lana del rey has a literary mind that is rooted in her work, a factor that has helped her become one of the most celebrated musicians of the last decade. the singer-songwriter has carved out a niche in music like no other in contemporary pop music, one that has seen the esteemed artist earn a place in the pantheon of the music industry.
del rey’s unique and delicious combination of timeless music with a contemporary twist has made her a force to be reckoned with and an artist to be devoured. the singer-songwriter is currently gearing up to release her upcoming seventh album, chemtrails over the country club, which looks set to be one of the most anticipated albums of the year. her journey began with lana del ray’s independently released 2010 album, a record that came before the artist changed her stage name from ‘ray’ to ‘rey’ and, since 2012 with the born to die effort, has been on an unstoppable road. to stardom.
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lyricism is an ingredient at the heart of del rey’s work, and his love of literature bleeds into everything he produces. Whether overt or covert, literary influences have impacted her career and made del rey the artist she is, helping music create the same level of escapism with her music that she gets through the books.
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In 2015, Del Rey opened up to Billboard about some of her favorite reads: “One of the books I love, other than [Kenneth Angry’s] Hollywood Babylon, is the autobiography of a yogi,” she explained. “And wayne dyer, he was so upset when he died! Part Buddhist, part New Thought motivational speaker, Dyer was best known for his book Your Wrong Zones. he died in August.] He gave me a lot in the last 15 years.”
This interview wasn’t the first time del rey had offered a peek into his library. Before he emerged as a household name, he gave Fader his three required reads in 2011. First on his list was the Charles F Master Key System. haanel “essential reading for anyone looking to find their own path to happiness and success in their lives. the godfather of all books written on how to succeed and find peace,” del rey said.
He then recommended Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, adding, “I found this poem when I was 15, and it was one of the first works of literature that resonated with me. The fact that I became so closely associated with Ginsberg’s drug-fueled, manic ravings was a sign of very dark but creative times to come.”
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His final choice was Forbidden Gates: How Genetics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Synthetic Biology, Nanotechnology, and Human Enhancement Herald the Dawn of Tom and Nita Horn’s Techno-Dimensional Spiritual Warfare. “An easy way to get acquainted with some of the major advances we make each year,” he said. “It’s 2011 and we should all be aware of how fast technology is developing, from understanding cybernetics to learning that living organisms are now being created synthetically. In my world, life has always been more than music and art; it’s about science and understanding where we come from.”
Another book that Del Rey has alluded to his love is The Road to Paradise Island by Victoria Holt. In the ‘honeymoon’ video, she is seen holding a copy of the book, and this isn’t the only time she’s slipped literary references into her work. the sun also rises, by ernest hemingway, it is mentioned in her track, “money, power, glory”. Another nod to Hemingway appears on his track “religión” when del rey takes the line “you are my religion” from a farewell to arms.
However, there is one job that had the greatest impact on his life and led del rey to completely change the direction of his future. At the time, he was attending the prestigious Fordham Business School and did not believe that he would make it in music. however, his mindset changed after reading think and grow rich by napoleon hill. Speaking with Elton John for The Rolling Stone, Del Rey stated: “After my freshman year, I read Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. It wasn’t necessarily about money. but he spoke of burning all bridges except the one bridge that led to your greatest desire. and I thought, ‘My greatest wish is to sing,’ so I switched and majored in philosophy because they told me I’d never get a job doing that.”
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lana del rey’s favorite books
- kenneth ira – hollywood babylon
- paramahansa yogananda – autobiography of a yogi
- wayne dyer – your erroneous zones
- charles f. haanel – the skeleton key system
- allen ginsberg – howl
- tom and nita horn – forbidden doors: how genetics, robotics, artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, nanotechnology and human enhancement herald the dawn of techno-dimensional spiritual warfare
- ernest hemingway – sun rises too and a farewell to arms
- napoleon hill – think and grow rich