Lana Del Rey is gearing up to release her eighth studio album, Blue Banisters, soon. On Wednesday (Sept. 8), the singer dropped a new single from the upcoming album titled “Arcadia,” along with a stunning visual to accompany the track.
The video sees Del Rey spending the majority of the visual in blue jeans and a butter yellow crop top and cardigan set as she stands next to windows — which are overflowing with sunlight — as she sings the melancholy, piano-driven track. The second half of the video shows the singer-songwriter lying down on a starry galaxy backdrop as scenes of Los Angeles flash against her chest. The video then abruptly cuts to clips of Del Rey dancing in what appears to be a motel room and driving in a car while a trap beat blares against a Latin trumpet instrumental.
“Good luck little ‘Arcadia,’ may you fly into the hearts of those who need to hear you,” she tweeted. In a separate Instagram post, Del Rey thanked her album’s collaborators, and used Twitter to express her gratitude for still being able to sing in light of COVID-19.
“Thank you God for still giving me breath to sing for the last 16 months of Covid while so many breaths have been taken away. Every day I pray for all those who are affected,” she wrote. “May you take away my difficulties so that triumphs over them may be a testament to your goodness.”
In a second tweet, Del Rey added, “Thank you to Charles Grant and Chris Ripley for their camera work on Arcadia. Video directed by nobody.”
In addition to the video release, Del Rey shared that Blue Banisters will be available on Oct. 22, and also shared the album cover art, which features a simple profile image of her face. The initial release date for the record was July 4. Two months ago, Del Rey told fans that the album would be out “later later” in an Instagram post that teased the release of “Arcadia” on July 3.
Prior to dropping “Arcadia,” Del Rey told fans what they can expect from Blue Banisters on Tuesday (Sept. 7).“I guess you could say this album is about what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now,” she wrote on Instagram. “If you’re interested go back and listen to the first three songs I put out earlier. They chronicle the beginning. This song hits somewhere in the middle and by the time the record drops you will hear where we’re at today.”
“As much as the on going criticism has been trying, it at least has pushed me to explore my own family tree, to dig deep, and to continue to exhibit the fact that God only cares about how I move through the world,” Del Rey continued. “And for all of the skepticism about feigning fragility and unreasonable explanations of not showing general accountability — I must say I’ve enjoyed moving through the world beautifully — as a woman with grace and dignity.”
“Thank you to my friends over the last 18 years who have been an example of attraction not promotion,” she concluded. “I’ve never felt the need to promote myself or tell my story, but if you’re interested this album does tell it- and does pretty much nothing more,” she wrote.
Watch the video for “Arcadia” below.
