Dua Lipa, the London-born pop sensation, has expressed her closeness to individuals who experience the devastating effects of war, injustice, and inequality. Lipa’s family were Kosovar Albanians who sought refuge in the United Kingdom in 1992 due to the political instability in Kosovo. Raised speaking Albanian at home and educated in English, Lipa returned to London alone at 15 to pursue a career in music.
In an interview with Elle, Lipa reflected on her teenage years and her deep connection to the atrocities committed against Kosovar Albanians during the 1998 Kosovo War. She spoke to survivors and heard first-hand accounts of the devastation they experienced. “When you have that direct communication with people who have been through (war), it opens up a completely new world, and it did for me,” she said.
Despite the grim reality of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Lipa remains optimistic, believing that everyone has a different experience of injustice and inequality but that “it’s about support and learning together.” Lipa also highlighted the pressure imposed on pop stars not to take political stances or appear intelligent. In contrast, she is a voracious reader and runs Service95, an editorial platform featuring a podcast, newsletter, and book club, among other offerings.
On May 3, Lipa released her third studio album, Radical Optimism, after creating much anticipation. NME gave the album a three-star review, noting that while it has some solid tracks, none of them seems to be compelling enough to withstand the test of time. Critics even argue that Lipa is deliberately downplaying the significance of her album and that she is focusing more on creating music that lasts instead of producing hits.
Despite the mixed reviews, Lipa remains a rising star and has already garnered significant recognition from other artists. Kevin Parker, the lead singer of Tame Impala, praised Lipa as an “absolute weapon” in the industry upon the release of her new album
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