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It was November 2023 when I first met Ana Castela. She was backstage at Caldas Country, the festival in Caldas Novas in the Brazilian state of Goiás. At the time, she avoided speaking to the press before her show and seemed serious and shy as she prepared to take the stage. It was only her second time at the festival — just over a year had passed since her name first appeared in the media thanks to her song “Pipoco,” a collaboration with Melody and DJ Chris no Beat. Yet she was one of the main attractions of the night.
Nine months passed before I met Castela for the second time. This time, though still a bit shy, she was at one of the world’s biggest music festivals — Rock in Rio — to join duo Chitãozinho and Xororó for the “Brazil Day” celebration, the first in the event’s 40-year history. “For me, it was an honor. I consider them my grandparents,” she joked in her dressing room at Cidade do Rock, embraced by the sertanejo duo. Castela still seemed nervous about her upcoming performance, but she projected a new confidence, amplified once she took the stage. She faced a crowd singing along to her hits (“Nosso Quadro,” “Solteiro Forçado” and “Sinônimos”), including children of all ages wearing headbands with her nickname, “Boiadeira.”
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Born in Amambai, Mato Grosso do Sul, Ana Castela certainly couldn’t have imagined the success she would achieve by embracing the “boiadeira” style. Dressed in a cowboy hat, boots and a wide belt (much as an American cowgirl might), her so-called “agronejo” music blends sertanejo (Brazilian country music) and Brazilian funk, with lyrics about the agribusiness lifestyle. She is now one of the most listened-to artists in Brazil — a title she’s consistently held throughout 2024 — who as of this writing had two songs on the Billboard Brasil Hot 100 and spent 31 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Artists 25 Brazilian chart.
She entered the music scene at 17 but is still, at 21, trying to absorb the whirlwind of her life. “It was a drastic change, to be honest,” she says. “Before, I had a completely anonymous life. Now, people want to know everything about me, follow me around. It’s changed a lot.” Speaking to Billboard Brasil, she is still very much the girl from a countryside farm, pausing occasionally as if she is still trying to reconcile who she was and who she is today: “I’m enjoying the fruits that fame and the world are giving me, but always with caution.”
Ana Castela photographed for Billboard Brazil Global No. 1s Issue.
João Victor Moura dos Anjos
She’s followed by over 27 million people on social media, where she offers fun looks at her personal life — a Disney vacation, cute videos with her boyfriend, the singer Gustavo Mioto — and she’s starred in various commercials and advertising campaigns. “Ô loco [Wow],” she marvels. “Doors just keep opening for me. I never thought my face would be on a shoebox. It doesn’t just help my career; it makes dreams come true that I never even imagined. It’s awesome.”
But her feelings around her wildly increased presence are also conflicted. “My life is no longer mine. I don’t have a private life anymore; everyone knows everything I do,” she laments, though she adds that she’s getting used to it. When I ask if she’s receiving any professional support, Castela says that she started therapy about a month ago: “I think no mind is strong enough to go without a professional for so long.”
She knows the truth of that firsthand. At a performance at the Festa do Peão de Barretos in 2023, one of the most important sertanejo festivals in the country, she broke down while preparing to sing “Solteiro Forçado,” one of her breakthrough hits. “Sorry I can’t sing,” she sobbed in front of a massive crowd. “I swear I’m studying and working with a vocal coach to improve. It’s exhausting as hell, but I’m giving it my all.” Backstage, it was equally tough. “I was in a bad headspace,” she recalls.
Excessive work, plus the overwhelming experience of her fame, had taken a toll on her emotionally. “I couldn’t hit the note that day — I was so insecure,” she says. Criticism from both the public and within herself fueled her drive to improve. “You need to evolve. I was born with the gift of singing, but I need to perfect it.”
Therapy, her Christian faith and her family — an unconditional support system — now help her cope. She also strives to balance the needs of Ana Flávia (her real first name) and Ana Castela. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends at her farm in Londrina, Paraná, and visiting São Paulo for shopping. “Those are the days I can just be young,” she jokes, as if on others she must be a more mature version of herself.
Ana Castela photographed for Billboard Brazil Global No. 1s Issue.
João Victor Moura dos Anjos
Her latest project, Herança Boiadeira, released in September 2024, embodies this balance. Recorded at her farm, it features collaborations with iconic sertanejo artists like Matogrosso & Mathias, Eduardo Costa, Paula Fernandes and Gino & Geno. “I wanted it to be mine — not Ana Castela’s, but Ana Flávia’s. A tribute to my roots, my upbringing on the farm. My grandfather loved these artists, and so did I,” she explains. In fact, one standout track features her paternal grandparents: “Minha Herança,” with its heartfelt lyrics reflecting a longing for lost time.
Next year, Castela will step into the shoes of iconic artists before her when she becomes the ambassador of the 70th Festa do Peão de Barretos, where she quickly has risen from playing a secondary stage in 2022 to the main stage in 2023 and again in 2024. Pedro Muzeti, artistic director of the festival, says Castela’s evolution represents the future of sertanejo music: “It’s a renewal of the rodeo audience. Having someone young represent such a historic event is fitting.”
Her appeal to younger fans is certainly evident in the kids who wear her signature hats (“They’re adorable; I love them,” Castela says), and she’s launching Turma da Boiadeirinha, a YouTube channel featuring kids songs. But her future, she realizes, very much revolves around an adult audience. She’s collaborated with big names like Gusttavo Lima and Luan Santana and dreams of pairing up with Luísa Sonza and Anitta. And after winning best sertanejo album at the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards, Castela has her sights set on an international audience next.
“If it works, I’ll go for it,” she says. In 2025, she plans to incorporate pop into her shows but stay true to her roots: “I’ll always bring my hat wherever I go,” she insists. “It’s important to show the strength of our music on the global stage.”
K-pop powerhouse Rosé has stormed the ARIA Albums Chart with her debut solo album, Rosie, landing at No. 2 and equaling her highest-charting success in Australia as part of BLACKPINK with The Album and Born Pink.
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Rosé’s lead single, “APT.” featuring Bruno Mars, isn’t letting go of its grip either. The track continues its impressive run at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart for a sixth non-consecutive week, well and truly marking its place as one of 2024’s biggest hits. Her newest offering, “Toxic Till the End,” debuts at No. 31, boosted by a cinematic music video starring Gossip Girl’s Evan Mock.
Taylor Swift’s chart reign Down Under shows no signs of slowing down, with The Tortured Poets Department holding strong at No. 1 for a seventh non-consecutive week. That’s a record-breaking run for 2024, nudging past Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, which spent six weeks on top earlier this year.
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It’s yet another triumph for Swift in Australia, where she continues to shatter records. The Tortured Poets Department is now her 11th No. 1 album down under, more than any other female artist.
The album also pulled in the biggest opening week of the year, moving over 100,000 units, and set a new high for the most first-day Spotify streams in Australia.
Sabrina Carpenter keeps her streak alive as well, with Short n’ Sweet holding at No. 3. But she’s also bringing the holiday spirit, as her festive EP Fruitcake debuts at No. 59. The release features a playful Christmas version of her hit “Nonsense,” which hit No. 23 last year.
