The 'difficult second album' is a phrase that echoes through the hallways of music label offices and recording studios around the world thanks, in part, to the often crippling success of a debut record, back-to-back touring and failure to find inspiration.
However, when you're a performer who has three albums under your belt, a Grammy nomination and an ELLE Style award for being the 'Best Female Artist of the Year', it's understandable someone like Lana Del Rey might want to take some time away from the limelight to focus on creating a 'banging' fourth studio album.
Of course, for the 'Born To Die' singer, this means escaping Tinseltown to set up camp in the the middle of the 'H' of the Hollywood sign.
You know, as you do.
Yesterday, the 31-year-old released a witch-inspired video, teasing fans about her forthcoming album titled Lust For Life in which Del Rey talks of 'dark times', 'angels' and 'fire'.
Introducing the video, the singer says: 'You know, in this town, an artist really needs a lot of space when they're trying to create something special. A place to cultivate a world of their own, far away from the real world that's around them.
'Luckily for me, I live right inside the middle of the 'H' of the Hollywood sign. And this is how I spend most of my nights: perched high above the chaos that swirls within the city of angels below,' she adds.
In the video, a black-clad Lana can be seen sitting on a desk playing with a hologram of Earth in her hands. Meanwhile, an hourglass and chalice spin in mid-air.
Referring to a 'tumultuous' time (which we presume alludes to the current state of the world's politics), the New York City-born singer takes the opportunity to inspire hope in her fans.
She explains: 'So, even though these times can feel a little bit crazy, they're not so very different from what other generations have experienced at one time or another before.
'Amidst all the uncertainty, and as we transition out of one era into another one, there's no place I'd rather be than smack-dab in the middle of 'Holly-weird' making this record for you. Because you, and the music, and this place, are my love, my life, my lust for life,' she says.
Following the release of her latest single 'Love' – which she performed for the first time at Texas-based festival SXSW earlier this month – Del Rey said in a statement: 'I made my first four albums for me, but this one is for my fans and about where I hope we are all headed.'
Sadly, there's no confirmed release date for Lust For Life but one thing's for sure, it's a'comin.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
