DATELINE HOLLYWOOD
Dua Lipa
I got that tattoo in a place where I can always see it to remind myself that the phrase ‘patience is a virtue’ is true
Sexy, seductive and seemingly bulletproof to the challenges of life, Dua Lipa is precisely the singer and songwriter we want to turn to in this brave new world. It’s disappointing albeit not inaccurate to suppose that music artistes of today are part of perhaps the entertainment world’s biggest, most expansive and fast-moving PR machine.
The music industry is one that dispatches the sluggishness of the film world into a cocked hat. It sneers at the control and precision that needs to go into live events, and celebrates a cross section of subjective talent – the likes of which you will never find in something like sports.
Unfortunately, it’s the ease of some of that aforementioned marketing genius and elevation of timid bedroom singers, amateur producers and experimental DJs into the realm of superstars that discredits the genuinely talented singers and songwriters who have battled through adversity to get to where they are.
In Dua Lipa, there exists probably the best example of them all. From the outside, she is someone who – within two single releases after being signed to Warner Bros. – had a global hit on her hands and a first number one in Belgium.
Catch a glimpse of this young effortlessly attractive 25-year-old who can dance, is fashionable, explores feminism, delves into politics and fires strong opinions across social media, and it looks like a very convenient setup: like a label that’s desperate for a dominant, determined female artiste and a PR stylist’s dream.
A British national of Kosovan origin, Dua progressed through London’s famous Sylvia Young Theatre School and worked as a model, waitress and shop assistant on the way to earning enough money to get her name out there.
“Mine was certainly not a case of being plucked off the street and presented with this incredible prize. I know there’s a perception that this is how things happen but actually, it’s a belief rather than a reality. It certainly wasn’t a reality for me and I had to work incredibly hard to get to where I am,” she says.
The prize, as Dua puts it, is now hers. Her selftitled 2017 album made the Top 10 in seven countries. In 2020, the hotly anticipated studio album Future Nostalgia confirmed the artiste’s place as one of the most interesting, engaging and talented singers in the business.
Having moved to number one in the UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, her follow-up album also made it to No. 4 on the American charts; it spawned global hits such as Don’t Start Now, Physical and Break My Heart.
The speed with which she has achieved her aims is perhaps bewildering; even more so when you consider she has the word ‘patience’ tattooed on her hand.
“It’s interesting that you noted it,” she responds, adding: “Actually, it’s only a personal message to me in the music industry and my life in general. With my music, I always work hard to release stuff as quick as I can but things don’t always happen that fast because of the promotions, interviews and release schedules.”
“I got that tattoo in a place where I can always see it to remind myself that the phrase ‘patience is a virtue’ is true. Sometimes you have to wait for good things to happen,” Lipa maintains.
With her father providing significant musical influence (he was in a Kosovan band called Oda), perhaps Dua’s success isn’t a surprise after all.
“I saw what my father did and always wanted to try to achieve as much as I could. Music is something I love being involved in – making it and listening to it. There can’t be anything else because music has been my life since I was very young. I don’t think I’ve ever had a day where I didn’t listen to music – it’s always been there at some point,” she recalls.
As someone so outspoken on a number of social issues, it’s not surprising to hear Dua’s forthright views on Brexit and the UK’s departure from the EU.
She explains: “It does make me sad but I do understand how as a nation the people feel that they have had enough and want to try something new. After what happened in Yugoslavia, I would be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t believe in the will of the people – and the ability of people to make change and forge their own path.”
Lipa elaborates: “As far as Brexit goes, I can only view it from my side and feel very lucky that I was able to make the move to the UK from Kosovo. It doesn’t seem likely that in the future, many people will be able to do what I did. That’s such a sad state of affairs but these things happen and I don’t believe anything is forever.”
Music is something I love being involved in – making it and listening to it