Future Nostalgia/ Dua Lipa - pop

By Narendra Kusnur 

Album: Future Nostalgia
Artiste: Dua Lipa
Genre: Pop
Label: Warner Records
Rating: *** 1/2

Three years after releasing her successful self-titled debut, British singer Dua Lipa has come out with the interestingly-titled Future Nostalgia. The 11-track album has a lot in its favour – short and crisp songs totalling 38 minutes and an uptempo, happy retro-pop feel.

As Lipa herself admits, she's been influenced by Madonna, Blondie and Gwen Stefani. Gear up for doses of 1980s punk-pop and disco. And while you find a hint of Shakira’s ‘Whenever’ on ‘Levitating’, she's also used portions of Olivia Newton John on ‘Physical’. There's also a sense of monotony and repetition on the latter songs, as she sticks to a specific style.

The inspirations notwithstanding, this comes across as a clean record, definitely boosting Lipa’s position in the current female pop category. The songs have strong hooks, and are perfect as work-out accompaniment. With synthesiser-backed instrumentation, she has a winner in the opening title track, which goes, “You wanna turn it up loud, future nostalgia is the name”.

‘Don't Start Now’ talks about how a girl has moved on after heartbreak and ‘Cool’ is a passion-filled love song. ‘Break My Heart’ has reflective lines like, “Am I falling in love with the one that could break my heart?” On the self-explanatory ‘Good In Bed’, she ups the sexuality element. ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ is a striking statement against male violence, and perhaps the only time where Lipa tries to convey a deep message.

Despite a few weak spots, caused more because she runs out of composition ideas, the album is a good, stress-free ride. As the title suggests, Future Nostalgia is a good balance of contemporary and classic.