When you think of Lana Del Ray what’s the first thing that springs to mind, other than her incredible voice, of course. It’s her distinctive, iconic obsession with all things Americana. From dancing with American red flags to songs dedicated to America, Lana Del Ray’s image has been built out of an all-American obsession, but in her latest candid interview with Pitchfork, that’s all about to be dropped for her up and coming fourth album.
When speaking about Lust for Life, which is due to be released on Friday, the singer spoke about Donald Trump and her concerns for the country’s direction in relation to her iconic identity. What was once such an integral part of her performances is now being compromised by the President, and the state of American in 2017.
‘I definitely changed my visuals on my tour videos. I’m not going to have the American flag waving while I’m singing ‘Born to Die.’ It’s not going to happen. I’d rather have static. It’s a transitional period, and I’m super aware of that. I think it would be inappropriate to be in France with an American flag. It would feel weird to me now – it didn’t feel weird in 2013.’
She also goes onto speak about how her style, and thoughts have altered as the political landscape has shifted. Del Ray once stated a few years back that she ‘didn’t care about feminism,’ whereas this album is filtered with songs about protest and war. Now she pens it to how things ‘have shifted culturally,’ as it’s ‘more appropriate now than under the Obama administration, where at least everyone I knew felt safe.’ ‘Women started to feel less safe under this administration instantly. What if they take away Planned Parenthood? What if we can’t get birth control? Now, when people ask me those questions, I feel a little differently.’
And there's the rub - because as much as Americana was a big part of Lana Del Ray’s whole ‘thing,’ she is first and foremost a woman, and if her music is a reflection of the state of the world then we’re for this change.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.