Icona Pop at South by Southwest festival in Texas, US, where both acts were playing.