© Instagram.com/dualipa
Beauty
Dua Lipa talks about her favourite scent, overcoming obstacles and the artists that are inspiring her now
“For me, when I choose a fragrance it becomes my everyday fragrance, something that I feel describes me the best,” shares Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa isn’t just setting new rules with her music (which got her two Grammy wins in 2019), she’s doing it by not backing down from what she believes in. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter, born to Albanian parents and brought up in London, says, “I never like to compromise on things that feel true to me, I have a clear idea of the way I see myself and what I want to do in my career.” A pop star with a purpose, she wants her fans to “be fearless and bold”. The face of Yves Saint Laurent’s new scent, Dua Lipa talks about what makes her feel invincible and inspired.
On her music style
“My father was a musician and my parents liked to listen to a lot of British rock, and I loved pop music. When I was 11 years old, I moved to Kosovo and everyone there listened to hip hop, and I learnt to love all kinds of music. My whole upbringing in music set the foundations for how I like to present my music now—as a mixture of so many different genres, free of any boundaries. So yes, I am a pop artist, but I don’t want that to box me in. I want to be diverse in the sounds that I create and I want it to be constantly evolving.”
On overcoming obstacles
“There have been lots of ups and downs. With every career, you have to start at the bottom to really appreciate it when things start happening. I have done countless shows with just ten people in the audience but I am grateful for that, because now I have something to measure success by. From puffing a few songs online, to trying to set up meetings with people who could help, to going into the studio, it's been a long journey and to see it flourishing now is an incredible and irreplaceable feeling.”
On her favourite time of the day
“The best time for me to create [music] is in the morning. I like to wake up, have breakfast and go straight to the studio. I feel like my brain works a lot better during the day.”
On the artists that inspire her
“My whole life I have been very inspired by strong female artists like Pink, Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys. I love the way they have remained authentic and that is what I aspire to be in my career.”
On performing live
“It's the craziest feeling to explain—a mix of adrenaline and excitement and nerves and butterflies. It’s like the first time you fall in love with someone, and you get really excited. That's how I feel before going on stage. And when I'm on stage I feel invincible. Like nothing in the world matters, it’s just all about that emotion, telling the story, connecting with my fans. I have a really lovely band and team of girls who are on stage with me, and it’s just nice to share that energy together.”
On her advice to her teenage self
“That it’s all going to be okay, dreams do come true regardless of all the things that might go wrong. And don't let boys be mean to you. It takes a little bit of time to find the confidence that’s already inside you, but you'll find it.”
On what inspires her the most about people
“Compassion. Kindness. An ability to keep a strong mind, being patient, and still showing love in spite of things not going the way they were planned. Without these qualities there’s no hope for us as a society, or culture. It’s always nice to see people treating others equally and with love. Everyone has a different journey and we should always take the lime to learn about the people around us.”
On women's freedom
“Women for a very long time have been oppressed by the media. What’s happening now at the moment is sort of revolutionary—we stand up for what we believe in, what we feel comfortable in doing, what rings true for us, and what makes us proud of ourselves. We live life by our own rules.”
On being the face of Yves Saint Laurent Libre
“For me, when I choose a fragrance it becomes my everyday fragrance, something that I feel describes me the best. With Libre, I feel it sits well with me, feels natural, and smells really good. I love the juxtaposition between the lighter, more feminine scent and the way it’s mixed with a flower (orange blossom) that’s generally used in a male fragrance—like it's a floral scent with stronger accents. It’s a really cool way to break the rules but still keeps its classic touch.”
On her message to her fans
“I would like to inspire them to be fearless, bold, never take no for an answer and to always follow their dreams and to be nice.”
As told to Sanjana Salunkhe
Also read:
Dua Lipa on her break-up anthem, musical influences and what Miley Cyrus smells like
