Even when the mood dips, you can expect Dua Lipa’s euphoric pop to land back on the bright side eventually. After her 2017 self-titled debut established her as an outspoken, effortlessly cool face of pop’s future on airy tracks like “New Rules”, 2020’s Future Nostalgia and its funky calling card “Don’t Start Now” provided a uniting force of positivity at the dawn of global lockdowns. Her nonchalant confidence has made her a versatile collaborator with everyone from DJ superstar Calvin Harris (2018’s “One Kiss”) to reggaetón royalty J Balvin (2021’s “UN DIA [ONE DAY]”), and 2023’s Barbie-inspired hit “Dance the Night” built naturally upon her savvy disco revisionism. By the time of 2024’s Radical Optimism, Lipa had her absolute pick of creative partners—and she chose Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. While their team-up retains the glide and snap of classic dance pop on “Houdini” and “Illusion”, the lyrics probe deeper into her personal experience, bringing an unmistakable glint of honesty to diva-level pop radiance.