Lana Del Rey

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7 Feb 2024

Lana Del Rey

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, professionally known as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter celebrated for her music's cinematic quality and exploration of themes such as tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia. She often references contemporary pop culture and draws inspiration from 1950s–70s Americana. Del Rey's vintage Hollywood glamour aesthetic is not only evident in her music but also in her music videos.

Originally from northern New York State, Del Rey relocated to New York City in 2005 to pursue a music career. After several projects, including her self-titled debut studio album, she gained widespread recognition in 2011 with the viral success of her single "Video Games." This led to a recording contract with Polydor and Interscope.

Del Rey achieved critical and commercial success with her major label debut album, "Born to Die" (2012), which featured the sleeper hit "Summertime Sadness." The album topped charts worldwide and marked the beginning of her string of number-one albums in the UK. Her subsequent albums, such as "Ultraviolence" (2014), "Honeymoon" (2015), and "Lust for Life" (2017), showcased her evolving style and musical range.

In 2019, Del Rey released "Norman Fucking Rockwell!", which received widespread acclaim, earning nominations for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards and recognition from Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. She continued her musical journey with albums like "Chemtrails over the Country Club" and "Blue Banisters" in 2021, followed by "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd" in 2023.

Del Rey has collaborated on soundtracks for various visual media projects, including the critically acclaimed musical short "Tropico" (2013) and "Young and Beautiful" for the film "The Great Gatsby." She has also published a poetry and photography collection titled "Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass" (2020).

Throughout her career, Lana Del Rey has received numerous accolades, including MTV Europe Music Awards, Brit Awards, Billboard Women in Music Awards, and Grammy Award nominations. She has been recognized by Variety as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century and has been honored by Rolling Stone and Rolling Stone UK for her contributions to music.

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, professionally known as Lana Del Rey, was born on June 21, 1985, in Manhattan, New York City, to Robert England Grant Jr., a copywriter, and Patricia Ann "Pat" Grant, an account executive, both at Grey Group. Lana has a younger sister named Caroline "Chuck" Grant and a younger brother named Charlie Grant. Raised in a Roman Catholic household, Lana is of Scottish descent.

When Lana was one year old, her family relocated to Lake Placid, New York, where her father transitioned from working for a furniture company to becoming an entrepreneurial domain investor, while her mother worked as a schoolteacher. Lana attended St. Agnes School during her elementary years and began singing in the church choir, where she served as the cantor.
At the age of 14 or 15, Lana's parents sent her to Kent School to address her struggles with alcoholism. Her uncle, who worked as an admissions officer at the school, helped secure financial aid for Lana to attend. During her teenage years, Lana found it challenging to make friends and battled feelings of anxiety and alienation, often preoccupied with thoughts of death.

After graduating from Kent School, Lana spent a year living with her aunt and uncle on Long Island, where she worked as a waitress. During this time, her uncle taught her to play the guitar, igniting her passion for music. Lana began writing songs and performing in nightclubs around the city under various names.

In fall 2004, at the age of 19, Lana enrolled at Fordham University in The Bronx, New York City, where she pursued a major in philosophy with a focus on metaphysics. She was drawn to the subject because it explored the intersection of God and science, reflecting her interest in understanding the origins of existence.

In spring 2005, Lana Del Rey, still in college, registered a seven-track extended play with the United States Copyright Office titled "Rock Me Stable," with another title, "Young Like Me," also listed. During this time, she also recorded a second extended play, "From the End," under the stage name May Jailer. Between 2005 and 2006, she worked on an acoustic album titled "Sirens" under the May Jailer project, which later leaked on the internet in mid-2012.

Del Rey's motivation to enter the music industry stemmed from her desire to be part of a high-class scene of musicians, hoping to meet people, fall in love, and build a community around her, similar to the atmosphere of the 1960s.

At her first public performance in 2006 for the Williamsburg Live Songwriting Competition, Del Rey met Van Wilson, an A&R representative for 5 Points Records, an independent label owned by David Nichtern. In 2007, while still a senior at Fordham University, she submitted a demo tape of acoustic tracks, "No Kung Fu," to 5 Points, which offered her a recording contract for $10,000. She used the money to relocate to Manhattan Mobile Home Park in North Bergen, New Jersey, and began working with producer David Kahne.

Del Rey graduated from Fordham with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2008. She released a three-track EP titled "Kill Kill" as Lizzy Grant, featuring production by Kahne. Del Rey also engaged in community outreach work for homeless individuals and drug addicts during this time, reflecting her interest in social service and activism.

Regarding her stage name, Del Rey explained that she wanted a name she could shape her music towards. The name Lana Del Rey reminded her of the glamour of the seaside in Miami, where she spent time, and was also inspired by actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey sedan. Initially using the alternate spelling Lana Del Ray, her self-titled debut album was released in January 2010. Del Rey eventually bought back the rights to the album from 5 Points Records to control its distribution and future opportunities.

Del Rey met her managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, three months after the release of Lana Del Ray and eventually moved to London, where she lived with Mawson for a few years. She continued to expand her artistic endeavors, participating in projects such as acting in a short film titled "Poolside" with friends.