In a surprise comeback, Aussie hip-hop legends Bliss N Eso cracked the charts with their 2004 debut album, Flowers In The Pavement, appearing for the very first time at No. 46. Nearly two decades since its release, the record’s resurgence proves the trio’s lasting legacy, furthered by their three No. 1 albums over the years.
Meanwhile, the Christmas classics are creeping back into the mix as the holidays approach. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” climbs to No. 8, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” jumps to No. 10, and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” shakes up the chart at No. 16.
The ARIA charts are a melting pot of heavyweights and holiday hits, with Taylor Swift still calling the shots, Rosé carving her solo path, and timeless anthems ringing in the festive season. The question now? Can anyone knock Swift off her throne, or will The Tortured Poets Department keep rewriting the record books?
When Cai Xukun — the 26-year-old Chinese singer-songwriter better known as KUN — began working on his smash single “Afterglow,” he wanted to capture fleeting moments of change by connecting time and space with art and fashion. “I pondered for a long time about what kind of word could represent this imagery and mood,” he says. “Finally, the word ‘afterglow’ came to mind. We often see this scenery during various travel moments — including while driving; it represents our feelings in that instant. I chose this theme and combined it with some of the images in my mind: models on the runway, flashing lights, shifting time and space and changing people.”
“Afterglow” immediately connected with audiences. On its release day in early June, the song achieved a score of over 95 on the Tencent Music Uni Chart, which aggregates data from nine major platforms and over 100 radio stations. The song remained on the chart for 10 weeks and became the fastest song to receive gold certification on the Tencent chart; it also made the June edition of the Tencent Music Wave Chart, which is voted on by over 200 Chinese music industry professionals. That success has informed his selection as China’s representative for Billboard’s Global No. 1s, as chosen jointly by Tencent Music Chart and Billboard China.
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KUN created “Afterglow” with soul and rock sounds, and his integration of modern and classic production influences helped to give the song a timeless feel. And the song’s success marks the beginning of a new musical phase for KUN. “In my upcoming works, I will include some classic or modern elements,” he says. “I hope everyone can gradually sense a recognizable style in my music.”
In fact, several new singles KUN released in 2024 represent his fresh musical explorations. For instance, “Remedy” features clean piano sounds paired with a vintage vocal style, revealing his more minimalist side. It also reflects his listening habits: “I often enjoy classic songs, especially in quiet moments alone, listening to music and savoring that dialogue with myself,” he says.
While his previous works were warmer, KUN’s 2024 release “RIDE OR DIE” introduces a sound that’s new for him. “This song serves as a signal I’m conveying, heralding a transformation in my future musical style,” he says. “I believe it is essential to present something distinct to my audience, which has always been my aspiration. Consequently, the production process for ‘RIDE OR DIE’ extended over a considerable period and traversed numerous iterations, aiming to express the ‘stormy night’ concept that has long resided in my heart.”
KUN photographed for the Billboard China Global No. 1s Issue.
Tianyao Wang/Billboard China
Looking ahead, KUN plans to continue to expand his online live concept Art Lab, chronicling his growth and reflecting his changes from year to year — while strengthening his connections with audiences. “I can feel their enthusiasm, and they can feel my energy,” he says of his live performances. As time progresses, KUN is learning to “enjoy the process,” he adds. “Whether you genuinely enjoy the experience or merely fulfill a task can yield entirely different results. I believe that embracing this journey is paramount.”
Now, KUN is relishing a journey of “accumulation.” He’s preparing for a long journey ahead and accumulating new musical energy that he plans to direct toward producing more great songs. “This year, through the process of production and performance, I have engaged in numerous discussions and collaborations with various artists, which have profoundly influenced my personal perspectives and aesthetics,” he says. “Next year is likely to be a year where I unveil the fruits of my introspection.”
As Chinese artists increasingly gain international acclaim, KUN believes that the intersection of music across diverse cultures transcends language and geography, fostering cultural exchange. “I aspire for more individuals globally to experience music that is authentically ours as Chinese,” he says. “This has consistently been my ambition.”
In the world of electronic dance music, the West has long led the way with its frequent collaborations, driving technical advancements and making electronic music culture popular worldwide. Inspired by Western electronic music culture, ZHANGYE, in collaboration with Cyanhill Music, has created the CHINA EDM Vol.1 compilation, marking a new chapter in Chinese electronic dance music.
This compilation features not only exclusive tracks from top producers such as BEAUZ, CORSAK, Panta.Q, and WILLIM, but also selects other tracks from hundreds of contributors, showcasing the diversity and vitality of Chinese electronic music.
The release of the CHINA EDM Vol.1 compilation is not only a summary of the development of Chinese electronic dance music, but also a new beginning. Crafted to international standards, it aims to promote the works of outstanding Chinese producers on the world stage. On Nov. 29, this musical feast was spectacularly staged at the Escape deLux nightclub in Amsterdam, Netherlands, under the theme of “CHINA EDM NIGHT,” marking a significant step in the global journey of Chinese electronic music.
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“CHINA EDM NIGHT” was an unprecedented performance featuring “Beats from the East,” bringing the rhythm of the Orient to the Western stage. This event was a live rendition of the CHINA EDM Vol.1 compilation and a significant showcase of Chinese electronic music culture to the world. The performance took place at the renowned Amsterdam nightclub Escape deLux, known for its unique atmosphere and high-quality music events.
To ensure that the “CHINA EDM NIGHT” performance garnered more attention in the Netherlands, the organizers put significant effort into promotion. Offline advertising reached close to 4,000 advertising spaces, including large billboards, metro stations, hotels and public notice boards, promoting the compilation, artists and the event activities comprehensively to ensure that the performance information reached every potential audience member.
The release of the CHINA EDM Vol.1 compilation and the staging of the “CHINA EDM NIGHT” performance mark a significant step for Chinese electronic dance music on the global stage. This is a collective showcase of Chinese electronic music producers, as well as an international dissemination of Chinese electronic music culture.
CORSAK
Courtesy of CORSAK
As Billboard Japan unveiled its 2024 year-end charts, the hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts — rapper R-Shitei (also known as R-rated) and DJ Matsunaga — land the No. 1 song of the year for the country, with their mega-hit “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” taking the top spot on the all-genre Japan Hot 100 chart (which applies six metrics to songs: physical sales, downloads, streaming, airplay, video views and karaoke). The high-octane track also tops the year-end Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan ranking by a huge margin after holding the No. 1 position for 24 weeks, the longest ever in the history of the chart that ranks songs from Japan that are listened to internationally. In total, “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” has dominated 12 year-end Billboard Japan roundups.
Amid the song’s success, Creepy Nuts have stayed extremely busy, traveling the world for festival performance dates while working on their new album. Billboard Japan caught up with the two artists as they wrapped their whirlwind year.
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How do you feel about the success of “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” on the year-end charts?
DJ Matsunaga: It kind of hasn’t really sunk in yet.
R-Shitei: Yeah, it’s like my brain hasn’t been able to keep up at this stage. I’m like, “Oh… Awesome…” (Laughs.) … Compared to the first half of the year, the reaction to our shows [helps bring it into perspective]… But I think we’re a lot more confused about it all than people might think.
