Belinda Carlisle and Diane Warren have a long history of working together after first collaborating on Carlisle's 1987 album, Heaven on Earth, which featured the Warren written songs, "I Get Weak" and "World Without You".[2]
Carlisle's last English-language pop record, A Woman & a Man was released in 1996, before hitting pause on her recording career while focusing on her live shows.[3]
A new collection of songs was teased in October 2022 with Carlisle announcing "I'm making a music video today for the first time in over 25 years" via Twitter.[4]
In February 2023, Carlisle said "27 years on from making my last English language pop record I really wasn't thinking I would ever make one again... and I was quite happy with that idea. Then a chance encounter in a coffee shop led me back to the wonderful Diane Warren and she gave me the incredible gift of this song and the other songs on my upcoming EP."[5][6] Carlisle pondered on the idea of recording new music, adding "But I went to the studio and I don't even know what to say – it was so good. There are about three singles on the EP and they're incredible."[3]
Warren added, "I'm so excited for everyone to hear Belinda's new record, she's never sounded better. It's so great to be working together again after all these years."[5][6]
The EP track listing and cover art were revealed via Twitter on March 16, 2023.[7]
Retropop Magazine said "Authentically Belinda, all five songs touch different bases and reference various eras from her career", adding "Undoubtedly her strongest material since the early-nineties, Kismet is a welcome reminder not only of Belinda's power as one of the greatest pop stars of a generation, but also Diane Warren's knack for penning a killer hit."[9] John Curley of Goldmine magazine stated that Kismet has "a bit of the feel of the pop of Carlisle's solo heyday, the mid-to-late 1980s, but with modern touches, so it doesn’t feel dated or retro", further stating that all songs on the EP are "radio friendly".[8]
The single "If U Go" debuted at #30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in September 2023, her first appearance on that chart since "Summer Rain" in 1990. [10] The song later peaked at #29. [11]
