Since her “official debut” with 2012’s Born To Die, Lana del Rey’s influences have been classic singers such as Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Leonard Cohen, Billie Holiday, and Joni Mitchell. Regarding her rock music inclinations, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Janis Joplin, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, and Cat Power are among the artists that inspire her.

She adopted a new look that drew upon pop culture icons of the past such as Marilyn Monroe and Priscilla Presley. Del Rey described her image as “gangster Nancy Sinatra,” referencing the blonde bombshell pop singer who scored a hit in the 1960s with the song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.”

Del Rey’s library is vast, stretching from Whitman’s 19th-century America through to works of more contemporary wordsmiths like Anthony Burgess and Sylvia Plath. Here, we go on a journey through eight key literary references from Lana Del Rey’s discography that explore her complex concerns with love, time, freedom and America.