Dua Lipa announces new album Radical Optimism

The wait is finally over, Dua Lipa fans ‒ the singer has confirmed that her new album is set to come out in just a few months.

Her third record, titled Radical Optimism, is set for release on May 3. A press release describes it as “an album that taps into the pure joy and happiness of having clarity in situations that once seemed impossible to face.”

The 11-track album features a number of collaborators: the pop producer Danny L. Harle (Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek, singer-songwriter turned Adele co-writer Tobias Jesso Jr, Lipa’s New Rules co-writer Caroline Ailin, and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker.

The tracklisting for Radical Optimism is as follows:

1.End Of An Era

2.Houdini

3.Training Season

4.These Walls

5.Whatcha Doing

6.French Exit

7.Illusion

8.Falling Forever

9.Anything For Love

10.Maria

11.Happy For You

“A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term Radical Optimism,” Lipa said, explaining the album’s title. “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. 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.”

Lipa has also shared the album artwork, which shows her swimming ominously close to a shark.

 (Tyrone Lebon)
(Tyrone Lebon)

The news follows on from the release of Dua Lipa’s comeback single Houdini last November. “Dua Lipa is officially in her analog synth era - and the imperfection suits her,” the Standard wrote in a 5-star track review.

And last month, a second taster came in the shape of the strutting nu-disco cut Training Season. The singer performed the track at this year’s Brit Awards, with the live spectacle incorporating a ring of floating acrobats on hidden wires, heaps of meticulous choreography, and a closing sequence in which Dua flew into the air, lifted by two airbourne performers. Lipa also took home the prize for Best Pop Act.