Lana Del Rey

               Lana Del Rey      

      Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, best known by the artistic name Lana Del Rey, is not one of the most recognized singers in the world, but her music has a high quality and it´s being well-known progressively. Her actual artistic name was inspired by the combination of the names of the actress Lana Turner and the car Ford Del Rey. She was born on June 21, 1986, in New York City, where she has a house till nowadays, but living in Los Angeles.  

   

      Still pretty young, at fourteen, Lana used to drink a lot and every day, becoming a big drinker. In order to deal with her alcohol dependence, she was sent to Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut, coming back to New York at the age of eighteen. Then, Lana went to Fordham University in New York City, where she studied metaphysics, a branch of philosophy. "It bridged the gap between God and science. I was interested in God and how technology could bring us closer to finding out where we came from and why." she said, explaining her motivation to begin this course. "That was when my musical experience began. I kind of found people for myself." When her uncle taught her how to play the guitar, she started performing at clubs all around the city, under various names such as Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, Lizzy Grant and The Phenomena. Gradually, she´s got addicted to the music world and introduced herself into it.

                                                                                                     Video Games

      In 2006, Lana´s first recording contract was  signed, and then, it was released her first digital   album "Lana Del Ray a.k.a. Lizzy Grant" in January,   2010. In August, 2011, the song "Video Games", created by Lana, was posted on YouTube. After the    song became a viral internet hit with over 20 million    views, her second studio album, "Born to Die", was   released in January 2012. The album sold over 3.6   million copies worldwide in 2012, making it the fifth  best-selling album of 2012. Charting across Europe, the album spawned numerous top ten hits, including   "Born to Die", "Blue Jeans", "Video Games",   "Summertime Sadness", "National Anthem", "Ride",   "Dark Paradise"  and "Without you". Her notorious work has been recognized in the course of time, giving her awards and nominations for festivals. She has won the Q Award for "Best New Thing", a GQ Award for "Woman of the Year", a BRIT Award for "International Breakthrough Act" and another for "International Pop Female Solo Artist", and an EMA for "Best Alternative Act".

                                                                                   Summertime Sadness

      Furthermore, Lana Del Rey is also a model and has become a fashion icon. Known as her spicy, sexy and vintage style, many girls have her as an idol and try to dress up like her. Recently, she has worked as a model for Vogue and H&M, doing an amazing job.

 

     


      Lana's style of music is kind of melancholic, sad and realistic, a mix of love and hate, sadness and confusion, angels and devils. To write her songs she gets inspiration from her own life, including her life experiences, such as the ones which she had while living in New York City and while trying to leave her addiction to alcohol as well. Lana has an incredible, original and captivating voice, classified as contralto, but that goes to low till high notes amazingly.

      

By Bárbara Peixoto Vianna and Kylza Pires de Mello de Azevedo.