Album by Dua Lipa

I’ve never really spent much time listening to Dua Lipa before, so this was a pretty fresh experience for me.

At its core, this is a slick dance-pop album, but there are a lot of different influences folded into it. Some tracks lean into disco or late-70s / early-80s pop instincts, others flirt with psychedelic textures, R&B rhythms, or Latin-inspired grooves, all wrapped inside very modern production.

“End of an Era” stood out immediately because of that mix. There’s a slightly psychedelic, late-60s feel floating underneath the beat, even though the song is still fully built as contemporary pop.

“Houdini” and “Training Season” are probably the clearest examples of how strong the hooks are here. “Training Season” especially has a fantastic chorus and build that kept sticking in my head. Oddly enough, parts of it even reminded me a little of The Cardigans.

“Watcha Doing” brings in a smoother R&B feel with a big anthem-style chorus that almost sounds like a diva-fronted Chromeo track at times.

“Illusion” is another really fun pop song, while “Falling Forever” leans more directly into classic pop diva territory.

“Anything For Love” ended up being my favorite track overall. I loved the way it opens as a piano ballad before gradually shifting into something closer to glossy 80s-style pop.

“Maria” has another strong dance groove and vocal performance, while “Happy For You” closes things out with one of the album’s most emotionally mature moments — reflecting on messy relationships with a little more perspective and acceptance than bitterness.

This really isn’t my usual musical lane, but I had a good time with it. The production is sharp, the hooks are huge, and the album does a good job blending older pop influences into something that still feels current.

Verdict: Good

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