DJ Matsunaga: It’s still hard to believe we’re at the top of any kind of ranking. (Looks at R-Shitei.) Right?
Still, after “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” became a global hit, your follow-up track, “Otonoke,” continues to do well: On Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart, it reached No. 1 five times (on the charts dated Oct. 19, Nov. 2, Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Dec. 14). You’ve been on a roll in 2024.
DJ Matsunaga: Wow…
R-Shitei: That’s amazing. Both “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” were written around the same time. We were working on the former when we had no idea that the latter would become such a hit. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” is a work we’re really proud of, but when we were making those songs, “Otonoke” was the one we felt the most confidence in. So when the year started and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” became pretty popular, I was like, “So people seem to like this a lot,” and “Well, we’re really proud of ‘Otonoke,’ too” when we released it. So I’m genuinely happy to see that people seem to accept “Otonoke” as well.
DJ Matsunaga: [The chart results are] too much of a blessing, so I don’t think it’s right to use it as a precedent…
R-Shitei: That’s true. It’s hard, isn’t it? Rankings can be both a source of encouragement and poison for artists.
DJ Matsunaga: For real.
R-Shitei: We’re happy and grateful, but don’t want to focus too much on that… Our goal isn’t to do well on the charts. It’s to keep updating our own definition of “good.” We’re making new songs with that in mind, too.
“How do you interpret chart rankings?” is a question we often ask various artists. In a recent interview, Ayase from YOASOBI said he’s now working with “a really fresh feeling” after becoming the No. 1 Artist of the Year on Billboard Japan’s Artist 100 ranking in 2023 with “Idol,” because a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga: What?!
DJ Matsunaga: The way he approaches music is completely different. When I first started out, it felt like the notion of making enough money to get by by doing hip-hop was just a pipe dream, so being able to make a living from hip-hop and quitting my part-time job was a huge weight off my shoulders. (Laughs.) Like, I don’t have to be chasing my dream while working part-time in my 30s, you know?
R-Shitei: That’s normal, and I’d still like it regardless, so I was vaguely thinking that I’d be doing hip-hop [like that in my 30s] when I first got started.
DJ Matsunaga: Yeah, we have proper respect for those who keep at it while working part-time jobs in their 30s.
R-Shitei: When I was able to make a living doing music, I thought I was really lucky… Now when you look around, [many hip-hop artists in Japan] are making a living and there are even hit songs… all of this, including the fact that hip-hop is so popular in Japan, makes me really happy.
DJ Matsunaga: I really agree.
R-Shitei: We never planned to make songs that would be listened to around the world. It’s really just about expressing what we want to get out and releasing the pent-up [feelings] we’ve been holding in, basically.
Tell us a bit more about “Otonoke.” How did you go about making it?
R-Shitei: Usually, I get the beat from Matsunaga and add my rap to it, but this time, because we made it around the same time as “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” I was like, “I’ll go to a completely different place by extension of the same mindset.” I was in a period where I wanted to make songs using a fundamental rhythm as the key, rather than language. And I thought that a non-verbal rhythm like “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” would be good. It was going to be the theme song for [the anime series] Dandadan, so I thought I’d try making it by using “Dandadan” as the starting rhythm, and decided to use the same rhyme as “Dandadan Dandadan” [in the intro] for the verse. I recorded something like scat that wasn’t really a language, sent it to Matsunaga and had him flesh out the track.
I see! So the rhyme came first.
R-Shitei: Right. So the sound that was going “Dandadan Dandadan” a cappella became more and more like language, and then it became a slightly slower melody, and then a more bouncy melody, and so on. The rhythm stays the same, but the flavor changes. I’d only imagined it as a straight line climbing up, but Matsunaga expanded it horizontally with the track. The scenery changes suddenly when you get to the bridge that goes “Haireta Haireta,” and it’s because he really opened it up there during the scat stage, adding that completely different development. And the lyrics changed to “Haireta” (“I’m in”) at that point. I thought, “This feels like I’ve ‘gone in.’ ” Like, if I were a “specter of sound (oto no ke),” a music monster, I’d probably enter people’s brains through their ears at the moment when the scenery changes suddenly. So, words also appear during our back-and-forth.
DJ Matsunaga: What was good about this time was that I had the a cappella version, where R had already gone the distance with the same rhymes and prosody, so I was able to add crazy development to the track. No matter how much I changed it, the rap maintains the same groove as it develops, so the song doesn’t fall apart at all. He’d given me that kind of guarantee first, so I was able to make bold developments that wouldn’t ordinarily have been possible. I mean, it’s possible to make [tracks like that] at any time, but it’s not easy to make something that works beautifully after it’s done, even if you intend to make it that way.
You appeared at festivals in the United States, South Korea and Taiwan this year. What was the response like?
R-Shitei: There were moments when I could tell people knew our songs and were responding to them, and that made me really happy. And of course I feel it when people are really grooving and partying. But I think we’re only starting to understand how people really feel about us.
DJ Matsunaga: The main reason is that we haven’t done any tours. We’ve only appeared in events so far. Each country is completely different, and the audience in each country is also completely different, so it’s not like we can compare them…
R-Shitei: We don’t have enough data yet inside ourselves, right?
DJ Matsunaga: It feels like we’re still at the entry level. Even if we were talking about Japan, festivals that you’re invited to perform in are irregular spaces.
R-Shitei: Yeah.
DJ Matsunaga: So we can only get a real feel for it by doing our own tours while performing in those invited events, then adding up and dividing them.
What is your vision for the future?
R-Shitei: To make things feel good to me from the end of this year and on to the next, I need to focus on the things that are right in front of me… I’m in the middle of making an album, so my mind’s still on that. Rather than any kind of vision, I’m thinking about what I should do with the next bar or the next line, you know? I mean, just now…
DJ Matsunaga: Yeah, we were talking about it for a long time just now [before the interview].
R-Shitei: Yeah! We were coming up with themes and ideas nonstop, so I guess that’s the biggest thing occupying my mind right now. That’s exactly my vision for the future.
DJ Matsunaga: Me too. Ninety percent of my private life is like that. (Laughs.)
R-Shitei: Also, my way of thinking might have reverted to the way it was before. While the content of our songs has evolved a lot and we’ve grown from around 2013 to 2014 when Creepy Nuts began, it’s like… I can’t find the right words to describe it. But if you listen to the album, you might understand.
DJ Matsunaga: It’s like we’ve gone back a decade. We’ll lose our social position.
Lose your what?
R-Shitei: (Laughs.)
DJ Matsunaga: Our social position will go down. (Laughs.) I mean, when you do work and stand in front of people and appear in the media and advertising… When you branch out from just making music and become involved with people in companies, you inevitably have to take on social responsibilities. Now that we’ve returned to a lifestyle focusing on music, it feels like the irresponsibleness that I had before is back.
