‘Houdini’ embodies that 4 a.m. feeling when the night is coming to a close and you’re a bit sweaty, but you just don’t want the party to end, says global Pop ball of fire Dua Lipa — telephoning the back story of her blanket red-hot peachy honeyed clairvoyant canon; bristle-pointed at a jumbo gait to pitch in a consummate spot and dissolve human flesh. The exceedingly hoped-for opus pioneering the commencement of a historied chapter — following the model-cum-recording artist’s 2020 hit offering ‘Future Nostalgia’ — is out now aboard its inscrutable hammy music video.
A fierce competitor — included on the Time 100 Next list in 2021 — the (3x) Grammy® and (6x) Brit award-winning English-Albanian singer songwriter closed out last 12-month as one of the uppermost performers of the period of time; with both Variety and Billboard naming her ‘Future Nostalgia World Tour’ — among the best live shows of the year. The show’s namesake album refulgent, coagulated Dua Lipa’s orientation as both a pettifogging achiever and apical radio performer!
Tiptop carrying into action, ‘Future Nostalgia’ which is certified platinum in the US and UK, was the longest spurting top 10 work of berceuse by a female artist on the Billboard 200 in 2021. Established firmly, it has spawned multiple cosmopolitan smash singles, with ‘Levitating’ earning certified diamond status and the title of Billboard’s No. 1 Hot 100 Song of 2021.
Not here to play, in addition to breaking solo records; Dua verified to be a redoubtable collaborator with British singer, pianist and composer Sir Elton John’s ‘Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)’ — landing them the honour of Variety’s 2022 Hitmakers of the Year.
News-buzzing, Dua Lipa’s umpteen manias on the far side of the universe of euphony saw her launch Service95 — an international style, culture, and society editorial platform. The latter is inspired by the Grammy Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording victor’s womb-to-tomb habit of curating across-the-board recommendations lists. Sure as shooting, the concomitant podcast called ‘Dua Lipa: At Your Service’; features pensive conversations with high-profile guests — from fellow performers and artists to authors and activists.
Dedication to diversity and representation leaked, in any case being lauded in publications such as The Sunday Times, Vogue, and The Guardian; it was named one of the Best Podcasts of 2022 by Spotify — a Swedish audio streaming and media services provider. Absolutely liberal, Dua’s passion for written language and affinity for storytelling led her to launch the third and a la mode branch of the platform, known as ‘The Service95 Book Club’.
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Swinging, ‘Houdini’ — the Pop hotshot’s up-to-the-minute ditty; sets about the narrative thread that weaves its way through her forthcoming project. The spick-and-span cinematic visuals to the spanking birdcall; were directed by French radical filmmaker Manu Cossu, with cinematographer and Director of Photography (DOP) André Chemetoff from the United States.
Dua Lipa’s super personality displayed; this very thought-provoking means of telling and uncloaking through illustration sees the many-sided artist — who as a fashion icon, has graced the cover of every major fashion magazine globally, from Vogue and Elle to W and Dazed — post-rehearsal in a dance hall. Revising her choreography beneath fluorescent lights. Linkages exemplified, the lights reflect in the room’s mirrors, creating an optical illusion as the get-up-and-go vibe starts out to swell.
“This track represents the most light and freeing parts of my ‘singledom’. ‘Houdini’ is very tongue in cheek, exploring the idea of whether someone is really worth my while or if I’ll ghost them in the end. You never know where something may take you, that’s the beauty of being open to whatever life throws your way. I’m looking forward to sharing that feeling of defiant bliss with my fans,” Dua Lipa said.
Not only did Australian singer songwriter, musician, record producer and Disc Jockey Kevin Parker (known for his psychedelic musical project Tame Impala), and British music producer composer Danny L. Harle — produce this number ‘Houdini’; the pair also co-wrote the neonate gem along with Dua Lipa, Tobias Jesso Jr. a Canadian musician, as well as Norwegian singer songwriter Caroline Ailin. Possessing giant techniques, the ballad lords served as core collaborators throughout the project.
Knowing what it takes to win the ultimate prize — slaying the game with her mezzo-soprano vocal range and disco-influenced production — Dua Lipa avows: “A lot of this album was written in those joyous moments of absolute chaos and how I moved through the world with lightness and optimism of whatever the outcome may be.”
Industrial in her quilted blood, Dua’s eponymous 2017 debut full-bodied lullaby creation is certified platinum, having bred six platinum jams, and made her the first female artist in Brit Awards chronicle to cream up five nominations in a single year. Reaping so much gravitational force across platforms globally; she has amassed over 38 billion streams and holds the record for having the top two most streamed albums by a female artist — of all time on Spotify.
A wise creative with matter to and whodunit at its nucleus, to crown her inundated ascendance in the feverish showbiz kingdom; Dua Lipa panache ran along the fashion vista, where most freshly, she co-designed Versace’s ‘La Vacanza’ collection — alongside the iconic Donatella Versace. Connection undeniably striking; the womenswear collection which Vogue called — “the hottest collaboration of the summer” — debuted at a fashion show in Cannes, in May of this 12-month period.
Mode language cultured in lavishness, Vogue Runway’s review of the show hailed it — “an instantly desirable, flattering summer wardrobe”. Making an unforgettable statement that plays up how the English-Albanian singer songwriter; who is a two-time Guinness World Records holder, has combined the astuteness and cornucopia of her high-toned golden begotten talent to the maximum — with the glow of her fame and fortune — to reveal the sultry loudness of her superstar status on stage and off!
- Grant Moyo is a prolific writer, innovative media personality, entrepreneur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on X: @TotemGrant