Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey to Headline Coachella 2024

Lana Del Rey, the renowned singer-songwriter, is set to headline the prestigious Coachella music festival in April 2024. A familiar face at the Coachella Valley, Del Rey’s performance marks a significant return as she takes the stage on April 12 and April 19. The 38-year-old artist first graced the festival a decade ago, later capturing her experiences in the song “Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind,” written after attending the event as a fan.

A Brief Overview of Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey, known for her melancholic and nostalgic musical style, has captivated audiences with hits like “Summertime Sadness,” “Young and Beautiful,” and “West Coast.” Initially performing under her birth name, Lizzy Grant, she rose to fame in 2011 with a self-produced music video for her breakthrough song, “Video Games.” Since then, Del Rey has sold millions of albums, starting with her critically acclaimed debut, Born to Die (2012), and has received 11 Grammy nominations throughout her career. Her most recent album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, was released in March 2023, with her highly anticipated new album, Lasso, set to debut this September.

Where Is Lana Del Rey From?

Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, in New York City, has roots deeply embedded in both urban and rural landscapes. Her parents were working in advertising at the time of her birth but chose to leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind, relocating to Lake Placid, New York, in the picturesque Adirondack Mountains when Del Rey was just a baby.

Growing up in Lake Placid, she was raised alongside a younger brother and sister. Notably, her sister, Caroline “Chuck” Grant, is a photographer who captured the cover of Del Rey’s album Lust for Life and has contributed promotional photography for the artist.

During her teenage years in the small community of Lake Placid, Del Rey struggled with heavy drinking. Although she initially attended Catholic school, her parents opted to send her to Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut, in hopes of addressing her challenges with alcohol. While boarding school did not completely resolve her issues, Del Rey achieved sobriety by the age of 18.

Rather than pursuing college immediately, she chose to live with her aunt and uncle on Long Island, where her uncle introduced her to playing the guitar. Although she later enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx to study philosophy, her passion for music ultimately became her primary focus.

Becoming Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey, originally known as Lizzy Grant, embarked on her musical journey through open mic nights and club performances. In 2006, she participated in a songwriting competition. Although she did not win, a judge from the panel assisted her in creating a demo, which ultimately led to her signing with the independent label 5 Points. With the $10,000 advance from this deal, she relocated to a trailer park in New Jersey. In a 2021 interview with MOJO, Del Rey expressed her frustration with the perception that she feigned emotional sensitivity. “The way things started off for me… was that I was feigning emotional sensitivity. I really didn’t like that,” she stated. “Because I didn’t even get famous ’til I was, like, 27, and until then, I sang for less than free. And I loved it. I really was that girl who was pure of soul. I didn’t give a f––.”

Del Rey’s musical influences are diverse, including Joan Baez, Cat Power, Kurt Cobain, Stevie Nicks, Britney Spears, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, and Eminem. Additionally, she draws inspiration from poets such as Allen Ginsberg, Vladimir Nabokov, and Walt Whitman.

By the time her debut album, Lana Del Ray AKA Lizzy Grant, was released in 2010, she had decided to adopt a new stage name. After considering various names like Sparkle Rope Jump Queen and May Jailer, she settled on Lana Del Rey, a choice inspired by a trip to Miami and its connotations of coastal glamor. “Lana Del Rey just sounded good coming out of my mouth—it was exotic sounding, and I like exotic places and I like really gorgeous things,” she later shared with Dazed. “I could build a sonic world towards the way the name fell off my lips. It’s helped me a lot.”

Del Rey developed a distinctive sound characterized by vulnerable, emotional alternative music, often infused with nostalgia for America’s past. Her aesthetic merges American iconography with darker themes, a style she described as “Hollywood Sadcore.” To complement her new identity, she dyed her blonde hair and embraced a retro, glamorous image, with one of her managers likening her to “gangster Nancy Sinatra.” During this period, she parted ways with her record label and spent some time in London, collaborating with songwriters like Justin Parker. Their work together culminated in the creation of “Video Games,” which she released on YouTube with a self-produced music video. This track became a viral sensation, propelling her toward mainstream recognition.

In October 2011, Del Rey’s signing with Interscope Records raised questions about the authenticity of her rise to fame, particularly regarding the release of “Video Games.” Speculation arose that her father was a wealthy benefactor, a claim she has refuted, asserting that her family was not affluent.