R-Shitei: If the stages in our career had continued to visibly rise in an easy-to-understand way like from 2020 to 2022, and we’d kept busy, constantly appearing in the media and so on, I probably would have felt that I should only say proper things. I might have just ended up trying to say good things in my songs. But we stopped doing that and just focused on the music and our expression and the things we like. As a result, I figured I might be able to express the bad and ugly parts of myself in an irresponsible way, which is something I used to think about when I first started rapping. Because the thing that makes hip-hop interesting to me is how it allows you to express the dirty stuff in its raw form.
DJ Matsunaga: That’s true. Express bad stuff like it is.
R-Shitei: As a listener you go, “Dude shouldn’t be saying that!” but the way it’s so bad and crazy makes it exciting as hip-hop. And then there’s “Dude says some good stuff once in a while, doesn’t he?” (Laughs.) So it’s a balance. It’s hard to express succinctly, but we’ve evolved in certain ways while still being like, “No way, we’re no good at all to begin with as human beings.” It’s about being able to go, “So what?” and expressing that as well next time.
DJ Matsunaga: It feels like we’ve regained the courage to do that.
R-Shitei: Feels like we got it back, doesn’t it?
DJ Matsunaga: That’s so true! We got it back and somehow… I’ve found a balance. It’s more natural and I actually feel more level-headed now.
HANABIE. is an all-woman nu-metal band made up of vocalist Yukina, guitarist and vocalist Matsuri, bassist and backup vocalist Hettsu, and drummer Chika. Although it’s been less than a year and a half since their debut, they were performing at overseas metal festivals even before they debuted, and in 2024 they played on the main stage at Lollapalooza, one of America’s “big three” outdoor festivals. Their momentum, especially overseas, knows no bounds. They spoke with Billboard Japan about their experiences around the world and about how it turned their attention to their hometown of Tokyo, the theme of their new EP, Bucchigiri Tokyo.
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First off, could you talk to us about Lollapalooza 2024, where you played in August?
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Matsuri: Lollapalooza is a super-famous festival, so at first we thought there was no way we’d actually be able to play there (laughs). We were jittery and restless all the way up until the actual day of the show.
Yukina: We’ve been very fortunate to be invited to play at metal festivals in lots of different countries, but Lollapalooza isn’t a metal festival, so we thought a lot about what to say and what to wear during the show. Hettsu stayed up late decorating the four platforms we stood on.
Hettsu: I went shopping for fabric with Chika. Not to sing my own praises too much, but I think the platforms turned out well, and they were a great match for the Lollapalooza stage (laughs). Also, for the first time at a HANABIE. show, we had a VJ, and for some of the songs we were projected up onto a huge screen.
Yukina: We also tossed some beach balls into the crowd and did some other things just for the show.
How did the success of the show affect the band?
Matsuri: It gave us a lot of confidence. Pulling off a big show like that was a great experience for the band. Also, we played during the daytime, so it sparked an ambition in us to make it even bigger and to one day perform in a later spot on the timetable. We also wanted to work even harder on our overseas shows.
Have you always been ambitious?
Matsuri: I don’t really think so.
Yukina: The more we play in different countries and in festivals in Japan, the more things we want to achieve.
Matsuri: We didn’t expect our music to connect with overseas audiences. Finding out that it connects gave us a lot of confidence. It made us want “more! more!”
You played at a few other overseas festivals after Lollapalooza. Have you gotten used to those kinds of shows?
Matsuri: Yes, we’re pretty used to them now. We’re gradually starting to get a picture of the different atmospheres at individual festivals in individual countries. Last year, every day was just like “This festival is amazing!”
Outside of festivals, you also did a roughly one-month-long tour of the U.S. together with Ukrainian metal band Jinjer and American deathcore band Born of Osiris.
Yukina: We played 19 shows in one month. It was like four days in a row, then a day off, and then repeat again, over the whole course of the tour. Jinjer’s performances had a lot of entertainment value. They were like watching a show. That influenced us, too, so we tried to be more expressive and to create an atmosphere for each song through our expressions, movements, and gestures.
Chika: Also, our individual performances came together and gelled.
Hettsu: Jinjer and Born of Osiris are both very technical bands, and they’re very locked in, so we focused more on getting ourselves locked in. That’s another way in which it was a really wonderful tour.
Matsuri: We’ve got the same sense of groove now, we push or pull the rhythm together. That was always an issue for us, but now we’re all starting to sync up, so I can really feel how we’ve grown.
After the tour with Jinjer, you did a tour in Australia, and now, having travelled the world, you’ve released a new album, Bucchigiri Tokyo. If it hadn’t been for your overseas experiences, you wouldn’t have chosen that name, would you?
Yukina: Right. Not just the title, but I don’t think we would have gone in the same direction with the songs, either.
Traveling to all these different places and meeting new people, you keep hearing “Japan’s great. Tokyo’s great.” So you rediscovered your pride and affection for where you’re from, right?
Yukina: Right. Partly because anime has such a huge presence that you take it for granted, I’d never really thought that deeply about Japanese culture, but through our world tour I found out how much people love Japanese culture. That opened up lines of communication, and I’ve come to feel really proud of our culture.
A lot of the songs on the new EP go pretty hard. “Bucchigiri Tokyo” is a surprisingly straightforward song.
Matsuri: So, about that song…I saw Green Day perform live for the first time at a festival in Europe. I’m a huge Green Day fan, so it was like a dream, being able to hear songs I’ve loved since I was little, all being performed live. That feeling stayed with us after the tour ended and we came back to Japan. We wrote “Bucchigiri Tokyo” about two days after we got back, still feeling that same spirit. I think that’s why that straightforward feeling comes through in the chorus riffs.
So the punk feel of the song comes from Green Day?
Matsuri: Right. Of course, it also has a lot of HANABIE. in it, but the mindset underneath comes from Green Day.
And then there’s “Ito Okashi My Type.”
Yukina: From that famous personality test…(laughs). It’s pretty popular now. Or, rather, it’s something that everybody’s interested in nowadays, so we decided to use it in a song. It’s well-known all around the world, not just Japan, so I think the song’s theme will resonate with people in any country. The song also has a kind of Heian era feel. A classical Japanese feel.
Matsuri: There are aspects of our modern age that share something in common with the Heian era, so we put them into our song, using a kind of pop approach.
There are artists who avoid referencing modern fads in their lyrics. You, on the other hand, actively try to do that, right? Don’t you worry about what will happen after those fads have passed?
Yukina: I don’t worry about it. It’s like the songs will age with us. We’re trying to create artistic output that’s super-fresh, in the way that only we can.
Matsuri: When we get older, there’s no way we’ll be able to do what we’re doing now, so we’ve got to do it while we can.
What kind of year do you think next year will be?
Yukina: It’s been almost a decade since our band formed. The one decade anniversary is a major milestone, so I want us to give ourselves a pat on the back and then be like, “Okay, now let’s give it our all again!” We’ve already been announced as playing at the German FWacken Open Air 2025 festival and some other festivals, so we want to really pump up the energy levels, both here in Japan and overseas!
