Radical Optimism (noun): “a philosophy that argues for looking at the good in every part of life, based on reason and evidence.”

More notably, it is the namesake of British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa’s third studio album.

Released on May 3, 2024, this album continues to bolster Lipa’s portfolio of addictive and dance-worthy pop music. Following the success of her hit song “Dance the Night” for Greta Gerwig’s summer blockbuster “Barbie,” this album was released at the perfect time to remind audiences that Lipa has created a strong and lasting place for herself in the pop music sphere.

Since the release of her first singles “New Love” and “Be the One” in 2015 and her self-titled debut album “Dua Lipa” in 2017, Lipa’s climb to success has been a straight line forward. While her transatlantic success didn’t come until 2018, it didn’t take long for her distinct sound to become a worldwide hit.

Now, after almost 10 years and countless accolades — including a few Grammys and Brit Awards — ”Radical Optimism” has ushered in a new era of Lipa’s career.

With the first single off the album “Houdini” being released in November of 2023, Lipa set the stage early on for the sound of the new album. The distinct synth-meets-electronica beats accompanied by seductive vocals gave audiences a first look at what they could expect.

Flash forward to February 2024, Lipa released the second single from the album “Training Season.” The sound and feel of the album continued to take shape with another installment of addictive beats and melodies.

The last stop before the full album debuted was her single “Illusion.” Released on April 11, 2024, the song once again featured a plethora of electronica beats that continued to hone in on a club-worthy, dance-party style.

However, after one listen to the full tracklist, it is evident Lipa came to prove that she could make more than just party music.

The album begins with the song, aptly titled, “End of an Era.” While the song sounds to be focused on the end of a relationship and moving on to something new, the placement and title of the song in this album could also serve as the singer’s way of letting go of her past projects and welcoming a new generation of her sound.

Other notable tracks include “These Walls,” “French Exit” and “Maria,” all of which encapsulate the duality of Lipa, helping break up the beat-heavy singles that she first introduced audiences to.

“A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term ‘radical optimism.’… It struck me–the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm,” Lipa explained in a press statement when she first announced the album.

Shortly after the album’s release, Lipa served double duty on Saturday Night Live where she was both the host and musical guest.

The singer was also featured on TIME’s list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2024: a statement and honor fit for the star that Dua Lipa embodies.

Madeline Combs can be reached at comb5953@stthomas.edu.