Hot Take – A New Era for Lana Del Rey
It’s a safe bet that everybody has at least one friend who is obsessed with Lana Del Rey. For several people in my life, I’m that friend. Even after 8 years of releasing music, it’s unlikely that New York native Lana (born Elizabeth Grant) could ever disappoint me. However, she has managed to surprise me with her newest releases. Although she initially received harsh critical reception very early on in her career, fans have always been drawn to her soft voice and vintage aesthetic. The images of golden-age Hollywood, stardom and romantic ennui that she evokes in her soft-pop sound have a magnetism that has kept her audience hooked.
The first single from her upcoming album (titled ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell’) is called ‘Mariners Apartment Complex’ and for a musician who is usually known for a very specific sound, it might be a departure from that expectation. Lana worked with producer Jack Antonoff on this track, which adds a new flavour to her writing that I haven’t heard before from her. The simple piano melody (a signature Jack element) accompanies Lana’s vocals along with lush strings and guitar parts during the track. Lana’s singing seems so much calmer and flows so easily in this song that it almost sounds like an intimate live performance.
Antonoff’s influence rings through in the very clean production, while Lana’s perspective isn’t lost in the new sound. Her lyrics are more specific than they used to be and the hint of self-awareness that was present in Lust For Life (her last album) is apparent here as well. The narrative throughout the song is of people assuming she is deeply sad, despite her efforts to stay hopeful. The lyric “I ain’t no candle in the wind” might be the clearest example of this, with Lana saying that she’s not as fragile as people may think she is. It’s also a reference to the Elton John song written for Marilyn Monroe, who has been an inspiration to Lana for her entire career. For those familiar with Lana’s penchant, this song is most similar in tone to the Lust For Life tracks, as she explores a wider variety of topics and becomes progressively more optimistic.
Even critics who were previously dismissive of Lana found themselves pleasantly surprised by ‘Mariners Apartment Complex.’ She’s grown so much since her first few albums, both as an artist and an individual. ‘Normal Fucking Rockwell’ is scheduled to be released sometime in early 2019 and you’ll be sure to find me back to write about my thoughts as soon as it’s out, especially because I have no idea what to expect from it. This new era of Lana’s music is well-timed and beautifully arranged, so it’ll definitely be one to watch out for.
