In the 21st century, there is probably nobody who has never heard of Lana Del Rey. She is a world-famous American singer and songwriter who got the audience’s affection owing to her unique style and enchanting voice. Her story is incredibly interesting and fascinating because her way to the top of musical fame was full of ups and downs. Learn more at new-york-trend.com.
YOUTH AND ALCOHOLISM
Few people know that Lana del Rey’s real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She was born in 1985 in New York and got interested in music at an early age singing in the church choir at elementary school.
Her childhood was not simple at all. Her family experienced financial hardships and it was very difficult for her to make new friends and simply communicate with her peers. She has been troubled by death since childhood, as the girl understood that she and her relatives will die someday.
At the age of 14, she suffered from alcoholism. She was sent to a specialized elite school, which had to help her get over it. After graduating, she lived for a year with her uncle and aunt in Long Island and worked as a waitress. Her uncle taught her to play the guitar and the girl felt that she could create a million songs. Inspired by this idea, Elizabeth began writing songs and performing in local nightclubs. At the age of 18, she moved to her native New York, where she continued to develop her career actively. She wrote songs and performed in Brooklyn clubs.
ELIZABETH’S STAGE NAMES
The Lana Del Rey pseudonym didn’t appear right away. Elizabeth invented several pseudonyms when she began her singing career in New York clubs. Among them were Sparkle Jump Rope Queen and Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena. Later, inspired by the American actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey car, Elizabeth created the Lana Del Rey pseudonym.
THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT
In 2008, she released her first Kill Kill EP at the age of 23, which was released under the Lana Del Rey pseudonym. This album was not very popular among listeners but managed to attract the attention of many music industry leaders. Everyone wanted to collaborate with the future star.
In 2010, Del Rey signed a contract to record a new track with Interscope Records and soon released her debut Video Games single, which quickly went viral. In addition, Del Rey achieved critical acclaim for her memorable melody and distinctive voice.
In 2012, Del Rey released her Born to Die album, which became an incredible commercial success and reached the top charts in several countries. Critics praised Del Rey’s work too.
Despite her rapid fame, Del Rey was criticized a lot too. Some people didn’t like her image and others accused her of not being a real pop star and criticized her for allegedly promoting drug use and self-destructive behavior in her songs.
However, criticism did not scare Del Rey. She continued her music career and released more albums over the following years. She developed her style, which became more experimental and introspective. Del Rey released another incredibly successful album in 2021 that was called Chemtrails over the Country Club.
Over the years, she has drawn inspiration from her troubled past and youth. Her music is very melancholic and nostalgic. It evokes a feeling of longing for the old and simpler times. She became the voice of a whole generation and managed to cover the difficulties and contradictions of modern life. Her music became famous owing to its cinematic quality and tragic romance with elements of glamor and melancholy. In addition, it features frequent references to contemporary pop culture and American 1950s and 1960s style, which made Del Rey a unique singer.
Lana Del Rey’s life was filled with ups and downs. She faced a lot of problems, criticism and controversy throughout her life. Nevertheless, she coped with all the difficulties and achieved worldwide popularity and recognition. In the 21st century, she has millions of fans around the globe.
