Lana Del Rey Biography
Lana Del Rey is an American singer who's captured listeners' hearts with biographical songs wrapped in dark aesthetics. Her captivating sincerity weaves together with explicit lyrics, while bright energy collides with bold sexuality. Her "cinematic" music defies easy genre classification, and everyone can probably find something personal in it. Music critics have compared her voice to China Forbes, Nancy Sinatra, and Ambrosia Parsley. Thanks to these comparisons, the singer began calling her work "Hollywood sadcore," while defining herself as a "gangster version of Nancy Sinatra."
Childhood and Family
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant was born on June 21, 1985, into a well-off New York family. Her father, Robert Grant Jr. (born 1954), made his fortune in the '90s through investments first in real estate, then in internet infrastructure. In 1982, while still working as a regular employee at the Grey Group advertising agency, he proposed to accounting assistant Patricia Hill, whom he'd met during the filming of a commercial.
At school, the girl spent most of her time staring out the window and dreaming of being somewhere else. This continued until Elizabeth started taking philosophy classes at 15, where she found a whole classroom of like-minded people also asking: "Why are we here?" Around the same time, she discovered alcohol and quickly became addicted to this new entertainment. She tells the story of these dark days in her song "Born to Die." Her frightened parents sent her to a boarding school in Connecticut, and she didn't touch a drop of alcohol until she turned 18.The girl wrote her first song at age 11. "It was called China Palace and was about being a princess," the singer recalled.
First Steps to Fame
After returning to New York following graduation, Lizzy became a student in Fordham University's metaphysics program. She spent her free time volunteering: helping the homeless, people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, and traveling to Native American reservations where she built and repaired homes. At the same time, she was performing at nightclubs: Laila Lounge, Galapagos, The Living Room.
From this point on, Elizabeth became Lana Del Rey (though initially the third word in her pseudonym was spelled Ray, later transforming into Rey).
Career Peak
In January 2010, the album "Lana Del Ray a.k.a. Lizzy Grant" was released. The release went largely unnoticed by listeners, so the singer decided to break her contract and try to promote herself independently. In 2011, she released a homemade video-collage style clip for the song "Video Games," recorded with composer Justin Parker, which told the story of a routine and unhappy relationship with a boyfriend.At the end of 2011, the singer presented the single "Born to Die," which preceded the release of the album of the same name. The record claimed the fifth spot among the year's best-selling albums (while the singer herself landed in the top 3 most popular female artists in America). Critics called it a bridge between contemporary hip-hop culture and classic pop music, enhanced with jazz elements.
In 2012, the performer began work on her next album and created a cover version of the fifties hit "Blue Velvet." The music video, shot in the style of David Lynch's "Twin Peaks," caused a sensation among YouTube users and music channel viewers.
A year later, the singer delighted fans with her new album "Honeymoon". The record brought back memories of Lana Del Rey's early work: once again, that noir atmosphere of the '60s, bluesy undertones, and her hypnotic voice. "High by the Beach" and "Music to Watch Boys To" were released as singles.
Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Despite her packed touring schedule, Lana Del Rey was hard at work on new material. In spring 2018, she unveiled "Happiness is a Butterfly".
According to Pitchfork, it's "the singer's most profound work to date," where she "abandons false patriotism and tackles serious social and personal themes," including toxic relationships and toxic masculinity.
The track "The Greatest" had critics raving. Spin called it a "surf-rock ballad," while NME dubbed it "possibly one of the greatest songs Lana has ever written." TIME emphasized that the epic "The Greatest" reflects the decline of American culture, giving the song an almost apocalyptic scope.
TIME included Norman Fucking Rockwell! in its list of the ten best albums of the year, describing it as 'dark, dreamy, and relevant.' Vogue praised Lana for a powerful paradigm shift: she no longer 'idealizes men, but deconstructs them.'
