By: Koty Neelis
One of my favorite discoveries of the summer, Lana Del Rey, caused a major stir with her D.I.Y video for her sad, sultry song “Video Games”. The video hit an impressive 500,000 views on YouTube before it was banned. The former jazz singer defines herself as a “gangsta Nancy Sinatra” and her genre of music as Hollywood sadcore.
Del Rey’s songs are created from her obsessions: David Lynch, black & white movies, Coney Island, hip-hop and heartbreak. “There’s something beautiful about the fight. About any fight” she explains. “I’m talking about epic, knocked-down, dragged-out love stories in song. That’s what I’m heading towards.”
Lana Del Rey grew up in Lake Placid on the outer edges of New York State, where her unique musical style was incubated. “It has an epic, nostalgic feel. It’s in the middle of a National Park, ” says Del Rey, “But it’s also a struggle because it’s a town built on tourism that no one goes to anymore.” At 18, she fulfilled her lifelong ambition of decamping to New York City. “Since I was little I knew I would end up there,” she says. “New York totally rewards me for my love of it.”
Her debut single, “Video Games/Blue Jeans” will be released on October 9th by Stranger Records via all major digital retailers, and October 10 on limited edition 7″ vinyl picture disc.
Watch the video for “Video Games” here:
This review opened my ears to an amazing new artist…thank you