This past Saturday, Dua Lipa closed off the Pre-Grammys 2018 Shows at Mastercard House followed by predecessors like SZA and Saint Vincent.
With only one debut album, Dua Lipa has the effervescence, presence, and feistiness of any veteran pop singer, delivering a performance that is both otherworldly and exciting.
Originally from Albanian heritage, the London based artist began her music career posting covers on Youtube, and later signed with Warner Bros before releasing her debut single, “Be The One,” which reached Top 9, with many more chart toppers to follow. Lipa, now at only age 22, holds five nominations (surpassing Ed Sheeran) and also marking the most for any ever female artist for the UK awards: British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act, MasterCard British Album of the Year, British Single of The Year, and British Video of The Year. In addition, she has also been just named as the top streamed female artist of 2017, according to Spotify. Her self-proclaimed “dark-pop” genre has transcended internationally as a voice of female empowerment and confidence.
In black trainers and a reflective silver mini dress, Dua took charge of the stage commanding the audience to go absolutely nuts as she performed singles from her self-titled album. Beginning with “Hotter Than Hell,” psychedelic red lights bathed over her and her fans as a live band amped up the crowd. Each following track had its own element, including the upbeat collab with Miguel “Lost In Your Light,” and the subversively intoxicating “Scared To Be Lonely” with Martin Garrix. Inside the modest but modern Mastercard house, fans of all demographics were singing along word by word and dancing beat by beat.
After the fan loved tracks “Blow Your Mind (mwah)” and the single that launched her career, “Be The One,” Lipa performed the track from her latest released music video “IDGAF” prefaced by a caution advisory warning the audience of explicit content; and like her video (directed by the iconic Henry Scholfield in collaboration with Stromae), the artist displayed her divided emoted state of letting go and sense of female self-love and independence, carving herself as a strong yet stylish singer. Concluding her headline would be no other than the number one anthem on the charts, “New Rules,” and considerably the most valiant move in forging her path into stardom. The lines “If you’re under him, you ain’t getting over him.” could be heard blaring throughout the venue, with every girl and guy screaming the post-action breakup rule. The tune of tropical and EDM nonchalance of “New Rules” fully embodied Dua Lipa’s unique and uncontrived character that has everyone falling in love with her.