Chemtrails Over the Country Club and Blue Banisters
In March 2021, the singer released Chemtrails Over the Country Club, marking a return to her musical roots: a blend of folk and country with emphasis on acoustic arrangements and intimate vocal delivery. While critics generally found Lana's new work less striking than her previous album.The album's key themes revolve around escape, friendship, fame, and attempts to reclaim a lost pre-celebrity lifestyle. The title, "chemtrails over the country club," reads as a metaphor for the "blissful ignorance" the singer romanticizes.
That October, Lana delivered her next album, Blue Banisters. Critics characterized it as an intimate self-portrait with a less ambitious but more genuine approach than her previous releases.
Critics emphasized the album's "therapeutic" nature: if Norman Fucking Rockwell! represents "war" and Chemtrails "reign," then Blue Banisters is about "home" and "healing."
Lana Del Rey's Personal Life
During her time at Fordham University, Elizabeth's boyfriend was local rock scene icon Steven Mertens. He took on producing his girlfriend's debut album. However, their relationship quickly came to an end, and the album was later re-recorded under David Kaine's guidance. She briefly dated musician Jimmy Necco afterward.
In fall 2019, the singer was spending time with Sean Larkin, who was far from the showbiz world. The police officer and reality show participant introduced the star to his circles – bringing her to police parties with his colleagues. Lana, in turn, opened doors to high society for him.
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The artist didn't have to grieve long – that same year, the press was already buzzing about the celebrity's new romance. This time, singer Clayton Johnson captured her heart. He performed with his brothers Chentry and Connor in the band The Johnsons.
Del Rey appeared on Jimmy Fallon's show, and eagle-eyed viewers immediately spotted an engagement ring on her finger. Sources close to the couple whispered that the musician had proposed, and she didn't need much convincing.
Then the singer vanished without a trace – disappeared from social media, and by spring 2022, people were talking about a new romance. The alleged leading man was Jack Donoghue, frontman of the band Salem, who had a reputation as, to put it mildly, not the most exemplary guy – he'd even dated the scandalous Courtney Love.
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In March 2023, headlines exploded with another sensation: Lana was supposedly heading down the aisle with musician Evan Winiker, whom she'd only been dating for a couple of months. The buzz started when she showed up at the Billboard Women in Music Awards sporting a stunning diamond ring.
But by August 2024, a new man had entered her life – Jeremy Dufrene, an alligator farm tour guide from Louisiana. Interestingly, they'd known each other for years: back in 2019, Del Rey had taken a boat ride with him through the swamps of Des Allemands.
Lana Del Rey Now
Lana Del Rey's ninth studio album, Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, dropped in March 2023.The title references the Jergins Tunnel, built in 1927 in Long Beach, California, under Ocean Blvd as a safe pedestrian passage to the ocean. Access has been closed since 1967, and in local culture it's become a symbol of something lost, forbidden, hidden.
It's a kind of metaphor. Does a tunnel under Ocean Blvd exist? Yes, but it's closed. Just like Lana's inner life – filled with memories that are sealed behind closed doors and only open to those closest to her.
The Guardian described the album as "heavy and strikingly truthful." According to their critic, "...the abstract canvas of songs becomes not dust, but a living organic organism, and the listener seems to see a picture of American mythological psyche."The album's release was nearly derailed. Someone stole Lana's laptop with demo versions of the album, hard drives, and lyric drafts – forcing her to rework many songs and give them new meanings.
Pitchfork called the album "a sprawling, shimmering, and often bewildering work of golden American mythology" and gave it their Best New Music tag. Some critics found it complex and not accessible to everyone, but most recognize its maturity, experimentation, and boldness – Lana's step into a new, more deeply readable phase of her artistry.
In 2025, Lana was preparing to release her tenth album The Right Person Will Stay, building anticipation with singles Henry. Come On and Bluebird. It's known that it will be recorded in the country genre.
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2021-05-18 13:02:35
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Deborah Ruiz
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Edward Cole
2021-05-07 22:03:45
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Patrick Aiden Stewart
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Dawn Clark
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