Two decades ago, Kylie Minogue graced the cover of our “Star Power” issue — setting the precedent and becoming the first musician ever to do so at V. But in Minogue’s world, firsts are something she’s no stranger to. Just three years ago, Minogue became the first woman to top the album chart across five decades with the release of her album Disco. And at the time of that 2002 cover, Minogue was experiencing another first. She was faced with the unprecedented success of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” a feat she hadn’t quite wrapped her own head around. 

“I had no idea [“Can’t Get You Out of My Head”] would be such a success; I don’t think anybody was expecting such a hit,” she told Philip Utz in 2002. “I would never have dreamt this would happen. I’ve been used to being famous for fourteen years, and it’s just gone up another notch and seems to have spun completely off the dial.” 

Two decades after that conversation, Minogue has found herself thrown back in time, confronting the same “unexpected” acclaim to her recently released single, “Padam Padam”. Immediately after its drop, the single was remixed, replayed, and memed. “I’ve seen all the memes, and I love them all,” laughs Minogue, who comes to us today from a hotel in Berlin. Dressed in an electric green dress, Minogue has just finished getting ready for her album-listening party. 

The onomatopoeic track has become a noun, verb, and adjective all rolled into one. Often used in lieu of “good,” the word can almost be used in all circumstances – answering how you’ve been (Padam, padam), delivering high praise (Padammm, you look so good), or acting as a simple affirmation (Padam). And with its widespread acclaim, the track primes us for her 16th studio album, Tension, out today via Darenote/BMG. 

“Unlike my last two albums, there isn’t a theme [for Tension],” Minogue explains. “It was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of the moment and always trying to service the song.”  Since her career breakthrough in the 1980s, there have been many Kylies: actress Kylie (starring in the hit soap opera Neighbours in 1985); Spinning Around disco Kylie (dancing on tables in the track of the same name in 2000); Showgirl Kylie (donning glitter tracksuits and all in 2005); and now we’ve arrived at dominatrix, Tension Kylie. 

Tension Kylie is yet another iteration of the ever-evolving but always captivating Kylie Minogue. And perhaps this is where the musician’s greatness lies – in her ability to adapt, reinvent, and adapt again. For three straight decades, she’s made us rush to the dance floor, and this album is no different. At the heart is a deep love for dancing and spontaneity that’s been so quintessential to Minogue and her artistic practice. Rife with lush melodies, cascading instrumentals, and electronic riffs, this collection of songs looks back at Minogue’s early experimentation with electro-pop (the musician specifically notes a reference and homage of sorts to “Slow” from her 2003 album, Body Language). 

“There’s quite a bit of self-referencing in the project, talking about going back to 2002 when ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ was released,” Minogue shares. “There’s also a bit of ‘80s, ‘90s in ‘Tension’ and 2000s in ‘Padam Padam,’ so it’s really about taking the best of those different eras, reshaping it, and making it authentic to who I am now.”

In the coming days, Minogue will be traveling again. Rehearsals for her Vegas residency at the Voltaire Nightclub will begin next week as the icon gears up for yet another chapter of her career. Starting November 3, Minogue will perform her most popular tracks from her genre-spanning discography at the brand-new Venetian Resort venue. The three-month residency is testament enough to the musician, who at 55 is seemingly at the height of her career. Not only are her songs topping the charts in several countries, and her fanbase is growing to include this new generation of listeners, but Minogue is just as invigorated as when she started in 1988 (coincidentally, her debut album Kylie turns 35 this year). And while we can’t foresee what’ll be hot in music in the coming years (or even months), we are sure of one thing – our hearts will always padam padam for Ms. Minogue. 

For more on Kylie and the process of creating this album, read below. 

V MAGAZINE: Oh wow, I love your dress.

KYLIE MINOGUE: Thank you! We’re in Tension mode [laughs].

V: Very fitting with the green, I love it. And thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. We are so excited for your new album!  I was going through the V archives the other day and realized your cover with us, back in 2002, was the first year we had a musician on the cover. At the time, you talked about the reception behind your latest track and said, I quote: “I had no idea [“Can’t Get You Out of My Head”] would be such a success; I don’t think anybody was expecting such a hit. I would never have dreamt this would happen.” And I thought that was really interesting because it feels like with your new music today, we’re right back there. 

KM: Copy, paste [laughs]. 

