Dua Lipa (album)

Dua Lipa
Studio album by Dua Lipa
Released 2 June 2017 (2017-06-02)
Recorded 2015–2017
Genre Pop[1][2]
Length 40:43
Label Warner Bros.
Producer
Singles from Dua Lipa
  1. "New Love"
    Released: 21 August 2015
  2. "Be the One"
    Released: 30 October 2015
  3. "Last Dance"
    Released: 9 February 2016
  4. "Hotter than Hell"
    Released: 6 May 2016
  5. "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)"
    Released: 26 August 2016
  6. "Lost in Your Light"
    Released: 21 April 2017
  7. "New Rules"
    Released: 21 July 2017

Dua Lipa is the debut studio album by English singer Dua Lipa, released on 2 June 2017 by Warner Bros. Records. The lyrical themes revolve around her personal views of love, rising above, sex and self-empowerment. The album has spawned seven singles, including "New Rules", "Be the One", "Hotter than Hell", and "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)", which peaked at numbers five, nine, 15, and 30 on the UK Singles Chart, respectively. The record received positive reviews from music critics.

Background and composition

"I want people to see a piece of me. I want people to have an insight into everything that's happened over the last few years while I was writing the album and actually really get to know me. It's been good because when I released 'New Love' and 'Be The One', I had people say, 'That really relates to me'. I want people to have that feeling and I want people to know that they're not alone in all this and that we all go through the same fucking shit. That's the main goal. For this album I want to be as truthful as possible, then all the club shit can come later."

—Lipa about her debut album[3]

In 2015, Lipa began working on her debut album for Warner Music Group. Lipa began planning the project in early 2015, shortly after the launch of her debut single "New Love" produced by Emile Haynie and Andrew Wyatt. Work continued throughout 2016 as Lipa traveled to promote released music in the US. Lipa describes the album as "dark pop".[4]

Commenting on the album's direction, Lipa said "When I had taken interest with my own music, I would listen to Nelly Furtado, P!nk and Destiny's Child, but as I grew older I found my love for Hip hop, so the main thing I listen to are Rap..., I love the realness behind it, that's why I try to also bind that into the music". "This album has a mixture of that and a heavy influence with Hip hop. where I like to sing the Rap, so I start my verses that are very fast paced then you hear a pop chorus".[5]

During an interview with Official Charts in February 2017, Lipa said "I've been working a lot, writing some more, finishing off the album... I've been working with some amazing people. A couple of things have happened where I've had to stop and pinch myself", she also confirmed that she was working with MNEK in the studio.[6]

Release

The album was originally scheduled to be released on 30 September 2016, but it was eventually pushed back to 10 February 2017.[7] On 11 January 2017, Lipa announced via Twitter that the album's release had been delayed again until 2 June, as she wanted to include "new songs and exciting collaborations".[8] The song "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" was released to iTunes on 26 August 2016, accompanied by Lipa revealing the album artwork and pre-order.[7][9]

In April 2017, a series of animated collages for each track on the album was produced by artist Joe Webb.[10]

Title and artwork

Commenting on the album title and cover, Lipa said, "I'm so excited to share my album artwork with you and thank you all for being so patient and supportive. The reason it is self-titled is because this album is me. It's a pure representation of who I am as a person and as an artist".[7] The standard album cover has been described as "minimal yet smoldering", featuring Lipa in a scaly jacket and she stares longingly into the camera with wet hair covering one side of her face with shades of purple and blue. The deluxe album cover features the same picture of Lipa, just with the difference in the shades, now being pink and green.[7]

Promotion

Singles

"New Love" was released as the album's lead single on 21 August 2015.[11] "Be the One" was released as the second single from the album on 30 October 2015. It was met with widespread commercial success, being certified platinum in Australia, Belgium and Italy, and gold in Germany, and reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. "Last Dance" was released as the album's third single on 9 February 2016.[12] "Hotter than Hell" was released as the fourth single on 6 May 2016. The song peaked at number 15 in United Kingdom and reached the top 20 in several markets.

"Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" was released as the fifth single on 26 August 2016, giving Lipa her second UK top-40 single at the time. On 11 April 2017, Lipa confirmed that "Lost in Your Light", which features Miguel would be released as the sixth single from the album; the single was released on 21 April 2017. "New Rules" was released as the seventh single from the album on 7 July 2017, and has reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.

Promotional singles

"Room for 2" was released as the album's first promotional single on 28 October 2016. An accompanying music video was released on 3 November 2016 on Hunger TV's YouTube channel.[13]

A studio version of "Thinking 'Bout You", a previous demo song recorded by Lipa, was released as the second promotional single on 6 January 2017.[14]

See in Blue documentary

On 20 December 2016, Lipa released a documentary short film produced by The Fader teamed up with YouTube Music and directed by Robert Semmer, titled See in Blue. The documentary details her journey in music thus far and shows off her true, new self—who she has been working to become. Intent on authenticity and influenced by the likes of J. Cole and Nelly Furtado, her dreams of making a pop album that defines her as an artist have come true. As the daughter of a musician, Lipa grew up surrounded by music, inspired by listening to Christina Aguilera, Stereophonics, and Robbie Williams as a teenager. At 15, she started posting videos on YouTube, showcasing her voice with covers of her favourite songs. "I've had ups and downs trying to find myself", she said about the process of discovering her sound. "You've got to work really, really hard—not just for music, but for anything you do in life", Lipa said about her come-up to pop star. "I didn't think having a career like this was in my reach", she continued. "No rest for the wicked. Dreams do come true", she says in the last lines of the documentary.[15][16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.9/10[17]
Metacritic73/100[18]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
Clash8/10[20]
DIY[21]
The Guardian[1]
musicOMH
NME[2]
Q[22]

Dua Lipa received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73, based on nine reviews.[18] Alex Green of Clash lauded it as "a debut album brimming with confidence, confidence not only in Lipa's own voice and her eye for a chorus, but in the emotive quality of her lyrics."[20] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic praised the album as "a delightful collection of catchy pop gems where the songs only serve to highlight her vocal prowess" and "an excellent first effort from a budding pop star".[19] Writing for NME, Jamie Milton wrote that Lipa's voice "could make the thickest synths seem tame in comparison and carries a 20-a-day raspiness capable of making heartfelt ballads sound edgy", adding that "it's equally impressive to hear how confidently the debut holds itself together, flitting between styles but always shining a spotlight on a legitimate pop sensation."[2]

Ben Hogwood of musicOMH referred to Lipa's "powerful and distinctive" voice as "one of the most distinctive you will hear in pop music currently", while commenting that "[t]he only potential issue with her approach lies in the production behind the songs". Hogwood concluded that "the hope is that her talents will get more room and less post-production time."[23] Kate Solomon of Q magazine praised Lipa's voice as "very, very good" and opined, "What makes this album more than just a load of precision-engineered musical nothingness between a series of tentpole singles is Lipa herself. Songs that in other hands would be little more than throwaway filler swell into anthems for girls who can't stop falling in love."[22] In a mixed review, The Guardian's Hannah J. Davies stated that "[d]espite a few generic offerings", the album is "a solid pop debut that is high on summery nonchalance".[1] DIY writer Alim Kheraj remarked that "across the album's 12 tracks there are bangers aplenty", but ultimately found that a lot of the album "feels overthought and calculated".[21]

Commercial performance

Dua Lipa debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart, selling 16,223 copies in its first week.[24]

Track listing

Standard edition[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Genesis"
3:25
2."Lost in Your Light" (featuring Miguel)
3:23
3."Hotter than Hell"
  • Lipa
  • Adam Midgley
  • Tommy Baxter
  • Gerard O'Connell
3:07
4."Be the One"
  • Digital Farm Animals
  • Tarrant[c]
3:22
5."IDGAF"
  • Kozmeniuk
  • Principato[d]
  • Blackwood[c]
3:38
6."Blow Your Mind (Mwah)"
Levine2:58
7."Garden"
  • Wells
  • Kozmeniuk
3:47
8."No Goodbyes"
3:36
9."Thinking 'Bout You"
  • Lipa
  • Adam Argyle
Kozmeniuk2:51
10."New Rules"
Kirkpatrick[e]3:32
11."Begging"
  • Flannigan
  • Kozmeniuk[a]
  • Suzy Shinn[b]
3:14
12."Homesick"
Bill Rahko3:50
Total length:40:43

