LANA DEL REY

Stylistically, I love make-up. I love doing my own make-up and stuff, but clothes-wise, I actually didn't ever really care. Initially the fashion world was more interested in me than the music world, which was strange when I first started singing.

When I put out 'Video Games' in May 2011, it was a 5:25-minute love song; I was surprised when a lot of people said they were listening to it. I was surprised when it went to the radio, without me even knowing how something like that even happens!

I believe nothing happens by mistake. You know, the universe has a divine plan. That sounds dramatic.

I have a personal ambition to live my life honestly and honor the true love that I've had and also the people I've had around me.

When I was young I felt really overwhelmed and confused by the desire not to end up in an office, doing something I didn't believe in.

I'm a writer first and a singer second.

When I got to New York City when I was 18, I started playing in clubs in Brooklyn - I have good friends and devoted fans on the underground scene, but we were playing for each other at that point - and that was it.

I've been writing since I was really young, so I considered myself a writer for a really long time.

I don't believe in the school of hard knocks, although I've had them. All that stuff about whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger is so not true. Do you know what makes you stronger? When people treat you and your art with dignity.

Having a simple career as a musician who liked music was good enough for me.

I made that first record in 2008, alongside the EP, but my label at the time waited three years to release it. They thought maybe someone bigger would buy it, but they didn't, so in the end they just released it themselves.

I've been reading tabloids since I was nine. I love a good story.

I'm always just surprised when someone writes something about me.

There's backlash about everything I do.

I have taken taking my music to labels for years, and everyone just thought it was creepy. They thought the images with the music were weird and verging on psychotic.

My dancing is Hawaiian-inspired but I also get a little fresh when it comes to my faster songs.

Seeing myself on the screen makes me cringe. I understand that I am that way - pouty.

I used to wonder if it was God's plan that I should be alone for so much of my life. But I found peace. I found happiness within people and the world.

My music is a luxury.

I used to like to set different film clips to classical music, not even my own songs, but make little movies.

People are really talkative in New York. Someone always comes up to me and says 'Hi' during the day.

Fashion is inspired by youth and nostalgia and draws inspiration from the best of the past.

When I found somebody who I fell in love with, it made me feel different than I felt the rest of the day. It was electrifying. That's what inspired the 'Off to the Races' melodies. That's one of the times when you're feeling electrified by someone else and they make you happy to be alive.

When I walk outside, people have something to say about it.

I was going to Miami quite a lot at the time, speaking a lot of Spanish with my friends from Cuba - Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside. It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue.