Lana Del Rey by Jamie Hawkesworth for W Magazine Volume 3 2022

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (born June 21, 1986), better known by her stage name Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Del Rey initially began performing in clubs in New York City at age 18, and signed her first recording contract when she was 21 years old with 5 Points Records, releasing her first digital album Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant in January 2010. Del Rey bought herself out of her contract with 5 Points Records in April 2010 and signed to Stranger Records to release her debut single "Video Games" in June 2011. A music video created by Del Rey for the song was posted on YouTube in August 2011 and became a viral internet hit.

Del Rey then signed a joint deal with Interscope and Polydor in collaboration with Stranger Records in July 2011, and released her second studio album Born to Die in January 2012. She is currently recording tracks for her "Paradise" edition reissue of Born to Die which will feature seven new tracks and will be released in November 2012.

Del Rey's music has been noted for its cinematic sound and its references to various aspects of pop culture, particularly that of the 1950s and '60s Americana. The singer has described herself as a "self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra". Del Rey is also signed to NEXT Model Management.