Lana Del Rey On Why She’s Taking Her Time With New Country Album
Lana Del Rey is taking her time crafting her highly anticipated country album, Lasso, and she’s in no rush to get it out the door. At the 2024 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles on October 24, the 39-year-old singer shared a few insights into her creative process, leaving fans eagerly waiting for what’s to come.
While chatting with PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly, Lana explained that she’s embracing a slower pace for this project. “I think all the songs have been Americana and I want to wait to see what the musical atmosphere feels like,” she said about Lasso.
She hinted at a mysterious pause in her creative flow, noting that if she feels a shift in energy, she has to take a step back. “…I don’t usually feel like I need a pause in the creation process, but if there’s a literal energetic pause that almost feels like physical, then I have to wait and I don’t know why.”
Even though she hasn’t set a release date yet, Lana assures fans that she’s dedicated to making sure the album is just right. “The songs I have, I love, so I don’t want to turn it into something that’s half cooked, even if it’s super stripped back. I want it to be what it was supposed to be,” she stated.
For those who are eager to hear Lana’s country-inspired sound, they can get a taste from her latest collaboration, Tough, featuring Quavo. The song, driven by a soulful, country-tinged guitar riff, showcases Lana’s signature storytelling with lyrics about “the scuff on a pair of old leather boots” and a “blue-collar, red-dirt attitude.” The music video highlights classic Americana scenes of country roads and farmhouses, giving fans a preview of the direction Lasso might take.
Lana also reflected on how country music is making waves in the industry. “When I gave Jack Antonoff his award for Best Producer of the Year, I said, ‘Welcome Nashville to Hollywood, and Hollywood, welcome to Nashville because the music business has gone, gone country.’”
She shared how the crowd of 5,000 people went completely silent after her statement. “Then the next week, we had three major artists announce big country albums.”
As for her fans, Lana encourages them to be patient. “They can be excited for all the other good stuff going on. We’ll get there. First things first!”
Earlier this year, Lana hinted at a different approach to her songwriting for Lasso compared to her previous albums like Tunnel and Blue Bannisters. Describing her new material as “more melodic” and closer to the American Songbook style, Lana has teased that this album may have less personal revelation and more of a focus on classic Americana sounds.
