Not an Illusion: Dua Lipa Returns With Clubby New Single ‘Houdini’

Brittany Spanos
·2 min read
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dua-lipa-houdini-single.jpg dua-lipa-houdini-single - Credit: Tyrone Lebon*
dua-lipa-houdini-single.jpg dua-lipa-houdini-single - Credit: Tyrone Lebon*

Dua Lipa is here for a good time — and not a long time — on her anticipated new single “Houdini.” The track hints at the psychedelic approach the singer is taking on her upcoming third album.

Lipa enlisted a stacked lineup of collaborators for the track, including Danny L Harle and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. She also worked with songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. and longtime songwriting partner Caroline Ailin, with whom she co-wrote “New Rules” and “Don’t Start Now.”

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The end result is a funk-disco party where Lipa admits to being a bit slippery in relationships: “I’m not here for long/Catch me or I go/Houdini,” she sings on the chorus. Toward the end, the song twists into a key change, leading into a hypnotic synth solo.

For the video, Lipa burns up the dance floor in a rehearsal room, lending to the song’s future dance-floor domination. She begins by having a dance-off with herself in the mirror before a crew of dancers with matching red hair joins her on the floor. As the song’s electrifying outro kicks up, Lipa takes to the floor on her own once again.

Lipa released her sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, in 2020, soon after the world entered lockdown for a pandemic. The intergalactic-disco LP ended up being one of the biggest of the year, spawning hits like “Levitating” and “Physical.” She expanded the album as a deluxe edition and later an extended club mix in collaboration with the Blessed Madonna. Lipa finally toured in support of the album in 2022.

She has released numerous singles in the time since, including collaborations with Megan Thee Stallion and Elton John. This year, she had a solo hit with “Dance the Night” off the Barbie soundtrack. She also made her acting debut in the blockbuster as well.

Lipa has yet to announce the title or release date for her third album. In celebration of “Houdini,” she’ll host fan events in London, Los Angeles, and Tokyo over the next couple of weeks.

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