Dua Lipa

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24 Feb 2024

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa, born on August 22, 1995, is a renowned English and Albanian singer and songwriter known for her distinctive voice and disco-influenced production. Her talent has earned her widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including six Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards.

Before making her mark in the music industry, Lipa worked as a model. However, her true passion lay in music, leading her to sign a recording contract with Warner Bros. in 2014. Her career took off with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2017, which reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. The album featured hit singles like "Be the One," "IDGAF," and the chart-topping "New Rules," which became a sensation in the UK and beyond. Lipa's success was further solidified with multiple Brit Awards, including British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

Continuing her streak of hits, Lipa collaborated with Calvin Harris on the chart-topping single "One Kiss," which became the best-selling song of 2018 and earned her another Brit Award for Song of the Year. The following year, she received two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording for her track "Electricity" with Silk City.

In 2020, Lipa released her highly anticipated second album, "Future Nostalgia," which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. The album garnered critical acclaim and earned Lipa the Brit Award for British Album of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Its lead single, "Don't Start Now," achieved immense success, becoming the longest-running top-ten hit for a British female artist on the UK Singles Chart. The album's subsequent singles, including "Physical," "Break My Heart," and "Levitating," also topped charts worldwide and solidified Lipa's status as a pop icon.

In addition to her musical achievements, Lipa made her acting debut in the film "Barbie" (2023), where she contributed to the soundtrack with the single "Dance the Night," which topped the UK charts. With her remarkable talent and versatility, Dua Lipa continues to captivate audiences worldwide and establish herself as one of the leading figures in contemporary music.

Dua Lipa, born in London, is the eldest child of Kosovo Albanian parents, Anesa (née Rexha) and Dukagjin Lipa, hailing from Pristina, FR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo). Raised in a Muslim household, Lipa's maternal grandmother is of Bosniak descent. Her family's roots can be traced back to Peja, Kosovo, with both of her grandfathers being historians. She has a sister named Rina and a brother named Gjin.

Lipa's musical journey was heavily influenced by her father, who was the lead singer and guitarist of the Kosovan rock band Oda. Growing up, she was exposed to various genres of music, including the works of artists such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Radiohead, thanks to her father's musical tastes. Lipa began singing at the age of five, showcasing her passion for music from a young age.

Despite facing initial challenges with her singing abilities, Lipa continued to pursue her passion for music. She attended Fitzjohn's Primary School, where she also learned to play the cello. Despite being told she couldn't sing by a teacher when she auditioned for the school choir, Lipa persevered and began weekend singing lessons at the Sylvia Young Theatre School at the age of nine.

In 2008, Lipa and her family moved to Pristina following Kosovo's declaration of independence. There, she attended Mileniumi i Tretë School and further immersed herself in Albanian culture and language, contemplating a career in music.

At the age of 15, Lipa returned to London alone and lived with a family friend. She completed her A-Levels at Parliament Hill School and re-entered the Sylvia Young Theatre School part-time. During this time, she began showcasing her musical talents by uploading cover songs to platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. Lipa's modeling endeavors, including working with Topshop, helped her gain visibility, leading to roles such as a "singer" in an ITV advertisement for The X Factor in 2013, where she covered the song "Lost in Music."

With the support of a producer and manager, Lipa continued to hone her craft and pave her way in the music industry, setting the stage for her remarkable rise to international fame as a singer and songwriter.

In 2013, while working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, Dua Lipa signed a contract with Tap Management, helmed by Ben Mawson and Ed Millett. Lipa's lawyer, after dissuading her from signing another publishing deal, introduced her to Mawson, who saw her potential and offered her a monthly salary to focus on recording music full-time. During this period, Lipa co-wrote the song "Hotter than Hell," which caught the attention of industry insiders.
This pivotal moment led to Lipa securing a record deal with Warner Bros. Records in 2014. Millett explained that Lipa's decision to sign with Warner Bros. was strategic, as the label was seeking a prominent female pop artist at the time, giving Lipa the support and focus of the team from the outset.

In August 2015, Lipa released her debut single, "New Love," produced by Emile Haynie and Andrew Wyatt. Following the success of her first single, Lipa dropped her second single, "Be the One," in October 2015. The song achieved widespread acclaim across Europe, reaching number one in Belgium, Poland, and Slovakia, while also charting in the top ten in numerous other European countries. Additionally, "Be the One" gained traction in Australia and New Zealand, achieving significant airplay success.

By November 2015, Lipa's burgeoning talent and rising popularity were acknowledged when she was included in the BBC Sound of... 2016 long list, further solidifying her status as a promising artist on the rise.