Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey is an American singer, songwriter, and visual artist known for her cinematic sound and references to various aspects of pop culture. Since she first gained widespread attention in 2011, Lana has been praised for delivering a unique flair that encapsulates magic, glamour, beauty, grit, destruction, and sadness in an artistic mixture unlike any other artist of her generation.
About Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant in New York City on June 21, 1985. Her music career began in 2005, when she performed under her given name in small clubs in New York City.
Lana Del Rey's era can still be found online, but this commercially unsuccessful epoch was ultimately abandoned to make way for her rebranding as Lana Del Rey. In 2011, she uploaded a homemade music video to her YouTube channel for the song "Video Games," which became a viral sensation, sparking widespread interest in the then relatively unknown artist. This led to Lana signing with Interscope/Polydor later that same year. Her first major-label studio release, Born to Die, came out in January 2012.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, Born to Die still became the second-longest charting album on the Billboard 200 by a female artist and gave Lana her best-known smash hit, "Summertime Sadness." Her Grammy-nominated Paradise EP came out later that year and was a reissue of Born to Die packaged alongside new tracks.
Lana continued to gain notability through many releases such as Ultraviolence (2014), Honeymoon (2015), Lust for Life (2017), and her 2019 critically acclaimed album Norman Fucking Rockwell!. She is recognized for her cinematic sound, and her lyrics explore a broad range of intricate topics such as love and relationships, famous icons, and her idols, pop culture, religion, patriotism, and nostalgia.
Lana's unique writing and singing style, namely her self-described "Hollywood sadcore" sound, have set her apart from other modern pop and alternative music artists. She often plays on themes such as fame, glamour, and destruction against the backdrop of a vintage Technicolor-inspired aesthetic.
A visual artist as well as a performer, Lana has released numerous music videos, including the music film Tropico, which she wrote, directed, and starred in. The piece features dark undertones and haunting scenes reminiscent of her undying love for the glamour of old Hollywood.
Before using the name Lana Del Rey, she initially chose the alternate spelling Lana Del Ray and released an album under that name. However, she ultimately decided to change the spelling to Del Rey, which she felt had more of the glamorous seaside appeal that she was looking for. This artistic name was influenced by her time spent in Miami, speaking Spanish with her friends from Cuba.
Despite not constantly releasing radio hits, Lana's unique and ever-evolving writing and singing style have gained her a massive following of loyal fans who appreciate her authenticity and singular vision. She continues to remain singular in her style of writing and singing, showing no similarity to any artist in modern pop or alternative music.
Lana Del Rey's Discography
Lana Del Rey's discography includes:
- Studio albums: Born to Die (2012), Ultraviolence (2014), Honeymoon (2015), Lust for Life (2017), Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019), and Chemtrails Over the Country Club (2021).
- EPs: Kill Kill (2008), Lana Del Rey (2010), Paradise (2012), and Blue Banisters: (2021).
Lana Del Rey's Influences
Lana Del Rey has cited various artists, writers, and filmmakers as her influences, including:
- Elvis Presley
- Frank Sinatra
- The Beach Boys
- Janis Joplin
- Nina Simone
- Bob Dylan
- David Lynch
- Tony Scott
Throughout her career, she has also paid tribute to many iconic figures, including Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Leonard Cohen, and many more.
Lana Del Rey's Future Projects
After more than a year's time without releasing music, Lana Del Rey announced that an announcement would be made in a week regarding a new project. She revealed that the project would be called Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under the Ocean Blvd: March 10th, 2023. However, she pushed the release date back by two weeks after realizing Miley Cyrus would be releasing her album on the same date to avoid any possible drama.
She has also announced her eighth studio album, Blue Banisters, Which had a planned release on July 4th, 2021 but was pushed back to October 22, 2021. Three singles from the album were released on May 20th, 2021. With no plans to slow down anytime soon, Lana continues evolving into a pop culture icon, showcasing her unique and very personal artistic vision.
In summary, Lana Del Rey's unique sound and artistic vision have gained her a massive following of loyal fans who appreciate her authenticity and singular vision. Her influence can be seen on and off stage as she continues to be an inspiration to upcoming artists and creatives. She remains a vibrant spark in the music industry, continuously evolving into a pop culture icon.