—This interview by Daishi “DA” Ato first appeared on Billboard Japan
Wagakki Band’s Japan Tour 2024 THANKS – Yasou no Oto – came to a close on Dec. 10 at Tokyo Garden Theater. This year marks the eight-member group’s 10th anniversary, and in January it announced that the band would go on indefinite hiatus at the end of the year. With this tour, Wagakki Band will be putting its activities on hold for the time being. The band performed songs off its best-of album released in October, ALL TIME BEST ALBUM THANKS – Yasou no Oto -, with members conveying their gratitude to fans as the project’s title suggests and putting on a show representing the culmination of the decade of work together as a singular musical group.
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As the members appeared one by one to the opening music “Overture – Yasou no Oto -,” the audience already showed signs of excitement. Once the members were in place, the set kicked off with the sound of the koto (Japanese harp) and the powerful rhythm of the wadaiko (Japanese drums) leading into “Rokuchounen-To-Ichiyamonogatari (Re-Recording).” The ensemble captivated the audience with its intense arrangements, while still allowing the individuality of each instrument to shine through. Perhaps because this was their last show together before taking a break as a band, the seriousness with which the members approached this performance was palpable.
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Frontwoman Yuko Suzuhana (vocal) took a moment to hype up the crowd after the first number. “Today is the culmination of our 10th anniversary,” she said. “Everyone here, let’s all come together. Keep up!” The group then launched straight into “Valkyrie -Ikusa Otome-.” By this time, the members’ expressions had softened and it was clear they were trying to enjoy the show to the fullest. In their next track, “Aria of Life,” the band gradually built up the excitement in the venue with a performance featuring contrasts in tempo and emotive vocals.
“Today is probably a special day for you all, and it’ll be a special day for us too. Thank you for being here on this day that we’ll work together to create,” said Suzuhana. “Let’s all liven things up like a big year-end party.” The band then resumed the set with the serene track “Starlight (I vs I ver.).” The singer encouraged the audience to turn on the lights on their smartphones during “Queen of the Night” and the venue was bathed in dazzling light, creating a dreamy atmosphere combined with the dramatic music.
Midway through the show, the band members flaunted their colors during an instrumental section highlighting their musicianship. After Machiya (guitar & vocal) dazzled with a sparkling arpeggio followed by some percussive techniques, Kurona (wadaiko) joined in with his Oke Daiko (a kind of wadaiko) with a shoulder strap and Suzuhana performed a sword dance, creating an imaginative sight onstage. During the session, Kiyoshi Ibukuro (koto) also joined in with Shirasagi, a bunka-koto (compact koto) he produced, and the musicians boisterously showed off their skills in friendly rivalry. Then, Machiya, Asa (bass) and Wasabi (drums) wowed the crowd with their aggressive metal riffs, while Daisuke Kaminaga (shakuhachi) and Beni Ninagawa (Tsugaru shamisen) added their flourishes to dramatic effect.
The octet went on to perform songs including “The Beast,” which included time for the audience to take photos on their phones, “Perfect Blue,” featuring twin vocals by Suzuhana and Machiya, “Synchronicity,” and “Children Record.” They drew fans into their robust musical world with a wide range of songs like “Yoshiwara Lament” and “Sasameyuki (Re-Recording).” The set list mixing Vocaloid tracks and the band’s original numbers was truly a summary of Wagakki Band’s career. “We put together the set list based on requests of everyone’s favorite songs,” Suzuhana told the crowd. “Wagakki Band’s catalog includes rock-heavy numbers and elegant ballads, but no matter what we play, it always ends up being a Wagakki Band song. The music will continue to live on, so I hope you’ll continue to listen to and sing your favorite songs.” The band then performed the “Re-Recording” version of its first original song, “Hanabi,” featuring vocals evoking both glamour and transience backed by the band’s solid performance.
As the end of the main set approached, Kurona and Wasabi commenced their drum vs. wadaiko battle, now a regular feature of the band’s shows. Kurona hyped up the crowd, saying, “I want today to be the best battle cry of the decade,” and the audience responded by cheering loudly in time to the beat by the two drummers. The band then launched into “Kishikaisei (Re-Recording)” to the rhythm of the 3-3-7 beat, signaling the start of the show’s climax. During “Yukikageboushi,” fans spun towels above their heads, enhancing the feel of togetherness. The band went on to perform “Yasouemaki,” a track displaying the fruits of their years together as a group, and the main set ended with a flair with Wagakki Band’s signature number, “Senbonzakura (Re-Recording).”
The members returned to the stage as if led by the voices of the eager crowd singing “Akatsukino Ito.” Because this was the band’s last live show before going on hiatus, each member took turns expressing their current feelings. “Hard to believe we’re taking a break,” “I’m so glad I joined this band,” “Thank you for encountering us,” they voiced in unison. When Asa noted, “The eight of us together made a full-fledged team. We each had something missing, so we were able to stand by each other and fight together as a band,” Suzuhana responded by saying, “We were able to create so many miracles because the eight of us together made a full-fledged team.”
“There’s so much music in the world, so we thank you for finding and liking Wagakki Band,” she continued. “We’ll continue to struggle and survive in this world of music, so please keep supporting us.” The members then presented their fans with “GIFT,” a song filled with their feeling of gratitude. The venue was filled with smiles and tears as the song, promising a reunion rather than an end, came to a close.
Fans may be feeling sad right now, but as Suzuhana said at the end of the evening, “I think this view today will continue to support our lives from now on,” they can reminisce on the many miraculous moments they’ve seen over the years as they wait for the day the eight members converge again as the Wagakki Band.
This article by Tomokazu Nishibiro first appeared on Billboard Japan.
Wagakki Band Japan Tour 2024 THANKS – Yasou no Oto – Set List
Tuesday, Dec. 10, Tokyo Garden Theater
1. Overture – Yasou no Oto –
2. Rokuchounen-To-Ichiyamonogatari (Re-Recording)
3. Valkyrie -Ikusa Otome-
4. Aria of Life
5. Amenochi Kanjyoron (Re-Recording)
6. Starlight (I vs I ver.)
7. The Last Confession on Earth (Chikyuu saigo no kokuhaku wo)
8. Queen of the Night
9. Toono Monogatari Kyuu Yon
10. Toono Monogatari Go Go
11. Chie no Kakitsu
12. Homura
13. The Beast
14. Perfect Blue
15. Synchronicity
16. Children Record
17. Yoshiwara Lament
18. Sasameyuki (Re-Recording)
19. Hanabi (Re-Recording)
20. Effector Of Life
21. Drum vs. Wadaiko Battle – Ikusen no Onkai –
22. Kishikaisei (Re-Recording)
23. Yukikageboushi
24. Yasouemaki
25. Senbonzakura (Re-Recording)
Encore
1. Akatsukino Ito
2. Hoshizukiyo
3. GIFT
With the 25th anniversary of her debut rapidly approaching, AI has announced various tie-ins and collaborations starting in November 2024. Her latest song is “NAKAMA,” the ending theme to the latest anime series Dragonball DAIMA. AI has loved the Dragonball series since she was a young girl, and she talked with Billboard Japan about everything from her love for the series to her collaboration with EDM titan Zedd on the series’ ending theme and her other experiences working with overseas artists. She also revealed her plans for her 25th anniversary year and her somewhat surprising outlook on the future.
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The Dragonball franchise includes comics, movies, TV series, and more. How did you first connect with it?
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AI: I think my first exposure to Dragonball was with the comics, but what made the strongest impression on me was the TV series. I’m part of the generation that grew up with it. I watched it the whole time it was on TV. At one point I moved overseas, so I lost contact with it, but then they started making movies. It must have been like the number one or two thing I was into as a kid.
How did you feel when you found out you’d be working on “NAKAMA,” the ending theme of Dragonball DAIMA?
AI: At first, my team just said something like, “This is Dragonball DAIMA, a new series that will be coming out soon,” and they showed me a video. I saw it while on the road, and I was just saying “Wow” as I watched it. My manager then said, “You’ll be doing the ending song,” and the minute he said it, the tears started falling from my eyes (laughs). I’d loved Dragonball since I was a kid, and I was so happy, I was like “Whaaaa?” It’s not just me. I think everyone loves Dragonball. I’m not the type of person who talks a lot about what they like, but it seems the team knew (laughs).
So there’s a sharp contrast between you and Zedd, your collaborator on “NAKAMA.” He’s made his love for Dragonball very public, even posting pictures of himself in Dragonball cosplay on his social media.
AI: That’s right. I’m the kind who watches from a distance (laughs). It’s like I love it so much that it’s holy, so I don’t dare to touch it.
How did the actual process of making the music go?
AI: Right after it was decided that I’d be working on the ending theme, Zedd happened to come to Japan, so we met and we talked about what kind of song we should write. Then a while after he went back to the U.S., he sent a video of him playing solo piano. I was really impressed, thinking “this chord progression has a wonderful feel.” It wasn’t just a bright and cheery song, but had the feeling of an ending song.
What did you focus on when writing the lyrics?
AI: I love Dragonball as much as anyone, so when I wrote the lyrics I thought about the fans who had watched and loved Dragonball through the years.
Zedd pays a lot of attention to the details of songs—the tone, the nuances of the sound, and the like. Was it hard working together with him?
AI: No, not at all. On the contrary, he was quick to give his okay (laughs). On top of that, the song he wrote was really easy to put Japanese lyrics to. I actually found matching English lyrics to the song a lot harder.
This was your first time working with Zedd, but you’ve collaborated with a lot of overseas artists before, right? Which stand out the most in your memory?
AI: The first name that springs to mind is, of course, Chaka Khan. She’s very down to earth. Like, I offhandedly said something like “I’d love to get a Grammy someday,” and she said “That’s easy.” For Chaka, that’s what getting a Grammy must be like. She doesn’t brag or act arrogant. I think it’s just that for her, the message and the heartfelt feeling of the music is more important than any kind of award. I think that’s what moves her.
Is there a big difference between Chaka the singer and Chaka behind the scenes?
AI: No, not at all. She has the least gap between the two. She’s always like that, and she carries around this huge fan and is like “Heyyyy!”
But you have a similarly broad-minded personality. It seems like you two could really talk at the same level.
AI: That’s because she’s so accommodating. It’s because of the way she is, because she’s such as great person. I have so much respect for her that I get a bit nervous and I can’t really approach her. But she’s very outgoing and approaches me, so our conversations just keep rolling (laughs). I saw her at a Billboard Live show before we sang “One More Try” together. I was wearing these really long rings at the time, which covered my entire fingers. She saw them, and she lifted my hand up in the air and stared at them and said “Wowww!!” I thought that if she liked them so much, I wanted her to have them, so I gave them to her (laughs). At her show, when she came out on stage and started singing, I just started crying. It wasn’t even a sad song or anything. Her voice was just so powerful. When I was a little kid, my parents loved Chaka Khan, too, and my mom even went to her shows, so I had all these memories. I have a lot of interesting stories about Chaka.
Who else has made a big impression on you, besides Chaka?
AI: Boyz II Men, who I collaborated with on “Incomplete,” were amazing. Their voices were truly angelic. Watching their recording session taught me so much. The way they joined in chorus, the freedom with which they let their voices roam, and each of their voices, they were all wonderful. They had this strong sense of stability. They could go airy, or belt out really bold vocals, and deftly switch between them. I think I learned more from them than any other session. Trey Songz is also a genius. He was still young when I met him, but he was a great kid. When we recorded “Beautiful (Remix)” together, he was already well-known in the U.S. but relatively unknown in Japan. He can write music, he can sing, and he can even do sound engineering. He can do it all. I remember really feeling the love he had for R&B.
What about Snoop Dogg?
AI: On our “Let It Go” collaboration, Snoop and I recorded separately, but then it was decided that we’d film the video together, and I was like “Really?” So I went to LA and got ready and waited. I was wearing this tight, uncomfortable dress and these high heels, waiting for him. He didn’t come until like six hours later. That’s really true to form for Snoop, but I wanted to give him a piece of my mind, so I was there waiting to tell him off when he comes in and says “The song was great, but that’s not all, your voice is great, too.” With that, I was like “I love this guy” (laughs). He’s generous with praise. So my anger faded, and ultimately we had fun filming the music video together (laughs).
I would have thought the Jacksons would have made the biggest impression on you.
AI: That experience had me so nervous. For me, the Jacksons are the very pinnacle. They’re like Dragonball. They’re just beyond imagining. Like, these are not people I could ever actually meet.
In the MUSIC ON! TV “AI Miss MICHAEL JACKSON – The Miracle of the King of Pop” series, you went to the U.S. and filmed the Jacksons. It covered a really long span of time. I doubt there has ever been, or will ever be, another Japanese person who has gotten such an up close and personal look at the Jacksons.
AI: It was really long. Really long, and the schedule was really tight. I had to make sure not to be inadvertently rude to anyone, but there were also so many things I wanted to ask. There were a lot of people who shared really genuine stories and stories I’d never heard before. It was just one moving experience after the next.
That’s what led to your recording “Letter in the Sky” with them, right?
AI: I just wanted to run away. It was all too much for me. I felt like I was unfit to even deal with them. The show was about exploring the roots of the Jacksons after Michael Jackson’s death. I met his brothers during the filming of the show, and things just took off from there. They said “We’re going to be performing at a tribute event. Why not come sing with us?”
On your RESPECT ALL album, which came out last year, you sang Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” You also performed the song in the “Lasting Peace” project at the G7 Hiroshima Summit. I’m sure you’ve loved this song for years but what led you to want to sing it now?
AI: When the decision was made that I would be singing at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, I wanted to share a message with the world. I thought a message of peace would be good, so I wanted to sing with a chorus of children. I was going to sing “Aldebaran,” “Not So Different,” and then I wanted to sing a cover song, so I came up with a list of candidates. I didn’t want a song with a big, lofty message, like “Let’s change the world, let’s do this or that.” I wanted a song that was more about the ups and downs we have in our lives, a song that was like a dialogue. I felt that this song was the one that was closest to my own spirit. It didn’t sound like a lecture, but instead was the message that I wanted to share the most. I also thought that it’s a wonderful song that would contribute to peace. Then we started talking about recording it, and I decided to perform it to a simple piano accompaniment.
