Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna
Lana Del Rey has just released a trailer for her forthcoming album, Lust for Life, which will be “coming soon” according to both the trailer and Del Rey’s Facebook announcement. Watch the video below:
The video ventures inside the ‘H’ of the Hollywood sign to show a witchy, transparent version of Del Rey as she sits on top of a table surrounded by levitating, holographic items and images. She voices over a narrative about the album while spooky, instrumental music plays in the background. The video is an aesthetic, creative way for Del Rey to explain that she has been taking the time between albums to reflect on current events and happenings in the world, and that the album will be a response to the “transition out of one era into another one.”
Del Rey recently released a single from the album last month, titled “Love.” According to Pitchfork, she gave an interview following the release and provided some information about Lust for Life, stating “[I] started out thinking that the whole record was going to have sort of a, like, a ’50s, ’60s feeling, with some kind of Shangri-La, early Joan Baez influences.” Ultimately, “as the climate kept on getting more heated politically,” she said, “it’s just a little more socially aware. That’s kind of a global feeling.”
Read the full narrative from the video, below:
“You know, in this town, an artist really needs a lot of space when they’re trying to create something special. A place to cultivate a world of their own, far away from the real world that’s around them. Luckily for me, I live right inside the middle of the “H” of the Hollywood sign. And this is how I spend most of my nights: perched high above the chaos that swirls within the city of angels below.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love to dip my toe into the muck and the mires of the city every now and then. Especially on Tuesdays. But truthfully, when I’m in the middle of making a record, especially now when the world is in the middle of such a tumultuous period, I find I really need to take the space for myself far away from real life, to consider what my contribution to the world should be in these dark times.
So each morning, I have the luxury of asking myself, “What shall I cook up for the kids today? Something with a little spice? Something with a little bitterness but is ultimately sweet? Or shall I take the day off and turn down the fire, and just take a moment to send my love to them over the ether?” Because sometimes, just being pure of heart and having good intentions and letting them be known is the most worthy contribution an artist can make.
So, even though these times can feel a little bit crazy, they’re not so very different from what other generations have experienced at one time or another before. Amidst all the uncertainty, and as we transition out of one era into another one, there’s no place I’d rather be than smack-dab in the middle of “Holly-weird” making this record for you. Because you, and the music, and this place, are my love, my life, my lust for life.”
UMG Recordings released Del Rey’s last album, Honeymoon, in 2015. Many publications added the album to their “best of” lists, and have consistently called it Del Rey’s best album to date. It debuted as number two on the US Billboard 200.
Listen to Lust for Life’s first single, “Love,” or watch Del Rey perform the song live at this year’s SXSW.
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