Dua Lipa Embraces New Sound for Upcoming Album, Bids Farewell to Disco

Dua Lipa Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images

Dua Lipa, 28, bid farewell to her disco era with the release of "Dance the Night." The Grammy-nominated song for the Barbie soundtrack marked the end of her disco sound, as she plans to move in a new direction for her future music. Despite her major success with hits like "Don't Start Now," "Physical," and "Levitating," Lipa confirmed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that "Dance the Night" will be her final disco track for the time being.

Lipa was touring when Mark Ronson, the celebrated producer behind the Barbie soundtrack, contacted her about creating an original track to "paint the picture of the movie." Ronson mentioned that director Greta Gerwig wanted Lipa's song to be disco, as it would be used for the big dance scene at the beginning of the film. Lipa initially hesitated, as she was moving away from disco for her new album, but ultimately couldn't resist the opportunity. "I was like, 'Oh, maybe I've got one more in me,'" she told the Los Angeles Times.

Writing for Barbie posed unexpected challenges for Lipa, who is accustomed to sharing her own experiences and emotions in her music. The choreography of the scene and a pivotal moment involving the character Barbie played a role in shaping the song's lyrics. Lipa aimed to infuse the song with both fun and a hint of sadness, reflecting on the universal feeling of inadequacy.

Deal of the Day

Serious Skincare’s Wildly Popular Glycolic Acid Cleanser Is on Sale Today

View Deal

The song was a hit both commercially and critically. "Dance The Night" made it to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top of the UK Singles Chart. It also earned a nomination for Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 66th Grammy Awards.

On November 10, Lipa launched her new era with "Houdini," the lead single from her upcoming album. While still in the dance genre, the song has a more contemporary sound compared to her previous nu-disco hits, with darker, fuzzier, and distorted elements towards the end.