In 2012, Del Rey made her debut on Saturday Night Live, where she faced criticism for her nervous demeanor and tentative singing. Additionally, her first studio album, Born to Die, received mixed reviews from critics, with prominent publications labeling her as a frivolous act. Reflecting on the backlash in a 2023 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she noted, “I think in one week, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New York Post, and New York Magazine agreed that it was the most ridiculous act that had ever come out.” However, rather than deter her, the critiques motivated Del Rey to persevere. Ultimately, Born to Die resonated with audiences, achieving Top 5 status on the Billboard 200 album chart and marking the beginning of her successful career.

Discography

To date, Lana Del Rey has released nine albums, including one under her birth name, Lizzy Grant, and one EP. Born to Die (2012) is often regarded as her debut under her professional name, although her first album, Lana Del Ray AKA Lizzy Grant, was released in 2010.

In February 2024, Del Rey announced her forthcoming album, Lasso, set to be released in September.

• Lana Del Ray AKA Lizzy Grant
• Born to Die
• Paradise
• Ultraviolence
• Honeymoon
• Lust for Life
• Norman F––g Rockwell
• Chemtrails Over the Country Club
• Blue Banisters
• Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
• Lasso

Notable Songs

Lana Del Rey’s discography may not be dominated by numerous radio hits, but she has produced a collection of songs that have garnered billions of streams. Among her most notable tracks are the multi-platinum singles “Summertime Sadness,” “Young and Beautiful,” “Born to Die,” and “West Coast.”

Del Rey’s early hits were distinguished by their viral music videos, which helped define her “Hollywood Sadcore” aesthetic. The 2011 release “Video Games” resonated deeply with audiences through its blend of vintage footage, classic cartoons, Hollywood imagery, and evocative visuals, including an unsteady Paz de la Huerta outside the Chateau Marmont. Another popular DIY video, “Blue Jeans,” followed in March 2012.

In contrast, the video for “Born to Die” featured a more elaborate production, incorporating two tigers and echoing the themes of Rebel Without a Cause with a dramatic car wreck conclusion. The “National Anthem” video showcased Del Rey’s portrayal of both Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Marilyn Monroe, alongside A$AP Rocky as John F. Kennedy.

The track “Summertime Sadness” gained immense popularity after Cedric Gervais produced an EDM remix in 2013, propelling the remix to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The original version, released in 2012, has achieved platinum certification, with sales equivalent to 6 million copies. Del Rey’s highest-charting solo single on the Hot 100 is “West Coast,” which peaked at No. 17 in 2014.

Del Rey’s vocals have also been featured in several film soundtracks. She penned the song “Young and Beautiful” for the 2013 remake of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. This track was part of Jay-Z’s curated soundtrack for the film and earned a Grammy nomination. The following year, she contributed the Golden Globe-nominated song “Big Eyes” to Tim Burton’s film of the same name and performed an updated version of “Once Upon a Dream” for Maleficent, featuring Angelina Jolie. In 2019, she collaborated with Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande on “Don’t Call Me Angel (Charlie’s Angels),” which debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

More recently, Del Rey has received critical acclaim for her songs “Norman F––g Rockwell” and “A&W,” both of which were nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2020 and 2024, respectively. Additionally, her collaborations have become widely recognized; she has worked with The Weeknd on multiple occasions, including on his tracks “Prisoner” (2015) and “Stargirl Interlude” (2016). In 2022, Del Rey co-wrote and featured on Taylor Swift’s “Snow on the Beach” from the album Midnights, noting in Harper’s Bazaar, “That was actually the song Taylor wanted me to sing on. If I think someone’s song is perfect, I will act as a producer in it.”

Grammy Nominations

Since her first two nominations in 2013, Lana Del Rey has received a total of 11 Grammy Award nominations, though she has yet to secure a win. Among her nominations are three for Album of the Year, recognizing Norman F––g Rockwell, Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, and Beauty Behind The Madness, featuring Del Rey on one of its tracks. She has also received two nominations in the prestigious Song of the Year category for “Norman F––g Rockwell” and “A&W.”

Additionally, her song “Young and Beautiful,” from The Great Gatsby, was nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Both Lust for Life and her EP Paradise were contenders for Best Pop Vocal Album.

