Dua Lipa's third album will be a "tribute to UK rave culture," inspired by Massive Attack and Britpop

We're going raving, baby.
dua lipa third album

Catch her or she goes! Dua Lipa may have done a slight vanishing act since dropping Houdini at the tail-end of last year, but plans are in motion and we're, slowly, finding out more about her third studio album, due out later this year. 

A defiant curb stomp on the defined disco aesthetics of Future Nostalgia, Houdini saw Dua hook up with Danny L Harle (Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek) and Tame Impala's Kevin Parker (Lady Gaga, Rihanna) for a major sonic re-set, trading in glittery disco balls for frantic 70s-inspired psychedelia beat. 

While we know next to nothing about Dua's follow-up to Future Nostalgia (aside from the fact that the same team behind Houdini, including Harle, Parker and songwriter Caroline Ailin and Tobias Jesso Jr, have worked on 8 out of the LP's 11 tracks), a brand-new cover story for Rolling Stone does reveal the vibe Dua has been cultivating for this next era. 

And it looks like we're going raving, baby! Dua confirmed to Rolling Stone that her next album will be a tribute to UK rave culture, specifically acts like Primal Scream and Massive Attack, while also channeling the "don't give a f*ck energy" of Britpop performers like Liam Gallagher and Damon Albarn. 

MORE: Dua Lipa's Official Top 20 biggest songs in the UK

"This record feels a bit more raw," Dua said. "I want to capture the essence of youth and freedom and having fun and just letting things happen, whether it’s good or bad. You can’t change it. You just have to roll with the punches of whatever’s happening in your life."

One massive influence on the record seems to be Primal Scream's 1991 house music opus Screamadelica (which Dua first listened to as a teenager, after hearing Primal Scream on a late night Radio 1 mix before going out...so real), while Rolling Stone describes an album highlight as a track that sounds like an update to Gwen Stefani's equally iconic single, Cool (again...so real). 

Houdini, of course, did not pull any kind of disappearing act on the Official Singles Chart. Debuting straight in at Number 2 (behind Jack Harlow's Lovin On Me), it's so far spent five weeks inside the Top 10. 

Last year also saw Dua make her acting debut in Barbie, where she also lent her voice to the film's soundtrack. Lead single Dance The Night became Dua's fourth UK Number 1 single (that's exactly the same number as Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora and Geri Halliwell, btw), and could just be weeks away from being nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song (!).

Houdini is out now via Warner. Dua's third album follows later this year. 

Related artists

Related Articles

Related Singles and Albums

Join the conversation by joining the Official Charts community and dropping comment.

Already registered?

Log in

No account?

Register