Earlier this week Lana Del Rey wrote, recorded and partially released a new song she called “Looking For America.” In the short video, which was posted to her Instagram account, she sings along with electric guitar accompaniment from Jack Antonoff, creating a beautiful but chilling look at our country. The song was written and recorded in response to a pair of back-to-back shootings in the U.S. last weekend which ended with over 30 people killed and dozens more injured.
Today, she’s released the full version of the song, which you can listen to below. In addition to the release of the new song, Pitchfork reports that she’s announced that all proceeds from the song will go to benefit victims of three of our country’s most recent shootings: Gilroy Garlic Festival Victims Relief Fund, the El Paso Community Relief Fund and the Dayton Foundation.
In the post on her Instagram, the singer talked about her reaction to the news of shootings in El Paso, TX and then just hours later, Toledo, OH. She says that after hearing the news she wrote the song and called Antonoff to come into town and record the track. She stated in the post, “Now I know I’m not a politician and I’m not trying to be so excuse me for having an opinion- but in light of all of the mass shootings and the back to back shootings in the last couple of days which really affected me on a cellular level.”
Lana Del Rey will be releasing her long-awaited new album Normal Fucking Rockwell on August 30, after months of teases and hints at its official release. The album features previously-released songs like “Venice Bitch” and “Mariners Apartment Complex,” the former ranking high on our Best Songs of 2018 list last year. It will also include the left-field cover track, “Doin’ Time,” a song that was made famous by Long Beach reggae punk band Sublime. “Looking For America” will not be included on the new album.
In September, Lana Del Rey will embark on her Fall 2019 tour. So far, only a little more than a handful of shows have been announced, all on the West Coast. She will be touring in Europe in February and will likely announce dates in the middle of the country and East Coast at some point.
Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna
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