I see. You sang with a children’s choir on “Lean On Me,” but on your tour you also led a gospel chorus, and on your best hits album, Kansha!!!!! – Thank You for 20 Years New and Best, you included gospel versions of songs. Do you feel that when you go back to your roots, you go back to gospel?
AI: Yes. I love gospel. I love that assembly of voices. That power. Gospel isn’t just sung in a straightforward way, it uses all these different techniques, and hearing them just gets you so excited.
I get the impression that when you sing in English, there’s a bit more freedom and a bit more of a relaxed feeling. What do you think?
AI: When it comes to speaking, my Japanese is better, but when I’m singing, for some songs, English is easier to pronounce and it fits better with the music. But there are also songs which only work in Japanese, so it really comes down to the individual song.
It’s going to be your 25th anniversary soon. Do you have any plans?
AI: Yes, I’m going on tour and I’m going to put out an album.
One of the things I vividly remember from a previous time interview was that you said “I want to win a Grammy. I’m going to win one.” Do you still feel the same way?
AI: Yes, I want to get a Grammy. That desire hasn’t changed. But I think that when I said that, I wanted a Grammy as a demonstration of my ability. I picked it simply because it was the most famous award. I felt like I had to do a lot of different things while I was still young. Nowadays, I don’t feel that need to rush. But, of course, since I said I was going to go win a Grammy, I will. I want to take care of everything on my bucket list. But it doesn’t have to be right this moment. I’ve still got my health and energy, so I think I’ve got time (laughs).
What are your long-term goals?
AI: Right now I’m focusing on my children. It’s pretty hard work. It’s shaken up everything—what I write, what I say, what I do, my attitude, my rhythm. I don’t think there’s any experience like it. It’s like really hard but rewarding training. Like I’m a monk going through ascetic training (laughs). It’s like you break yourself completely down and then the question is how you’re going to rebuild yourself. To be honest, I really don’t think about the 25th anniversary of my debut. It’s just the people around me who are focused on it. So much so, actually, that when someone first mentioned it, I was like “Oh, really?” (laughs) For me, music is just something that I’ll probably keep on doing forever. I think that’s important. I just live each day, hoping that I’ll make it through with no problems.
—This interview by Hisashi Murakami first appeared on Billboard Japan
Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Bitter Vacances” hits No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, rising from No. 6 where it debuted last week.
On the chart released Dec. 11, the theme for the upcoming live-action movie Saint Young Men (due in domestic theaters Dec. 20) comes in at No. 2 for streaming (up 182% week-over-week) and radio airplay (up 1,381％), No. 5 for video views (up 136％) and No. 3 for downloads.
Rosé & Bruno Mars’ “APT.” slips to No. 2 this week after holding the top spot for three straight weeks. After peaking last week, streams are down to 95%, downloads to 79%, and videos to 85%, but the global hit continues to dominate streaming and video.
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Number_i’s “HIRAKEGOMA” debuts at No. 3. The new track off the three-man group’s album No. I (Deluxe) released Dec. 2 launches at No. 1 for downloads and radio, No. 4 for video, and No. 40 for streaming. The album No. I rises to No. 2 on the download albums chart and to No. 7 on the Hot Albums chart this week.
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Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Lilac” holds at No. 4. Downloads for the Oblivion Battery opener gained 119%, streaming 104%, and radio 229% from the week before.
BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE’s “SAY IT” bows at No. 5. The track produced by T.Kura, Chaki Zulu and DJ DARUMA comes in at No. 4 for sales and No. 3 for radio.
In other news, the tragic death of Japanese actress and singer Miho Nakayama at age 54 was reported on Dec. 6, and fans turned to her collaborative single with the band WANDS from 1992, “Sekaiju no dareyori kitto,” (roughly, “probably more than anyone in the world”) to celebrate her life. The karaoke favorite debuted at No. 56 on the Japan Hot 100 this week, coming in at No. No. 6 for downloads, No. 91 for radio, and No. 88 for karaoke. Seasonal staples are also coming back in full swing, with back number’s “Christmas Song” rising 19-15, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” jumping 72-46, and Keisuke Kuwata’s “White Love” returning at No. 66. Also, a new Christmas love song by REIKO featuring JUNON of BE:FIRST called “First Christmas” debuts at No. 54.
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from Dec. 2 to 8, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account.
Dua Lipa’s list of 2024 musical accomplishments is comically long. In this year alone she’s done — deep breath — the following: released her third studio album, Radical Optimism; kicked off her biggest global tour yet; played a coveted Glastonbury Festival headline slot, the first British woman to do so since 2016; filmed a TV special at London’s Royal Albert Hall; performed onstage with Cher, Elton John and Chris Stapleton; and made a playful cameo on Charli xcx’s remixed version of brat.
“It’s honestly been the best year of my life. I’ve done things that I’ve wanted to do for so long,” Lipa tells Billboard U.K. with a laugh on a video call. She’s in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when we speak, where she’s playing two nights at the city’s Axiata Arena. The run of dates in Asia, which has included stops in Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Bangkok, is her first in the region in six years. The crowds have been so “loud and fun,” she says, and she’s been “blown away” by their enthusiasm.
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“There came a point in the year where I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to sit down and write some new dreams and new plans and other things I wanted to do,’ ” she says. “I feel like I ticked so many of my boxes this year. It’s amazing.”
In May, the British Albanian artist released Radical Optimism (Warner), which peaked at No. 1 on the United Kingdom’s Official Albums Chart upon release and had the biggest opening week by a British female artist since Adele’s 30 in 2021. The record went to No. 1 throughout mainland Europe in Spain, France, The Netherlands and more, and hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200, her highest debut on the U.S. charts to date. Lead single “Houdini,” meanwhile, enjoyed a 17-week reign on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
The 29-year-old is a fitting entry for Billboard U.K. in Billboard’s inaugural Global No. 1s series celebrating the biggest and most successful artists internationally over the past year.
Seven months after the album’s release, Lipa looks back fondly on recording it with the stellar house band that included Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, hyperpop hero Danny L Harle, superproducer Andrew Wyatt and star songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr., along with her accomplished previous collaborators Caroline Ailin and Ian Kirkpatrick. Lipa has said it was inspired by Parker’s Tame Impala work and, speaking to Rolling Stone in February, dubbed it a “psychedelic-pop-infused tribute to U.K. rave culture.” A noticeable shimmy away from her disco-infused single “Dance the Night,” which appeared in the 2023 blockbuster Barbie film, Radical Optimism showed flashes of the turn-of-the-millennium French touch scene (“End of an Era”) and Parker’s signature psych-pop (“Training Season”).
Lipa sketched the blueprint for Radical Optimism following the success of her monster second album, 2020’s Future Nostalgia, which later spawned several hits, including “Levitating,” which was named the biggest song of 2021 on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 chart. The set, which found an enthusiastic worldwide audience with its playful disco sheen during the COVID-19 lockdown, won best pop vocal album at the Grammys in 2021.
