Everything to Know About Dua Lipa’s New Album, Radical Optimism

Dua Lipa has wiped her Instagram page and dyed her hair auburn. Which, in pop star world, can only mean one thing. Her third studio album is imminent. After teasing the project for the first time in early 2022, it looks like the pop sensation is finally ready to enter her new era with her third studio album titled Radical Optimism.

On April 3rd, Dua continued to tease Radical Optimism with a short video. The clip features shots of the singer swimming and jamming out during studio sessions. “It’s the beauty of the chaos and trying to stay calm through it,” Dua says in voiceover between snippets of her new music. “Listening over and over and feeling like, ‘How do I want to tell this story?'”

“I always go for the most upbeat ones to introduce people to the record,” she continues, backdropped by clips of her practicing choreography. “I can just keep on dancing and keep people dancing. We’re trying to create a world in a different way, and sonically it was about experimenting. Thematically, it was always about resilience.”

Dua’s latest project will be a follow-up to her record-shattering sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, and her self-titled debut which she released in 2017. Here’s everything to know about Radical Optimism, below.

What does “Radical Optimism” mean?

On March 13th, Dua Lipa announced that her latest album will be called Radical Optimism.

“A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term Radical Optimism,” Dua said in a statement released to press. “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. It struck me—the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm.”

The singer continued, “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.”

What will Radical Optimism sound like?

In an interview with T Magazine, Dua said that the album will be “more personal” than her previous projects. When speaking with Vogue, the star added that “I’ve definitely grown up. Overall, whether it’s sonically or in terms of the themes, I’ve matured. It’s like I’m coming into my power and not afraid to talk about things. It’s about understanding what I want.”

The pop star has also reportedly been in the studio with Kevin Parker of psych band Tame Impala and in the same T Magazine interview said that the album will be inspired by “1970s-era psychedelia” as opposed to her previous synth pop sounds.

There have also been rumors that she’s been busy in the studio with PC Music alum Danny L. Harle. Among other things, he’s a frequent collaborator of Caroline Polachek, who opened for Lipa on the U.S. leg of her Future Nostalgia tour.

“The album is different—it’s still pop, but it’s different sonically, and there’s more of a lyrical theme,” Dua explained, adding still that it will not “alienate” her fanbase.

In a 2021 interview with Variety, the president of Warner Records, Joe Kentish, said that the album would be “something completely different and at scale.”

Who will feature on the album?

No features have been confirmed on Radical Optimism just yet. However, in addition to Parker and Harle, Dua has been in the studio with Producer Koz (Madonna, Kendrick Lamar) and songwriter Sarah Hudson, who has worked with everyone from Justin Bieber to Nicki Minaj. Dua has historically not been one to feature artists on her albums (sans Miguel, DaBaby, and non-album songs with Meghan Thee Stallion and Elton John), so time will tell if she changes her tune.

Are there any singles off the album?

The lead single off of Radical Optimism, “Houdini,” was released on Thursday, November 9 alongside a high-energy video.

In February 2024, Dua offered even more insight into what Radical Optimism will sound like with the release of her second single, “Training Season.”

On April 4th, Dua announced her third single from Radical Optimism “Illusion,” which she plans to release on April 11th. In a post shared to Instagram, the singer shared cover art—shot by Tyrone Lebon, who also shot the album cover—for the track as well as a short snippet.

Is there a track list for Radical Optimism?

After unveiling the name of her album, Dua also released the complete track list on March 13th. The 11-track record begins with the song “End of an Era” before finishing off with “Happy for You.”

When will it be released?

Radical Optimism will be released on May 3rd, 2024.