Pop disco princess Dua Lipa radiates through sold-out LA concert
Photo courtesy of Kia Forum; Photo by Timothy Norris
Dua Lipa brought together an audience of all ages and backgrounds to her four sold-out shows at Kia Forum in early October as part of her Radical Optimism Tour. With this tour, Lipa ushered in a new wave of pop-disco while breaking the typical mold of a conventional pop star.
The 30-year-old pop star had a grassroots early career by posting covers on YouTube and Soundcloud. Later recognized by her raw talent, she was signed to Warner Music Group, where she gained traction to catapult into fame.
The three-time Grammy winner commanded the stage, framed by sweeping feathered fans and a dozen impeccably synchronized dancers. Lipa created a harmonious symphony, from “Training Season” to “Electricity,” but most exhilarating were her culminating vocals in “Falling Forever.”
Photo courtesy of Permanent Press Media; Photo by Madison Phipps
The performance was not only beautifully synchronized in vocals but also featured carefully tailored choreography.
Photo Courtesy of Permanent Press Media; Photo by Madison Phipps
The audience included couples, mothers and young children, all drawn in by Lipa’s ability to provide a concert as an extension of her music, rather than an over-the-top spectacle that often leaves audiences desensitized to the music. Many pop performances today rely heavily on pyrotechnics, which in turn causes audiences not to experience the emotional artistry behind the music that brought them there to begin with, but not with Lipa; she keeps her songs at the core of every concert.
“I’ve been waiting eight years for this moment. First, it was COVID, then just the things happening in life,” said a member of the crowd as Lipa made her way down through the barricaded first row. Through sweet interactions with the crowd, she did not cease to invoke true emotion.
There was a distinct image I’ll carry from the show, and it was that of a mother and daughter leaning on each other’s shoulders and rocking side to side to the sound of “Be the One.” The connectivity of Lipa’s music allowed the audience to really feel the rhythm of her songs.
There are many artists who can make music, but not many who can embody and transmit authenticity through song. Combining Lipa’s otherworldly tendency to make every song a hit and every sound groovy, she’s earned the name of pop disco princess and created a category of her own.
As artists are signed, it is common practice that their branding visuals become augmented and tailored by what needs to be portrayed to the public, but not with Dua Lipa. Back in 2018, when she performed at Bayfront Park Amphitheatre in Miami with an audience of just 10,000 people, she exhibited the same disco exuberance we saw at Kia Forum, which brought an audience of 70,000 across all four nights.