The pair release their first collaboration together
Elton John and Dua Lipa have unveiled their new collaboration “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix).” The track sees two of the world’s most celebrated artists come together on record for the first time. The seed of the collaboration was planted after Lipa invited John for an Instagram live discussing his experiences with Studio 54 ahead of her remix album Club Future Nostalgia. A shared respect and subsequent friendship blossomed which saw John appear as a guest on Lipa’s record-breaking Studio 2054 livestream. Lipa subsequently performed at The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, which raised over $3 million for the Foundation. Driven by the restrictions of lockdown and a renewed passion for collaboration, John reached out to Lipa to work on new music together remotely.
The results of those sessions certainly live up to the billing. “Cold Heart” is at once instantly recognizable and yet thoroughly contemporary – a modern dance floor filler based on four of John’s classic tracks expertly spliced together by Australian electronic band and producers PNAU – “Kiss The Bride” (originally from 1983 album Too Low For Zero), “Rocketman” (from 1972’s Honky Chateau), “Where’s the Shoorah?” (from 1976 double album Blue Moves) and “Sacrifice” (from 1989’s Healing Hands). PNAU previously achieved an acclaimed UK number 1 in 2012 with the Elton Versus PNAU album Good Morning to the Night.
“The last 18 months have been hard, but being off the road has meant that I’ve actually had time to get back to my roots as a session player and collaborate with some wonderful artists. And having the opportunity to spend time with Dua, albeit remotely has been incredible,” John shares. “She’s given me so much energy. She’s a truly wonderful artist, and person, absolutely bursting with creativity and ideas. The energy she brought to ‘Cold Heart’ just blew my mind.”
“Ever since we first ‘met’ online, we totally clicked. Elton is such an inspirational artist and also has the naughtiest sense of humor – a perfect combination,” Lipa adds. “It has been an absolute honour and privilege to collaborate on this track with him. It’s so very special, with some of my very favorite Elton John classic songs combined – I loved being part of such a creative and joyous experience. Can’t wait to hear it everywhere this summer.”
The single is accompanied by a stunning video created by Hamburg based animator and director Raman Djafari. The video sees animated versions of John and Lipa stepping into a dynamic and euphoric world before separating as their planets drift apart. A beautifully drawn, wistful and, at times, trippy parallel to the last year and a half in lockdown, the video reaches its moving and joyous climax as the characters are reunited.
After 18 months when many artists have battened down the hatches and waited for the covid clouds to lift, the pair have continued to push boundaries and defy any expectations. And with the release of “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” the world has the perfect optimistic and joyous summer anthem to usher back the good times.