At the 2024 Grammy Awards, Del Rey received five nominations, with Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd up for both Best Alternative Music Album and Album of the Year. The song “A&W” was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Alternative Music Performance. Furthermore, her collaboration with Jon Batiste on “Candy Necklace” was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Tours and Career Highlights

Lana Del Rey’s career has been marked by a series of significant tours and artistic ventures. Her early tours were predominantly international, showcasing her music to a global audience. In 2015, she embarked on the Endless Summer Tour, which spanned 17 cities across the United States, featuring Courtney Love as a special guest at select concerts. Following this, the LA to the Moon Tour in early 2018 showcased a robust lineup of performances, further solidifying her place in the music industry. Del Rey continued to captivate audiences during The Norman F*ing Rockwell Tour** in 2019 and again in fall 2023 to promote her album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.

Del Rey’s mainstream success has also opened doors outside the music industry. Notably, she modeled for H&M and collaborated with the British luxury brand Mulberry, which created a signature handbag called The Del Rey in her honor. In 2013, she ventured into film with her short film Tropico, accompanied by a corresponding EP. Moreover, her artistic influence inspired actor James Franco and a co-author to pen Flip-Side: Real and Imaginary Conversations With Lana Del Rey (2016). Her presence at the 2018 Met Gala, alongside Jared Leto, was unforgettable, as she adorned a striking halo with wings and a dress embellished with knives protruding from a gold heart.

In addition to her musical accomplishments, Del Rey is also a poet. She released her first spoken word poetry collection, Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass, in July 2020, followed by a hardcover edition in September of the same year, featuring over 30 original poems.

Romantic Relationships

Del Rey’s romantic history includes a series of relationships with fellow artists and musicians. She dated Scottish singer Barrie-James O’Neill from 2011 to 2014, and subsequently had relationships with photographer Francesco Carrozzini (2014–2015), rapper G-Eazy (2017), and Live PD analyst Sean Larkin (2019–early 2020). In late 2020, she became engaged to musician Clayton Johnson, but they parted ways in the fall of 2021. Del Rey then had a relationship with Jack Donoghue from 2022 until 2023. Most recently, she was rumored to be engaged to music manager Evan Winiker in March 2023, but the couple has since separated.

In a November 2023 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Del Rey reflected on her romantic life, stating, “I’m definitely not in love right now… But give it a week. My history, sure, it’s coming for me.”

Controversies and Waffle House Appearance

Throughout her career, Del Rey has faced various controversies and challenges. Her personal life has been subject to scrutiny, including a break-in at her home and a significant hacking incident in 2012 that compromised her unreleased songs and personal information. A particularly alarming event occurred in February 2018 when a man was arrested at a concert in Orlando, Florida, for allegedly plotting to kidnap her.

Del Rey has often attracted attention for her candid remarks and the content of her music. A controversial interview with The Guardian in 2014 saw her make headlines when she stated, “I wish I was dead already,” while discussing late musicians Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, leading to criticism from Cobain’s daughter, Frances. Additionally, her 2014 song “Ultraviolence” sparked debate with its provocative lyric, “He hit me and it felt like a kiss.” By 2017, Del Rey expressed discomfort with this line.

Her music has also addressed sensitive social issues. The release of “Looking for America” in 2019, which reflects on gun violence and mass shootings, garnered significant attention. Furthermore, her 2023 album included a track featuring megachurch pastor Judah Smith, which drew mixed reactions from fans.

In early 2018, Del Rey was involved in a dispute with Radiohead regarding her song “Get Free,” which was claimed to bear similarities to their hit “Creep.” However, she later announced that the issue had been resolved.

Del Rey’s statements on race and representation have also led to backlash. In May 2020, she faced criticism for singling out women of color in a controversial Instagram post about music and themes of sexuality. Critics noted that the artists she mentioned also experienced negative scrutiny.

Her album Chemtrails Over the Country Club faced scrutiny for its cover art, which featured Del Rey surrounded by a group of predominantly white friends, prompting accusations of lacking diversity. In response, she defended her choice of imagery, stating, “We are all a beautiful mix of everything – some more than others, which is visible and celebrated in everything I do.”

In a surprising turn of events in September 2023, Del Rey was spotted working a shift at a Waffle House in Florence, Alabama. Fans speculated that this was a promotional stunt or part of a new project. However, Del Rey clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that it was a spontaneous decision after visiting the restaurant multiple times: “We were on our third hour, and the servers asked, ‘Do you guys want shirts?’ Hell yeah! We were thrilled.”