Paris Hilton’s new album, Infinite Icon, came out on Friday, September 6. Earlier this year, Paris released one of the songs off of the album in time for Mother’s Day. That song was a duet with Sia called “Fame Won’t Love You,” which was written by Sia and producer Greg Kurstin. Well, Sia is back for more musical fun and also served as executive producer on the album. Megan Trainor, Megan Thee Stallion, Rina Sawayama, and Maria Becerra also collaborate with Paris. Trainor and her brother Justin co-wrote several songs on it, as well. To promote Infinite Icon, Paris did a Zoom interview with the Associated Press talking about the album, saving pop music, the inspiration behind some of the songs, and how she specifically sought out women to work with.
She’s here to “save” pop music: “Music has always been such a huge passion for me. Someone needed to come and save pop music. So I’m here.”
This album is “deeper” than her first one: “My first album was very much on just how my life was at that point. It was my Party Girl-era. The songs are just very carefree and fun and all about going out looking hot and having a great time. This album definitely has a lot more deeper meaning to it, and I just wanted the songs to really reflect on my life and my journey and be introspective.”
What Paris is singing about nowadays: There’s “ADHD,” a song that reframes the diagnosis as a kind of superpower; “Legacy,” which she describes as an ode to her husband, children and fans all in one — an energetic electro-pop-punky track that sounds like it could’ve been cut from “Paris” and contemporized for a 2024 audience. And the lead single “I’m Free,” featuring Rina Sawayama, a disco-pop celebration of autonomy. For Hilton, the sentiment takes on a few different meanings.
On “I’m Free:” “Going through what I went through at Provo Canyon school, it was just so traumatizing and so painful. And I remember the first song that I heard, when I got out of there, when I got out was ‘Free’ by Ultra Naté,” she says. The song became her anthem, and when it came time to write her lead single, she wanted to pay homage to the track that resonated with her in that time.
Sia thinks Paris was “born to be a popstar:” To make “Infinite Icon,” Hilton teamed up with Sia, who executive produced the record. The pair connected after performing “Stars Are Blind” with Miley Cyrus at Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 1, 2022. Sia told Hilton she was “born to be a popstar,” and so they got to work, bring in an all-star team of women to collaborate with: Sawayama, Megan Trainor,Megan Thee Stallion and Maria Becerra.
Girl power: “It was really important to me to really do this album with all women. I just wanted to have this album really be about empowering women. Just songs for my girls, my gays, and songs for people to feel alive to. I want everyone who listens to this album to feel like their own unapologetic icon.”
I know what you’re all thinking right now. No one was asking for or needed this album. And yeah, fair. I decided to listen to it anyway because it’s only 35 minutes long. So…does Paris “save pop music” like she set out to do? No, but I appreciate that she put together a team of professionals who know how to make good pop music. I admit that I didn’t hate it, so there’s that. It’s autotuned to hell and back but the beats are catchy and both Sia and the Trainors know how to write earworms. Most of the songs are clearly written to be played at clubs to dance along to. The song that I think will get the most play is the one with Megan Thee Stallion, called “BBA,” which is short for “Bad Bitch Academy.” It’s bonkers and once you get over Paris’ sing-speaking through it, it’s pretty fun. You need to watch the music video to really appreciate its vibes. Lance Bass, Heidi Klum, and Megan Trainor are all in it. Head’s up: Lyrically, it’s NSFW.
and who will that be, Paris? Cause it’s not you. LOL
Thank you! My exact sentiments.
Cannot tolerate this bi*ch. will never forget she turned teacup dogs into accessories and let them starve to death in her closet.
Isn’t that Sabrina Carpenter person saving pop music? Her songs don’t hit for me but Gen Z seems to like her and her sound is pretty much textbook pop.
Sabrina, Chappell Roan, Charlie XCX and “Brat” have all been HUGE this summer. Pop doesn’t need saving.
This is like Jojo Siwa saying she’s the first to make gay pop. It comes across as ignorant and out of touch.
Yea this is what I came to say. It’s been a huge year for female pop artists and pop music in general. She’s just riding their coattails
This will do well enough – it has catchy songs and she’s had a successful DJ career, so the clubs will play it. Plus she embraces her own cheesiness, it’s part of her brand.
When I see Paris I always think of Ivanka Trump who tried soooo hard to have the kind of career Paris has had, except for the singing (I don’t recall Ivanka releasing a single).
For a song featuring a black woman (Megan Thee Stallion) the video is remarkable devoid of people of color. There are a few background shots with people who are not white, but the amount of time anyone who is not blond and white is on screen is maybe… 30 seconds of the entire thing?
Megan’s participation really makes the song, so it highlights that the way they chose to shoot the video shouts arts colonizer, you know? White people making money off black artistry.
Paris has a history of racism that I’ll never forget. It existed before her short stay at that one school. You can’t erase it.
I hope Sia and Megan were paid well.