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Dua Lipa.[32]

  • Dua Lipa – vocals (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 4, 11)
  • Adam Argyle – guitar (track 9)
  • Axident – keyboards, percussion, production (track 1)
  • Big Taste – additional production (track 1)
  • Lorna Blackwood – additional vocal production (track 1); vocal production (tracks 2, 5)
  • Tim Burns – mixing (track 1)
  • Aadin Church – backing vocals (track 3)
  • Leroy Clampitt – guitar (track 1)
  • Todd Clark – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • John Davis – mastering (tracks 1, 3–5, 7, 8, 11, 12)
  • Matt Deutchman – production coordination (track 11)
  • Digital Farm Animals – production (track 4)
  • James Flannigan – drum programming, drums, percussion, piano, production, programming, synth strings (track 11)
  • Robin Florent – assistant mix engineering (track 2)
  • Chris Galland – mix engineering (track 2)
  • Chris Garcia – engineering (track 2)
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering (tracks 2, 6, 10)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Grades – co-production, drums, keyboards, programming, vocal recording (track 8)
  • Matty Green – mixing (tracks 8, 9); mastering (track 9)
  • Josh Gudwin – mixing (tracks 5, 10, 11)
  • Jeff Gunnell – assistant engineering (tracks 1, 5)
  • John Hanes – engineering for mix (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Jeff Jackson – assistant mix engineering (track 2)
  • Ian Kirkpatrick – engineering, production, programming, vocal production (track 10)
  • Stephen "Koz" Kozmeniuk – guitar (track 2); drums (tracks 2, 3, 5, 8, 9); production (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7–9); synth (tracks 2, 5, 9); keyboards (tracks 3, 8); piano (track 5); bass (tracks 5, 8, 9, 11); additional drums, additional production, programming, synth programming (track 11)
  • Jon Levine – bass, drum programming, engineering, guitar, keyboards, production, Rhodes (track 6)
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing (track 2)
  • Chris Martin – additional vocals, piano (track 12)
  • Kieron Menzies – engineering (track 2)
  • Mighty Mike – live drums (track 2)
  • Miguel – bass, drums, percussion, production, vocals (track 2)
  • MNEK – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • Rick Nowels – electric guitar, keyboards (track 2)
  • Tom Neville – vocal production (track 3)
  • Cameron Gower Poole – additional vocal production (track 1); engineering (track 9)
  • Larzz Principato – co-production, guitar (track 5)
  • Zac Rae – piano, synth (track 2)
  • Bill Rahko – engineering, production (track 12)
  • Dean Reid – electric guitar, engineering, keyboards, percussion, synth bass (track 2)
  • Jay Reynolds – additional keyboards, additional production (track 3); mixing (track 7)
  • Talay Riley – backing vocals (track 3)
  • Cara Salimando – backing vocals (track 11)
  • Suzy Shinn – additional vocal production (track 11)
  • Michael Sonier – assistant engineering, digital editing (track 3,9,17)
  • Jack Tarrant – guitar, vocal production (track 4)
  • Lucy Taylor – backing vocals (track 4)
  • Olly Thompson – assistant engineering (track 9)
  • Aleks von Korff – assistant engineering (track 12)
  • Greg Wells – bass, drums, engineering, piano, production, synth (track 7)
  • Trevor Yasuda – engineering (track 2)
  • Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – mixing (track 12)

