March 30, 2017, Lana Del Rey posted a three part video on her Instagram, and posted the link on her Twitter. The video is black and white, with a very artistic spin that takes viewers back to Hollywood in the 50s. The video is narrated by Lana herself, where she includes many secret references to what can be expected in her new album– Lust for Life.
In the video, Lana talks about the struggles of creating an album. “It’s just a little more socially aware. That’s kind of a global feeling,’ said Del Rey with an interview on Pitchfork. As the album trailer continues, Del Rey talks more about the struggles of choosing what to write about for her fans, the struggle of ignoring political matters and the struggle of trying to figure out the message of this album, which will be released during this self-described “dark time.”
Lana also goes on to talk about how she needs her private space, away from the cameras and journalists, to be able to create a true album. These comments might have stemmed from her annoyance with the release of her last single, Love, which will be from her upcoming album. The single was either leaked or hacked, forcing Lana to release the song to the public. However, after the release of the single, Lana released the video for Love– which was probably one of her best music videos left.
Therefore, the album trailer for Lust for Life was very different for Del Ray (we have never seen a trailer for one of her albums); however, she gave fans lots of information about her upcoming album. Lana did not give a date for the album release, only a statement saying “It’s coming soon.”
Lana’s narration of the video is copied 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.
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