After months of teasing, delays, and multiple album title changes, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant has finally delivered the lead single from her highly anticipated forthcoming album. "White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter" arrives three years after Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, which earned the singer-songwriter Grammy nominations and critical acclaim alongside commercial success.
The new single's unconventional title hints at what lies beneath. Where previous releases, "Henry, Come On" and "Bluebird," leaned into country and ballad territory, "White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter" channels Southern Gothic aesthetics with jazzy, almost witchy undertones. The track samples "Laura," the classic Ella Fitzgerald song, weaving vintage glamour into Del Rey's distinctly modern melancholy.
Her vocals soar on the high notes with an ethereal quality, while lyrically she addresses the personal and domestic elements now surrounding her life. "I know it's strange to see me cooking / For my husband," she sings, referencing her recent wedding that sparked considerable online discourse. When many questioned the marriage's longevity, she responded characteristically: "I love my daddy, of course, we're still together."
The production credits feature longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff alongside Drew Erickson, with writing contributions from her husband, sister, and brother-in-law, among others. Country influences persist through references to "John Deere mowers" and "sparrows," grounding her atmospheric soundscapes in American pastoral imagery.
The accompanying music video marks a return to Del Rey's DIY roots. Homemade footage capturing everyday moments interspersed with cartoon sequences that recall her early breakthrough videos like "Video Games" and "Carmen."
Throughout her career, Del Rey has weathered harsh criticism while never shying from artistic risks. She experiments across genres, creating for art rather than metrics. Her fanbase consistently declares each new era her "magnum opus," testament to her ability to evolve while maintaining core identity.
The album itself remains mysterious (release date is still unconfirmed after at least four title changes and three different scheduled dates). But with "White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter" now released, listeners have their first glimpse of how Lana Del Rey will present this next body of work as a complete artistic statement.
