Exclusive | Dua Lipa on Pride, healing a broken heart and her favourite LGBTQ artists
We caught up with pop's new princess to get a handle on a few of her favourite things...
There are only so many ways that you can break up the day during lockdown, especially when you’ve already spent the morning stood at your window, staring at the sun-kissed views yonder, quietly muttering, “Freedom”, to yourself.
So, Attitude seized the opportunity to have a quick natter with Britain’s biggest pop star: yes, Dua Lipa. Fresh from scoring her first UK number-one album with her bop-laden sophomore effort, Future Nostalgia, the singer jumped on the phone to tell us about a few of her favourite things.
These ranged from 24-year-old Dua’s fave LGBTQ artists, and her most cherished memories of performing at Pride, to her very random celebrity crush and her go-to Jess Glynne song. All will be explained…
Let’s kick off with: favourite way to get through lockdown?
Binge-watching TV shows. I feel like I’ve watched every show under the sun, so I’m about to run out. [I just watched] The Sinner, series three.
No pressure with this next question… favourite song of ALL TIME?
Oh. My. God. That’s so hard.
We didn’t say this was going to be easy, Dua.
F***, I really can’t choose one… ‘Clint Eastwood’ by Gorillaz is one of my favourite songs, but then also ‘All Good Things (Come to an End)’ by Nelly Furtado, and ‘Promiscuous Girl’ is a f***ing bop. There is no way [I can pick one].
Let’s narrow it down a bit. Favourite song to cry along to?
‘All Good Things’ by Nelly! It’s such a real and beautiful song – why do all good things come to an end? You could be the happiest person in the world, then that song comes on and you’re like [pretends to get emosh]: ‘But what if?!’
We’re partial to listening to the Titanic instrumental theme tune, especially on the night Tube home. It’s guaranteed to get the tears going.
Just the instrumental?! That kills me [laughs]. So funny [starts singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’].
Oh god, we’re actually choking up now…
Bless you [laughs].
On the flipside, what is your favourite song to lift you up when you’re feeling down?
‘Disco Tits’ by Tove Lo. It says it [all] in the name. It gets you up and dancing. A lot of fun.
Favourite LGBTQ artist?
Kim Petras. I really like ‘Heart To Break’, such a good song. But then, wait! Can I take it back? I love Kim, but then my baby, Sam Smith!
New Rules (hehe) – we’re going to let you have two answers. What is it about Sam?
I just love them so much: their voice; the way they write; the person that they are and what they stand for. They’re beautiful. I’m trying to pick my favourite Sam song… ‘I’m Not The Only One’ is a heart-breaker.
Favourite drag queen?
When I went to a drag club in New York, Tina Burner was there [laughs].
Favourite diva?
Whitney Houston, the ultimate diva. Her voice and the power it held, and the way the songs make you feel… I’m such a fan of hers.
Favourite place to write?
In the studio, but it has to be bright and airy with lots of windows. I like to write during the day, I’m not such a big fan of, like, dark studios with purple lighting.
Favourite place to escape to? We’re all going to want to escape somewhere when the lockdown is lifted.
Oh my God, anywhere I can sit with all my friends. I love to do big group holidays – we had an amazing trip in Miami over New Year’s, where we barely even left the house. Anywhere sunny, so Ibiza, or Miami, or Italy.
Favourite date spot?
My boyfriend [Anwar Hadid] took me on a whole Malibu trip and we had a picnic on the beach – right now, that seems so unattainable. In quarantine, it’s like dates to the kitchen, playing Uno and making cheese boards. That’s about the extent of date night.
Favourite swear word?
“F***!”
Very appropriate for the f***ery of the situation we find ourselves in, eh?
Total f***ery.
Favourite possession? You can’t say laptop, iPhone or iPad.
I have necklaces from my family, or from my boyfriend, and I always have one around my neck, something that reminds me of home and the people that I love. Those are my prized possessions.
Favourite item in your wardrobe?
It changes, but I have these thigh-high boots…
Us too! OK, favourite way to unwind and de-stress?
Bath, a face mask and a good movie or a book.
Favourite Disney princess, or villain?
Ursula. When I watched A Little Mermaid, she was my favourite character. She was so scary and devilish, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Such a sea witch!
Favourite smell?
Freshly cut grass.
Favourite way to get, ahem, Physical? See what we did there?
[Laughs] Erm… at the moment I’ve been doing FaceTime workouts with my friends and that’s been fun.
Aren’t burpees the work of the devil? The amount of times we’ve accidently slammed our heads on the floor rather than our chest.
I hate burpees! I totally agree, they are the work of the devil.
Moving on to a different kind of pain… favourite way to get over heartbreak?
Going out with your friends and getting so drunk that you can’t remember the fact you were even heartbroken to begin with!
Favourite drink?
A spicy margarita is always my go-to. That goes down so easily and when you’ve had your fourth one, that’s when the party really starts.
That leads nicely onto: favourite hangover cure?
Eating whatever junk food I can get my hands on.
We highly recommend eating a banana.
Banana?! That’s the last thing I want when I’m hungover! Crisps, chocolate, baked beans on toast… that kind of vibe.
Crying into a pillow also helps.
Stop [Laughs].
Favourite celebrity crush?
Ricky Gervais.
Wait, what? Really?!
[Laughs] Yeah, he’s just so funny. It’s the personality, that’s the winner for me.
Moving on… favourite emoji?
At the moment it’s the full moon emoji. Very Future Nostalgia.
Speaking of Future Nostalgia, what is your favourite era from the past?
The noughties. I was born in 1995, but I love that era so much and I wish I got to live through more of it at an older age. We had all of the fun games, TV shows and pop stars, like the Spice Girls.
Favourite memory, childhood or otherwise?
Putting on belly tops, playing P!nk and making up dance routines.
This is a biggie: favourite moment of your career thus far?
It’s hard to choose one. Can I say a couple?
Sure, go for it.
Performing at Glastonbury in 2017, just after my [debut] album had come out, on the John Peel stage. That was a major highlight. Performing ‘New Rules’ at the BRIT Awards and picking up Best British Female and Best British Breakthrough, and the Grammys.
Favourite showbiz encounter, for all the right or wrong reasons?
Erm…
Don’t suppose you’ve bumped into Ricky Gervais?
No, not yet [laughs].
Favourite moment from Pride? You obviously performed at Birmingham Pride and also Mardi Gras in Sydney earlier this year.
Honestly, when I perform at Pride, the performances go by like they’re 30 seconds long. The energy is crazy and everyone is so sweaty, it’s just an absolute blast – I mean, you know? It’s everything that comes with it. It’s my favourite ever.
Favourite Jess Glynne song?
I don’t know [laughs]. Erm… s***… ‘Rather Be’?
The context behind that question is that Jess didn’t know the name of your new album or how to say your name. Your fans were not happy.
That’s so random. Why was she talking about me?
She was doing a fan Q&A on her socials.
Ah, well, that’s alright…
Dua Lipa’s album ‘Future Nostalgia’ is out now.