Lana Del Ray saves Valentine’s Day with the release of A&W, the second single from her upcoming album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.
This Valentine’s Day, Lana Del Rey released her single A&W, and it’s not what you would necessarily expect from a Valentine’s Day release.
The single opens with echoing guitar strings and a deep piano melody. This slowly builds into an orchestral sound once Del Rey’s layered vocals build to a peak, in the same way you wind up a mountain trail, implementing her well known alternative sound.
With jazz-folk vocals, Lana Del Rey tells an emotional story of growing from girl to woman and the changing of her body – followed by a new found understanding of her sensual side. Replacing the love she lacks, with a toxic love for herself – ‘it’s not about having someone to love me anymore, this is the experience of being an American Whore’.
A&W feels like a heartfelt bundle of irony saved by Lana Del Ray just for us. Saved for when it would make the most sense: Valentine’s Day.
It comes at the perfect time for those, who like me, found themselves flying solo this year. Instead of drowning my sorrows, I was hitting repeat, absorbing the energy of the track, and reminding myself that Lana just gets it.
Once again, Lana has given us a chaotic glimpse into her very own mind and the madness behind her genius, while presenting her lyrics in a way which read sincerely poetic – ‘I’m just trying to make it out alive / I’m just staying alive, much less trying to thrive’.
Going into the second half of the song, we are introduced to a new take, on an old vibe. Reminiscent of her first albums. It’s here that the track goes in a direction which was so unexpected.
The production of A&W is one of the most experimental parts. The classic gentle vocals and the beautifully composed backing track fade halfway through the track – dissolving into a snare base line. Followed by fragmented, synthesised vocals, blended into an electronic build up.
The baseline during the second half of the track allows Del Rey to showcase a new skill set; to put it plainly, spitting bars. Not only does she spit bars, but she manages to carry her angelic, feminine voice throughout.
The themes of production within the first half of the song are mirrored within the second, in the opposite way. The synthetic, orchestral sounding layered vocals are replaced with an actual synth carrying an orchestral sound. Keeping the song seamless, whilst giving it the sound of two different tracks.
The seven-minute track echoes hints from every era we have seen from Lana Del Rey, while presenting fresh ideas and new sounds we haven’t seen from her before. Its experimental, yet completely authentic. Fresh, yet reminiscent. The true sign of a powerful artist with an individual voice and sound.
Featured image credit: Officialcharts.com
English and Journalism Student. I like to write about funky music and the fact I have no hair.
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