In a new video for “High By the Beach”, Lana Del Rey shows the paparazzi who’s boss. The track will be part of her upcoming album Honeymoon.
In the video, Del Rey paces the interior of her modern but curiously empty beach side loft. As a helicopter flies by, she stands in front of the window with her robes blowing in the wind. Is she posing or simply turning her back to fame? Featuring multiple jump cuts, reminiscent of 60’s French New Wave film, the video’s aesthetic isn’t too far off from the artist’s own retro style and sultry voice. However, in “High By the Beach,” Del Rey’s music inches closer to hip-hop and trap music, apparently taking on a more aggressive tone as well. The singer pulls a military level gun out of a guitar case and shoots the helicopter down. A petite golden hand revolver would have been more in line with her usual noir-esque and tragic themes; however, she remains glamorous nonetheless as the flaming helicopter falls from the sky.
In an interview with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe, Del Rey describes her new sound:
“The harmony almost sounded monotone. It had this weird drone to it, but with this beat it had a trap aspect.”
Lowe ironically compliments Del Rey later in the interview for her photogenic qualities. She jokes that she simply pays the paparazzi off….on her good days.