V: It’s like a blast from the past [laughs]. Can you talk about how that release, which came out almost two decades ago, is similar to the reception you’re receiving today? 

KM: That’s an amazing observation and very timely. Wow, the first musician cover…All those all these years later, thank you! It feels like I’ve been teleported from then to now with the way “Padam Padam” has hit here – and the way it’s crossed genres and demographics. But I’m going to double down on that quote because if I was surprised then, I’m doubly surprised now. I can’t believe I’m still here and that I’m still doing it. I’m just living in this moment.

V: Absolutely, as you should. And while you were creating your album, Tension, was there one moment that sticks out? A favorite memory?

KM: What flashes through my mind are different snapshots of various places – I recorded the album over quite a long period of time and in a lot of different places. But if I were to choose something more singular, I think when “Padam Padam” came out. I remember from day one, stuff was already happening – there were memes and videos and all this stuff. It was unexpected and was truly my first experience with a viral moment – I’ve seen all the memes, and I love them all. 

V: The memes were so good. And what about “Padam Padam” felt right to kick off the whole project? What did you especially love about it? 

KM: When I read the track name on the demo, I first thought of the Édith Piaf song by the same name from last century. I was immediately intrigued, and when I first listened to it, I knew. I called my A&R straight away and got working on the recording. That was maybe a year before we were even choosing the first single.  I like to say making an album is like a horse race. You’ve got the one that you think might be the first track, but also a couple of fallbacks. Those options might disappear, and others might come out of nowhere. So “Padam Padam” was kind of in the background for a while, while we worked on a bunch of other songs. And when it came time to choose, we just reminded ourselves of that sensation and feeling of listening to it for the first time. But no one imagined the distance it would travel – that the Vice President would be dancing to it. I mean, it’s just crazy what has happened.

V: Yeah, totally. And now you can sleep well knowing you’ve picked the right horse [laughs]. 

KM: Yes! [laughs]

V: I also wanted to ask you what your goals or intentions were for this project. As it’s your 16th studio album, how did you approach making this new body of work? 

KM: I guess the overriding thing is quality. My previous album had come out the year before, in lockdown, and was received very well and meant a lot to a lot of people, which I’ll always be so heartened by. But like a lot of people in our field, when it looked like there was a bit of a clear horizon, I just wanted to go out and embrace that. So, initially, this album was just about being back in the room with some of my favorite people. And it was a gentle start, there was no pressure and I hadn’t even committed to an album at this time. It was just playtime. 

I started this album with an open mind and blank page. Unlike my last two albums, there isn’t a theme [for Tension]. We looked into having a theme, like a bit of ‘80s inspiration, but it just didn’t hit the mark. It was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of the moment and always trying to service the song.

I’d say the turning point of the album was when we decided that there’ll be no theme – we’re over it, we don’t need it. We’re just going to go in and have fun. And there’s quite a bit of self-referencing in the project, talking about going back to 2002 when “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” was released. There’s also a bit of ‘80s, ‘90s in “Tension” and 2000s in “Padam Padam,” so it’s really about taking the best of those different eras, reshaping it, and making it authentic to who I am now. And yeah, also making sure it wasn’t boring. That was one of the funny pieces of advice I had from my A&R [laughs]. 

V: That is very funny. I know that you’re also having a residency in Vegas, which is so exciting. What can people expect from performances? 

KM: You can expect a very intimate venue. I think that’s the first surprise for people when they come to see it. It caps at a thousand, so it’s more old school – feels like throwback Vegas, when Sinatra or Elvis performed. From the second you walk in, it’s going to feel glamorous and decadent. You’re going to be coming into this entire experience, and then at a certain point in the night, I’ll appear. I hope – and I don’t think this is an unrealistic prediction with my fans – but it’s probably going to turn into Studio 54 pretty quickly [laughs].  It’s definitely going to be a very unique experience, and I’m so excited to be adding my name to the list of amazing, all-star artists who have performed in Vegas.

V: Well, we definitely can’t wait to see it. This year is so special for you as it also marks the 35th anniversary of your debut album, Kylie. In your opinion, what ways have you changed since that album? And what has remained the same?

KM: I think I have even more love and appreciation for this art form as my understanding of it has deepened. I’ve become a more rounded artist, but I still have a deep love for what I do. 

Stream Tension below!