Lana Del Rey Releases Stunning New Single ‘A&W’

Earlier today, Lana Del Rey released a new single “A&W” from her upcoming album, Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard, coming in March.

Lana Del Rey dropped her track “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard” in December 2022, simultaneously announcing her upcoming album of the same name. The album marks a refreshing new era for the singer, which she produced alongside legend Jack Antonoff, who is known for his band Bleachers, his membership in the band Fun, and for working with Taylor Swift.

Shortly afterward, the promotion for the album exploded. On her website, the singer allowed pre-orders for the album on digital and physical mediums, including five alternative covers for vinyl, matching CDs, and a cassette. The creative pre-order drop excited fans, as this is the first time since her 2021 album Blue Banisters that her storefront has been updated.

In January, on Del Rey’s private Instagram, she leaked since-removed pictures of the official back cover of the vinyl, which released a lengthy track list that included “A&W.” Rolling Stone reports that the album will feature Father John Misty and Jon Batiste.

Lana Del Rey unveils the tracklist for her upcoming album ‘Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd’ out March 24th. pic.twitter.com/E6F023chpK

— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 13, 2023

Fans of Lana Del Rey are notoriously devoted. Many fans on the singer’s fan-made forum, LanaBoards, speculated that this could be Del Rey’s longest album to date, and other fans even predicted the Valentine’s Day drop of “A&W,” also known as “American Wh*re.”

“A&W” is a seven-minute epic in two parts. Dabbling in Del Rey’s signature breezy grunge-pop, the track also has hip-hop influences reminiscent of her classic early tracks and the songwriting prowess of her last three albums. Antonoff mentioned in an Instagram post last December that “American Wh*re” (as he referred to it) is his favorite song he’s “ever done” with Del Rey. The track has already been met with praise by eagerly awaiting fans, fueled by its accompaniment with an exclusive interview led by Billie Eilish in Interview Mag and a photoshoot styled in the fashion of Dior and rising brand Mirror Palais.

In her interview, Lana Del Rey describes the significance of Ocean Boulevard, claiming that “with this album, the majority of it is my innermost thoughts.” She goes on to describe how her residency in Los Angeles and rise to fame have influenced the album. Specifically, she references the media fire from her early albums, revealing that “the idea behind it was, instead of being exposed for things that weren’t true, I wanted to reveal something about myself that I actually thought was beautiful.” Finally, she mentions how “this album felt totally effortless.”

The interview further illustrates the relationship between Eilish and Del Rey, where they express their respect and love for each other as artists. Eilish tells Del Rey, “you really paved the way for everyone. People have been trying to look and sound like you since you first started.”

“It was always you.” 🖤 Ahead of her ninth studio album, #LanaDelRey called up @billieeilish to talk songwriting, validation, and the dark side of romanticization. https://t.co/XngsCCJO1a

— Interview Magazine (@InterviewMag) February 15, 2023

Antonoff’s influences in production along with the professional interviews and photoshoots signal Ocean Boulevard as being Del Rey’s next big musical era. Some fans hope that the massive production and dedication to the album’s branding could signal a future album tour, as she hasn’t toured since her 2019 album Norman F**king Rockwell. Although, in her interview with Eilish, Del Rey mentioned how her nine years of touring for her first few albums was her way of keeping her “head down” by escaping media fire.

Ultimately, “A&W” is Del Rey’s unapologetic ownership of her identity. It responds to the harsh criticism that’s been directed at her since the beginning of her career and owns the boldness that critics have attacked her for. Instead of suppressing what some cynics call “vulgar,” she embraces the reputation she has garnered as an honest, sensual, and unique artist. As she sings in her new track, “It’s not about having someone to love me anymore / No, this is the experience of being an American wh*re.”

Fans can listen to “A&W” on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube, and can pre-order the album on Lana Del Rey’s official shop.