“Future Nostalgia doing what it did allowed me to grow as an artist, to push boundaries and change. It allowed me to have the confidence to make Radical Optimism,” Lipa tells Billboard U.K. “It gave me the freedom and confidence to be like, ‘You know who I really want to make an album with? Kevin Parker. And I want to do something a bit different; I want to work with Danny L Harle and experiment with my sound, do a different vocal performance and make pop music but allow that to live in another sonic world.’ It’s been fun to shape-shift.”
Dua Lipa backstage at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov. 24.
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In October, the songs received the ultimate stress test with a performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where she enlisted the 53-piece Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Ben Foster; 14 choristers; and her regular touring band for a bombastic, glitzy night at the capital’s most iconic music venue. She performed Radical Optimism in full, utilizing the brass section to give new heft to songs like “Houdini,” while elegant strings added another dimension to “French Exit” and “These Walls.” The in-the-round performance was captured for a TV special, An Evening With Dua Lipa (which aired Dec. 8 on ITV in the United Kingdom and will air Dec. 15 on CBS in the United States), and a live album, Dua Lipa Live at the Royal Albert Hall (out now).
“When we were in rehearsals, there was nothing quite like it: Those orchestral instrumentations just shook me to the core,” Lipa recalls. “Feeling my music in such a way that was so moving, it made me fall in love with music all over again.”
During the concert’s encore, John joined Lipa — the first time they performed live together — to sing their collaboration, “Cold Heart,” which topped charts globally upon release in 2021 (in its PNAU remix) and interpolates multiple John songs.
“Obviously Elton is no stranger to the Albert Hall himself and it felt like such a chic and elegant night, so I needed my most chic and fabulous friend to come and join me. He immediately said yes,” she says. “One thing about Elton is that he always shows up for his friends. He’s super loyal… he’s just always been there, lending his ear and being so supportive.”
Dua Lipa backstage at the Philippine Arena in Santa Maria, Philippines, on Nov. 13.
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The defining Dua Lipa performance of 2024, however, was not in the austere, lavish Albert Hall but in a Somerset field in southwest England. Worthy Farm, where Glastonbury Festival is held, is usually full of dairy cows gently grazing in the lush greenery, but on June 28, they were replaced with a sea of sequined spectators for Lipa’s headlining slot on the festival’s Pyramid Stage. The impassioned, fun, formidable set (during which Parker joined Lipa onstage) aired live on BBC One and globally on the broadcaster’s website.
The show marked her second Glastonbury appearance, following a 2017 mid-afternoon performance that attracted one of that weekend’s biggest crowds — and, following on the heels of her self-titled debut album’s release, helped catalyze her star turn.
Returning as a Pyramid Stage headliner (on Friday, so she could party the rest of the weekend at the festival with her partner, actor Callum Turner, and some pals) had been on her agenda ever since. “I try not to let these moments pass me by so I made sure that when I was standing up there I took as many mental pictures as I could,” she says. At one point, she headed out toward the crowd and turned to face the stage, focusing on its apex: a shining white tip sending a beam of light into the starry night sky.
Prior to the performance, Lipa had switched off her phone to get in the zone. When she got back to her dressing room afterward, she had a deluge of texts.
“It was so beautiful. I had so many messages from previous headliners,” she says. “You sort of earn this badge of honor in that moment, and it felt like I joined the coolest club in the world.” One came from Adele, the last female British act before Lipa to top the bill in 2016. “She said, ‘I’ve been thinking about you all day and just wanted to wish you luck for tonight. Don’t forget to soak it all in.’ Looking back at that Pyramid was me trying to do that.”
Dua Lipa backstage at MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai, India, on Nov. 30.
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Radical Optimism is the first album Lipa has released since striking a deal with TaP Music, her former management and publishing group, to acquire ownership of her songs, music, masters and publishing rights. The move dovetailed with news that Lipa would now be managed by her father, Dukagjin Lipa, and in 2024, she expanded her nonmusic offerings: Her company Radical22 produced the Disney+ documentary Camden, about the north London borough and its music scene; she starred in the action-comedy Argylle; and her Service95 newsletter — which compiles recommendations for food, literature and more — grew in stature. No surprise, then, that The Sunday Times featured her on its annual Rich List, estimating a $113 million (90 million pounds) net worth.
“This is really me stepping into my role not just as a creator but as a businesswoman,” she says. “It comes with the understanding that as much as I want to stay on the creative side, I have to be knowledgeable about all aspects of my career if I want to have longevity.
“I think for every artist that’s really important — and as much as we might not want to, as the easiest thing is to go into the studio and write the songs and whatever happens, happens — it just can’t be that way,” she continues. “Every artist should be educated on that. It’s really important for us to be in control or at least know what’s happening with our careers and not turn a blind eye.”
Elsewhere, she’s consistently voiced support of Gaza during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, and she was also named a champion for the Trevor Project, the suicide prevention charity that supports LGBTQ+ youth. “Anything I can do as a supporter to help out in any way with the platform that I have, I’m fully willing and open to all of that,” she says.
But, despite her many achievements, something noteworthy eluded Lipa on this cycle: Radical Optimism did not receive any nominations for the upcoming Grammys, a surprise given her 10 career nominations in years past (including a win for best new artist in 2019) and the fact that her performance kicked off the 2024 ceremony.
“I’m so proud of Radical Optimism and where it’s brought me. I love that album and I’m having the time of my life performing it live, and I’ve been able to do things that I thought I could only dream of this year, so I’m really grateful,” she confidently says of the record’s impact on her career. “Although it would have been nice to be recognized by your industry, especially as a woman, I’m so proud seeing so many incredible female artists nominated at the Grammys this year.”
Dua Lipa backstage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Nov. 6.
Elizabeth Miranda
Lipa has particular love for Charli xcx, a longtime pal who received several Grammy nods for brat. She had a cameo on the remix of Charli’s “Talk talk” alongside Troye Sivan, with Lipa speaking in French and Spanish on the track.
“I love her so much and she’s always been a really good friend of mine and been so supportive from day one. She deserves all the flowers,” Lipa says of Charli. “She’s worked her arse off, and it’s so beautiful to see her get the recognition she deserves. She’s really stuck to her guns and allowed herself to be creative in her own way, and it’s paid off. That’s the best thing that can ever happen to an artist. She’s so deserving of every moment.”
As for where her own career is, “Overall I’m really happy with where I am,” Lipa says. “I don’t think it really matters in the grand scheme of things where I am, where I want to be and where I’m going. It doesn’t change the way I feel about the record at all.”
Now, as 2024 comes to a close, Lipa is enjoying some well-earned rest before her biggest tour yet. In March 2025, her Radical Optimism tour kicks off its next leg in Australia and New Zealand before heading to Europe and the United Kingdom, which includes two sold-out nights at London’s 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium and Liverpool’s historic Anfield Stadium. Then in September, she’s off to North America with 24 arena dates including a whopping four nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden and another four at L.A.’s Kia Forum.
She speaks about manifestation, the idea that she must imagine her biggest goals and achievements for them to become a reality. In fact, Lipa’s use of the word contributed to the Cambridge Dictionary naming “manifest” its word of the year. She remains coy, however, of what’s next on the agenda. “I can’t really tell you, as they have to be a secret to come true…” she says. If her past year is anything to go by, we’ll know it when we see it.