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[33] 16
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[34] 36
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[36] 19
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[37] 44
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[38] 35
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[39] 32
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[40] 11
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[41] 22
French Albums (SNEP)[42] 147
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[43] 22
Greek Albums (IFPI)[44] 44
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[45] 40
Irish Albums (IRMA)[46] 8
Italian Albums (FIMI)[47] 32
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[48] 21
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[49] 34
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[50] 35
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[51] 33
Scottish Albums (OCC)[52] 6
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[53] 20
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[54] 11
UK Albums (OCC)[55] 5
US Billboard 200[56] 86

Release history

Region Date Format Edition Label Ref.
Various 2 June 2017 Standard Warner Bros. [25][57][58]
  • CD
  • digital download
 Deluxe [26][59]
Austria
  • CD
  • LP
  • digital download
 Standard [29]
Germany [30][60][61]
Switzerland [31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Davies, Hannah J. (1 June 2017). "Dua Lipa: Dua Lipa review – a pop debut high on summery nonchalance". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Milton, Jamie (2 June 2017). "Dua Lipa – 'Dua Lipa' Review". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Davidson, Amy (11 December 2015). "Meet your new favourite popstar Dua Lipa – just don't call her the new Lana Del Rey". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Interview: Dua Lipa Tells Us When to Expect Her Debut Album. Music Feeds. 21 April 2016 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Dua Lipa – Blow Your Mind (Mwah) new video". allaroundnewmusic.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  6. ↑ McNeillage, Ross (20 February 2017). "MNEK and Dua Lipa Are Working on Something". breatheheavy.com. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Sonis, Rachel (24 August 2016). "Dua Lipa Reveals Cover Art For Self-Titled Album". Idolator. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Dua Lipa has delayed her debut album". DIY. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Blow Your Mind (Mwah) – Single by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Animated collages for Dua Lipa". JoeWebbArt.com. 16 April 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "New Love – Single by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (GB). Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Last Dance – Single by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (GB). Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "PREMIERE: Dua Lipa's video for Room For 2". Hunger TV. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Thinking 'Bout You – Single by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Mandel, Leah. "Watch See In Blue, The FADER's Dreamy Short Film About Dua Lipa". The Fader. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  16. ↑ Sonis, Rachel (20 December 2016). "Dua Lipa Details Her Musical Journey In New 'See In Blue' Documentary: Watch". Idolator. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Reviews for Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  19. 1 2 Yeung, Neil Z. "Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  20. 1 2 Green, Alex (2 June 2017). "Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Clash. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  21. 1 2 Kheraj, Alim (2 June 2017). "Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". DIY. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  22. 1 2 Solomon, Kate (July 2017). "Broken-Heart Bangers". Q. No. 373. p. 109. ISSN 0955-4955.
  23. ↑ Hogwood, Ben (5 June 2017). "Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". musicOMH. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  24. ↑ Jones, Alan (9 June 2017). "Official Charts Analysis: Ed Sheeran's ÷ back at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 26 June 2017. (Subscription required (help)).
  25. 1 2 "Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (GB). Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Dua Lipa (Deluxe) by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (GB). Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  27. ↑ "CD Japan: Dua Lipa [Japan Bonus Track] CD" (in Japanese). CD Japan.
  28. ↑ "For Julian by Dua Lipa". ASCAP. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (AT). Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  30. 1 2 "Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (DE). Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa". iTunes Store (CH). Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  32. ↑ Dua Lipa (CD liner notes). Dua Lipa. Warner Bros. Records. 2017. 0190295938482.
  33. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  36. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  37. ↑ "Dua Lipa – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Dua Lipa. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  38. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201723 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  39. ↑ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 31, 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  40. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  41. ↑ "Dua Lipa: Dua Lipa" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  42. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 23, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  43. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  44. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 24/2017)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  45. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2017. 25. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  46. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  47. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  48. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  49. ↑ "VG-lista – Dua Lipa / Dua Lipa (Deluxe)". VG-lista. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  50. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  51. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  52. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  53. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  54. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  55. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  56. ↑ "Dua Lipa – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Dua Lipa. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  57. ↑ "Dua Lipa". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  58. ↑ "Dua Lipa [VINYL]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  59. ↑ "Dua Lipa". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  60. ↑ "Dua Lipa" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  61. ↑ "Dua Lipa [Vinyl LP]" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
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