Lana Del Rey, one of this century’s most influential artists, rose to fame with the release of her debut album, Born to Die, on January 27, 2012. With haunting melodies and cinematic production, the album quickly captured widespread attention. The grandiose instrumentals with emotional lyrics lured music aficionados everywhere. Stand-out singles, “Video Games” and “Summertime Sadness”, resonated with audiences for their raw vulnerability and nostalgic aesthetic, earning critical acclaim and cementing Lana’s place in pop culture. Her distinctive sound and melancholic persona redefined modern pop, exposing her to international success and a devoted fan base almost overnight.

Early last year, after receiving the Songwriter Icon Award at the Billboard x National Music Publishers’ Association meeting, Lana announced she would be releasing a new album, Lasso, in September 2024. As the year went on, she postponed the project’s release because she did not want it to be “half-baked.” She later settled on a release date that she announced on November 25, 2024. She revealed that there would be 13 tracks and the lead single would be “Henry, Come On,” to be released closer to the album drop.

In the meantime, she released a song called “Tough” with Quavo, written by a young country artist, Maddox Batson. This song was a teaser for what was to come when Lana dove into exploring a country sound.

Another recent collaboration from Lana Del Rey is “The Abyss” with fellow artist The Weeknd, a wistful, atmospheric track that showcases the duo’s signature striking chemistry. The song is on his new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, released on January 31, 2025. While this is their latest joint effort, it’s far from their first. Their creative relationship dates back to Del Rey’s 2017 album Lust for Life, where The Weeknd lent his vocals to the title track, blending their dreamy styles into a fan-favorite duet. In “The Abyss”, Lana delivers a chilling line — “it’s a threat, not a promise” — that immediately sparked fan conversation.

Many have theorized that the lyric references her infamous Twitter clash with rapper Azealia Banks in 2018. During their heated exchange, Banks questioned whether Lana was threatening legal action, to which Lana coolly replied, “Tell him it’s a promise, not a threat.” The callback, intentional or not, adds an extra layer of meaning and attitude to the track, reminding Lana’s lyrics often walk the line between poetic and personal, blending her ethereal artistry with real-life edge.

A few months later, on April 11, 2025, Lana Del Rey released a single, “Henry, Come On.”  Fans raged as it was a sneak peek into what the album entails. Fans have compared the single to the album Blue Banisters, which was released in 2021. It showcases a more introspective and personal side of Del Rey, with themes of self-reflection, love, heartbreak, and personal growth. The album combines cinematic pop, soft rock, and alternative sounds, with a more stripped-back, almost nostalgic production style. The difference between the two releases is that “Henry, Come On” has a country-blues twist on the usual alternative pop style that Del Rey typically favors. The song has gotten mixed reviews from fans. Freshman Adia Cramer says, “I love the song, it’s super catchy and I love how vulnerable the song is compared to her other work.” 

Soon after the song’s release, Lana posted a reel on her Instagram account, revealing a new single, “Bluebird,” which was set to be released the next week. But, later on in the reel, she told fans that the album’s release date is to be postponed from the official date: May 21, 2025. Lana is notorious for working at her own pace and not sticking to a strict timeframe. Many believe it is why her art is always so refined and polished. Del Rey also disclosed that the album name has changed from The right person will stay, the original title. It is unknown what the new title is. When these announcements were made, fans were not surprised about the delayed release of the album, but were excited about another single release.

“Bluebird” was released on Friday, April 18th, 2025.  The song is a real-life experience that Del Rey has gone through. Another reel posted on her Instagram was to explain the meaning behind the song. She recalled that she was on her way to meet with an ex-boyfriend to go on a walk. Del Rey explains that the world sent her a “sign” by sending a blue sparrow that crashed into her window. She then nursed the bird back to health and sang the chorus until it flew away. She contemplated on if she should still go on that walk after what had happened, but ultimately she followed through with the plans. After the walk was over and she reflected, she realized it did not go well, and she should have listened to what the world was telling her. “Bluebird” was formed with the repeating lyric, “find a way to fly.” This symbolizes both the bird flying away after being wounded and Del Rey moving on from that past relationship. Fans responded with praise, saying that she had a “Snow White” moment. Both of the singles released have been an extremely optimistic start to this upcoming album roll-out, and fans are patiently waiting to see what is to come.