Inspired by Dua’s own self-discovery, Radical Optimism is an album that taps into the pure joy and happiness of having clarity in situations that once seemed impossible to face. The hard goodbyes and vulnerable beginnings that previously threatened to crush your soul, become milestones as you choose optimism and start to move with grace through the chaos.
Rolling Stone has called the album “pop bliss,” while noting it is “uniquely and utterly Dua Lipa: confident dance pop full of witty Instagram-caption-ready one-liners.”
Infused with the energy of Dua’s hometown, London, the attitude of the album embodies the rawness, honesty, confidence and freedom of ‘90s Britpop. Radical Optimism transports its listener to a dreamy pop world rich in musicality, lyrically unapologetic and sonically liberating.
“A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term Radical Optimism. It’s a concept that resonated with me, and I became more curious as I started to play with it and weave it into my life,” Dua shares. “It struck me – the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm. At the same time, I found myself looking through the music history of psychedelia, trip hop, and Britpop. It has always felt so confidently optimistic to me, and that honesty and attitude is a feeling I took into my recording sessions.”
Dua worked with a team of core collaborators throughout the project including Caroline Ailin, Danny L. Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Kevin Parker.
Earlier this month, Dua opened up the BRIT Awards with an electric performance of “Training Season” and subsequently took home her 7th BRIT Award for Best Pop Act. She also opened up the GRAMMY Awards this year, where she performed a medley of “Training Season,” “Dance The Night” and “Houdini.” Dua recently became the first female artist to have four songs each with over two billion streams on Spotify (“One Kiss,” “Don’t Start Now,” “New Rules” and “Levitating”).
Radical Optimism Tracklist:
End Of An Era
Houdini
Training Season
These Walls
Whatcha Doing
French Exit
Illusion
Falling Forever
Anything For Love
Maria
Happy For You
