New Music, New Title: An Update on Lana Del Rey’s Upcoming Album
Photo via Lana Del Rey
On April 11th, Lana Del Rey surprised fans with her new single, “Henry, come on.” The song is one of two announced to precede her tenth studio album. Over the last year, Del Rey has teased that her new album will fall somewhere between country and “Southern gothic.” She has stated that she won’t be straying far from her traditional sound but will be diving into a new aesthetic. With the release of “Henry, come on,” it is evident that the artist meant what she said. This song’s vocals are what fans are used to from the singer: soft, melancholic, and drenched in nostalgia. However, the gentle guitar strums and the frequent use of Southern vernacular immediately bring slow Southern evenings and the Wild West to mind:
“Hey, y'all
Hang his hat up on the wall
Tell him that his cowgirl is gone
Go on and giddy up
Soft leather, blue jeans
Call us into void's dreams
Return it, but say it was fun.”
Del Rey first announced the upcoming album in February 2024. Originally titled Lasso, she stated at the Billboard Awards, “If you can’t already tell by our award winners and our performers, the music business is going country. We’re going country. It’s happening…” In typical Del Rey fashion, she continued to be cryptic about further details regarding a tracklist or when the album would drop. In November 2024, Del Rey announced that the title had changed to The Right Person Will Stay. She followed this statement with when listeners could expect the new music: May 2025.
With fans thrilled about the recent surprise release of “Henry, come on”, Del Rey took to Instagram on April 11th to address her fans. “I do have a lot more to say, that, I mean, you know it’s not gonna come on time, right?” she continued. “Like, should I even tell you that the name changed again? Should I tell you that now, while you’re so happy that you even have a song? Yeah. Maybe I’ll wait.” While many casual enjoyers of Del Rey’s music were shocked and disappointed, those familiar with the artist seemed to expect the delay. In the same Instagram reel, Del Rey also announced that another song, “Bluebird,” off the now untitled album, would be released within the next week. While it is now unclear when Del Rey’s tenth album will be released, listeners will still be able to enjoy new releases, along with content from her upcoming performances at the 2025 Stagecoach Country Music Festival.
As listeners await more updates concerning the release, “Henry, come on” seems to indicate that the date and name of the album are all that will change. Del Rey’s intention to dive into the country genre seems genuine, both through her upcoming music and her aesthetic presence online. From what Del Rey has released in the past, it is clear that she knows how to capture any environment and feeling in cinematic ways. It’s safe to argue that regardless of when the album is released, the artist has certainly created something special and unique for new and die-hard fans alike.