Photographing Lana Del Rey fans in the American south

When the stars of music’s major league hit the road, the common criticism is that they fail to visit the smaller North American cities, the ones overlooked in favour of the cultural hotbeds on the eastern and western coasts. But not our girl Lana Del Rey. When it came to her latest tour, in support of her 2023 record Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, she pretty much absconded the expected spots completely. For the second leg of the show, she cut straight through America’s Bible Belt. Los Angeles? New York City? Nope! She hit the outdoor pavilions of North Carolina and Alabama instead.

It’s a rare move, in keeping with Lana’s deeply felt romanticism towards these places in North America. Rather than feeling deserted, compared to the cities she’s lived in, to her they’re steeped in old mystique. In Franklin, Tennessee, local fans excitedly gathered to see their favourite artist. Others, from as far afield as California, made a pilgrimage they’d never normally have to take for the performance. Photographer John Parvin McBride was there to meet them.

Charlotte, 18, Tennessee

What was your outfit inspired by? Kind of a mix of all Lana stuff. I was playing around and I made the shirt myself. What album or song are you channeling? A mix of Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd and Ultraviolence. What do you love most about Lana? Her resonance.

Mary Elizabeth, 27, Nashville, Tennessee

What was your outfit inspired by? I wanted to be warm when the sun goes down, so I chose my little pearl sweater, and then I just wanted to do more pearls, so I have this pearl necklace that I tied and wore as a belt. What album or song are you channeling? I feel like my outfit might be more Chemtrails [Over the Country Club], but Norman Fucking Rockwell. What do you love most about Lana? Her emotional vulnerability. I feel like she understands me when sometimes other people don’t.

Layla, 18, Nashville, Tennessee

What inspired your look tonight? Fall. Because in the fall, I feel most like myself. It’s time to revert back to that. What album or song are you channeling? “High by the Beach”, Born to Die, of course, and “National Anthem”. What do you love most about Lana? She’s so funny and so herself. I love her music and her vibe. Like, it’s my soul.

Adalee, 17, Bowling Green, Kentucky

What inspired your look tonight? Lana working a shift at Waffle House. She was clocked in! What album or song are you channeling? Norman Fucking Rockwell. What do you love most about Lana? The realness of her. She’s so real.

Celeste, 19, Tulsa, Oklaholma

What inspired your look tonight? The ethereal vibes of Lana’s music. I just wanted to show up looking fab. What album or song are you channeling?Honeymoon. What do you love most about Lana? I can relate to how she grew up, how she experienced toxic relationships and loved at the same time, and how she’s grown from that. She’s lived through a lot of pain.

Seth, 22, Dickson, Tennessee

What inspired your look tonight? I’m trying to give Lanacore with the Budweiser shirt. She had one. And I have a slip dress I got from the bins. I’m making something pretty from nothing. What album or song are you channeling? Ultraviolence. What do you love most about Lana? Her I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude.

Brayden, 18, Tennessee

What inspired your look tonight? Ultraviolence. What album or song are you channeling? Ultraviolence. What do you love most about Lana? Her music.

Ava, 21, Nashville, Tennessee

What inspired your look tonight? This was option two. James Dean, for sure. What album are you channeling? It probably doesn’t reflect, but Born to Die. What do you love most about Lana? She cunty. The lyrics, listening to Ultraviolence, smoking a cigarette out of my parents’ window, sobbing, crying.

Leila, 22, South California

What inspired your look tonight? A dark Born to Die [energy]. What album or song are you channeling? “Dark Paradise”. What do you love most about Lana? Her voice. I love her style, and how she can have this dark side to her and still be such a beautiful, light person inside.

Marilyn, 27, Bowling Green, Kentucky

What inspired your look tonight? Lana’s overall soft, feminine vibe with a little edge to it. It’s inspired by Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, with the bow in her hair – that American country kind of look. What album or song are you channeling? Honeymoon. What do you love most about Lana? She’s poetic. She’s empathetic. Her beauty comes across in many ways.

Suraya, 20, Chicago

What inspired your look tonight? The all-black is Ultraviolence vibes. I was literally on Pinterest looking at Lana Del Rey and sprinted to the mall. What album or song are you channeling? Lust For Life. What do you love most about Lana? She doesn’t give a fuck.

Elyssa, 23, Nashville, Tennessee

What inspired your look tonight? I wanted to go for something vintage combined with the coquette aesthetic. I hate that word because it reminds me of TikTok, but alas. I did the ribbon because that was really heavily featured on her last album. I made this necklace myself. What album or song are you channeling? Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd and Norman Fucking Rockwell. What do you love most about Lana? I love her songwriting. She’s a really talented lyricist.

Marco, 20, Chicago

What inspired your look tonight? The boots are my dad’s. And I just like wearing all black. What album or song are you channeling? Ultraviolence. What do you love most about Lana? Her lyricism.

Savannah, 23, Atlanta, Georgia

What inspired your look tonight? I work for Free People, so I got this skirt there. I figured it went with this shirt. I was going for a “Carmen” red and black look. What album or song are you channeling? Definitely Born to Die or Lust for Life. What do you love most about Lana? I love everything. I love that she’s just like us. It doesn’t feel like she’s too far away from us.

Jessica, 26, California

What inspired your look tonight? Lana. I’m obsessed. I copied almost everything about her look. The red nails, the white dress, the boots because we’re in Nashville, and the bow because of her recent album. What album or song are you channeling? A little bit of all of them. Ultraviolence because of the nails. Paradise because of the ring. The white dress is an iconic Lana stage look. And the bow is totally Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. What do you love most about Lana? What do I not love? I love that she’s such a genuine, real person who writes about experiences that she’s been through that her fans can relate to and find comfort in.

Credits

Photography John Parvin McBride