‘Future Nostalgia’ By Dua Lipa Album Review: Creating Her Own Genres

Three years after the release of her first single, Dua Lipa is revolutionizing disco while sticking to her roots as an artist in her debut album Future Nostalgia. 

Lipa has always been known as an artist who creates sounds that provide her fans with the same confidence, exuberance and rebelliousness that she exudes as a person. It’s no surprise that the “New Rules” singer has always prioritizes variation in her songs.

Her music is beyond compare within the genres of pop and soul. The English pop singer was first noticed when her collaborations with Sean Paul, Calvin Harris and Martin Garrix took off on the U.S. charts in 2017. In 2019, she was awarded Grammys for Best New Artists and Best Dance Recording for her collaboration with Silk City on “Electricity.” 

Now, Lipa is continuing to create a new lane for herself in a genre that is filled with many other well-known artists such as Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift. Yet, her album Future Nostalgia will remind fans that she doesn’t plan to be compared to those she may be inspired by. 

The debut album includes combinations of disco and 80’s pop. You can even hear Lipa doing some rhythmic rapping. Every track seems to either offer a smooth transition or a needed mood change. The first song “Don’t Start Now” sets the tone of the album with its indescribable electric and funk feel. Lipa told Apple Music that the song “is just about having fun and not taking yourself too seriously.” The tracks “Levitating” and “Pretty Please” give fans a new sound from the artist with their changing melodies and instruments. “Don’t Start Now” hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Break My Heart” showcases the empowerment in relationships that Lipa has always expressed in her music. The album is a narrative of Lipa’s personal relationships, inevitable struggles and the constant pursuit of power.