Lust for Life

Lust for Life
Name	Lust for Life
Type	studio
Artist	Lana Del Rey
Released	July 21, 2017
Recorded	2016–2017
Studio	* Electric Lady Studios, * Conway Recording Studios, * Easy Eye Sound
Genre	Pop, indie pop, dream pop
Length	58:30
Label	Interscope, Polydor
Producer	* Lana Del Rey, * Rick Nowels, * Justin Parker, * Emile Haynie, * Kieron Menzies, * Benny Blanco

Lust for Life is the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It blends elements of pop, indie pop, and dream pop with collaborations from musicians and producers across contemporary popular music. The record features guest appearances and songwriting contributions that situate it within a web of 2010s popular culture, chart competition, and festival circuits.

Background and composition

Del Rey began conceptual work on the album after touring in support of her previous album, drawing inspiration from relationships with artists and public figures including Lizzy Grant, Beyoncé Knowles, Axl Rose, Kanye West, Adolf Hitler-era cultural references, and filmic influences like David Lynch and Terrence Malick. Songwriting sessions involved collaborators such as Rick Nowels, Emile Haynie, Justin Parker, Benny Blanco, and Greg Kurstin, merging vintage Hollywood motifs with contemporary pop aesthetics. Lyrical themes evoke locations and institutions: references to Los Angeles, New York City, Mulholland Drive, and celebrity culture framed by nods to bodies of work like Born to Die, Ultraviolence, and cinematic texts including The Godfather and Rebel Without a Cause. Musically, tracks incorporate orchestral arrangements reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and echo production techniques used by artists such as Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, and Frank Ocean.

Recording and production

Recording took place at major studios including Electric Lady Studios, Conway Recording Studios, and Easy Eye Sound with engineers and producers who had credits on projects by Adele, Rihanna, Drake, and Kanye West. Production duties balanced Del Rey's co-productions with input from Rick Nowels, Emile Haynie, Benny Blanco, and Kieron Menzies. Sessions featured instrumentalists linked to sessions for Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles legacy projects and contemporary collaborators like The Weeknd and St. Vincent. Mixing and mastering involved professionals who had worked on releases by Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, and Madonna.

Release and promotion

The album was announced amid media cycles involving interviews on platforms associated with The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vogue, and appearances on television networks including BBC and MTV. Singles were released to radio and streaming services in coordination with labels Interscope Records and Polydor Records, leveraging festival bookings at Glastonbury Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and broadcast slots on Saturday Night Live-adjacent programs. Promotional strategies included magazine covers referencing photographers and creative directors who had worked with Annie Leibovitz, David LaChapelle, and Steven Meisel.

Critical reception and legacy

Critics compared the album to works by Miles Davis-adjacent cinematic scoring and contemporary figures like Lorde, Adele, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar, noting shifts toward more optimistic lyricism relative to prior releases. Reviews in outlets such as Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, The New Yorker, and Spin framed the record in the context of Del Rey's evolving public persona and songwriting partnerships with figures like Rick Nowels and Emile Haynie. Retrospectives cite its influence on subsequent singer-songwriter albums by artists including Billie Eilish, Halsey, Florence Welch, Marina Diamandis, and St. Vincent. The album factored into award-season conversations at institutions such as the Grammy Awards and BRIT Awards.

Commercial performance

Upon release the album entered charts dominated by releases from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Drake, and Kanye West, debuting high on national charts including the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. Singles received airplay on stations affiliated with iHeartRadio and placements on influential editorial playlists curated by Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. Sales and streaming performance translated into certifications from bodies like the British Phonographic Industry and the Recording Industry Association of America.

Music video and visual themes

Music videos and visualizers for singles drew on iconography associated with filmmakers and photographers, referencing the aesthetics of David Lynch, Federico Fellini, Nicolas Roeg, and photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Helmut Newton. Visual themes invoked locations such as Los Angeles, Malibu, and Hollywood Boulevard, with styling nods to fashion houses and designers who have dressed stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna, and Lady Gaga.

Live performances and tours

Promotion incorporated performances at televised events and festival stages including Conan, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Glastonbury Festival, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, with tour routing touching venues in North America, Europe, and Australia. Touring personnel included musicians and crews with credits on tours for Adele, Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Beyoncé, and set design professionals who have collaborated on productions for U2, Radiohead, and Nine Inch Nails.

Category:2017 albums Category:Lana Del Rey albums