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Dua Lipa talked candidly about the significant influence that literature has had on her journey as an artist during a live recording of her 'Service95 Book Club' podcast at the New York Public Library on 15th September. Speaking with author David Szalay, Lipa revealed that the book that had the biggest impact on her songwriting was Patti Smith's biography, 'Just Kids.'
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She praised how Smith's evocative storytelling about her early life and friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe opened her eyes to the possibilities of art, memory, and self-expression, calling it a "time capsule of creation" from a transformative age in the 1960s and 1970s. She also thought back on her favorite books from childhood, such as 'Lemony Snicket,' as well as the weekend habit of losing herself in bookstores. These recollections served as the basis for her passion for words and tales.
'Just Kids' and the Impact of Patti Smith
Patti Smith's book, 'Just Kids' (published in 2010), recounts her life in New York City throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, emphasizing her close friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe and the development of their shared artistic aspirations. It depicts an era that, according to Lipa, still resonates with her: one in which creativity was unadulterated, dangerous, and intricately entwined with individual identity.
According to her, the memoir is a depiction of artistic awakening, connection, and the risks taken by artists rather than merely a story. That honesty and simplicity have been particularly motivating for Lipa, influencing the way she views her own compositions and development.
Early Influences & the Love of Reading
In addition to Smith's work, Lipa acknowledged the influential books she read as a young girl. Early favorites, according to her, were writers like Malorie Blackman, and Jacqueline Wilson, whose tales of humour, adventure, adversity, and creativity she would turn to on calm weekends.
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Particularly in London, she recalled spending hours perusing bookshelves during her mother's visits to bookstores (or parks) with books in hand. She claimed that these experiences were not merely hobbies but rather the beginning of a career in art. For her, reading became a means of comprehending both herself and other people.
Service95 Book Club & What's Next
Lipa's love of books isn't simply personal; it's the foundation of her platform. Launched in 2023, her 'Service95 Book Club' seeks to engage readers with podcasts, articles, discussion guides, and interviews while promoting a variety of global voices in fiction, memoir, and manifesto. Her continued dedication to this goal is evident in the discussion with David Szalay, whose book 'Flesh' is the October pick. "I hope to play a little role in changing that trend," she said, expressing concern over decrease rates in youth readership.
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On the music side, Lipa continues to build momentum. She has been composing, performing, and experimenting with new sounds since the release of her most recent studio album, 'Radical Optimism,' in May 2025. She hasn't yet revealed a new album, but she has revealed that she has been creating more and experimenting more than ever before, implying that the next stage of her career might incorporate more of these emotional and literary elements.
