Since she announced her arrival as one of the 21st century’s greatest pop stars with 2011’s instant classic ‘Video Games’, Lana Del Rey has continued to entrance audiences with hit albums like Norman Fucking Rockwell!, Chemtrails Over The Country Club and her most recent effort, 2023’s Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.

While she’s become known for catchy pop and darkly romantic torch songs, of late Lana has pivoted and is now looking to stretch her creative wings, eyeing up a country direction for her upcoming LP, which currently has the title Classic.

In 2021, the singer had announced her intention to record an album of country songs.

“I went back and listened to ‘Ride’ and ‘Video Games’ and thought, you know, they’re kind of country,” she reflected at the time. “Maybe the way ‘Video Games’ got remastered, they’re pop – but there’s something Americana about it, for sure.”

In late 2023, Del Rey signalled her intentions with covers of both Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand By Your Man’ and John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’. At an awards show early the following year, the singer confirmed her new direction, saying she would “go country” on her next record, spurred on by the growing mainstream interest in the genre.

Certainly, when taking into account Lana’s fondness for both balladry and vintage Americana across her musical output, it’s a move that makes creative sense. The first fruits of her endeavours arrived in April courtesy of the singles ‘Henry, Come On’ and ‘Bluebird’.

A haunting, ethereal number, ‘Henry, Come On’ enjoyed a warm critical reception, and showed Del Rey still possesses her flair for both catchy melodies and memorable lyrics.

“Last call, hang his hat up on the wall,” she croons. “Tell him that his cowgirl is gone… Soft leather, blue jeans / Call us into void’s dreams”.

‘Bluebird’, meanwhile, was noted for its echoing of The Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’, as Lana sang a plaintive tune over the sparse production.

“I’ve kept him at bay, but the horses are comin’,” she sings, “They’re racin’ their way round the bend / Your crash landing’s over / But the evening is hummin’”.

The simple chorus, meanwhile, goes, “Find a way to fly / Just shoot for the sun til I can finally run”.

April found Del Rey performing at Coachella’s country-flavoured sister festival, Stagecoach, where she also gave an airing to three further new tracks, ‘Stars Fall On Alabama (Husband Of Mine)’, ‘Quiet In The South’ and ’57.5’.

The arrival date for the impending album remains up in the air, with delayed release dates also a factor in the build-up to the likes of Ocean Blvd, Chemtrails and Blue Banisters – but if the finished article is as accomplished as those efforts, the Del Rey faithful will have precious little to complain about.

And as anticipation increases for the new record, Del Rey is also looking forward to her stadium tour of Ireland and the UK, which finds her hitting such iconic venues as Hampden Park, Anfield and, of course, Dublin’s Aviva.

It’s sure to be another fascinating chapter in the Lana saga, which to date has encompassed everything from Damon Albarn-produced Bobby Womack collaborations, to partying alongside Taylor Swift and Ice Spice in the VIP boxes, as Swift’s beau Travis Kelce won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But the Dublin show, of course, will be all about the mega-hits. A charismatic and magnetic live performer, Del Rey will no doubt produce another epic set as fans sing along to classics like ‘Summertime Sadness’, ‘West Coast’, ‘Born To Die’ and – of course – ‘Video Games’.

• Lana Del Rey plays the Aviva Stadium on June 30.