Finding artists similar to Lana Del Rey is actually harder than it looks on paper. You can’t just throw a vintage filter on a music video and call it a day. It’s about that specific, heavy-hearted cocktail of 1960s Americana, "sad girl" cinematic tragedy, and a voice that sounds like it’s drifting through a smoke-filled jazz club in 1954.
Lana has basically spent the last decade-plus building a massive, moody empire. From the trip-hop beats of Born to Die to the psychedelic rock haze of Ultraviolence, she's constantly shifting. If you’re like me and you’ve had Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd on a loop for months, you’re probably craving something that hits those same nerves.
The Southern Gothic Heirs
Ethel Cain is the name that pops up most often for a reason. Honestly, if Lana is the glamorous Hollywood tragedy, Ethel is the decaying, humid nightmare of the Deep South. Her 2022 masterpiece, Preacher’s Daughter, carries that same heavy, novelistic songwriting style. It's long. It’s slow. It’s occasionally terrifying. Tracks like "American Teenager" feel like a distorted mirror image of Lana’s earlier "National Anthem" vibes, trading the Hamptons for a trailer park in Florida.
Then there's Nicole Dollanganger. Her music is intensely polarizing. She sings in a high, doll-like whisper that sounds innocent until you actually listen to the lyrics, which are often gruesome or deeply unsettling. It’s that same contrast Lana uses—the "sweet" girl singing about very "unsweet" things.
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Cinematic Soundscapes and "Sad Girl" Icons
Alexandra Savior is someone you’ve gotta check out if you love the Ultraviolence era. Her first album was co-written with Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, so it has that desert-rock, noir-film aesthetic. It’s cool. It’s detached. It’s very "I’m wearing sunglasses at night in a dive bar."
If you want the baroque, theatrical side of Lana, you’re looking for:
- Weyes Blood: Natalie Mering makes music that feels like a lost 1970s soft-rock record found in a time capsule. It’s lush and orchestral.
- Fiona Apple: She’s the blueprint. If you like Lana’s raw, piano-driven ballads, Fiona’s Tidal or The Idler Wheel... are essential listening.
- Mitski: Specifically Puberty 2 or Be the Cowboy. She captures that specific feminine yearning and isolation that Lana fans live for.
The 2026 Rising Class
It’s early 2026, and the "Lana-esque" sound is evolving into something even more experimental. Keep an eye on Stella Rose. Yeah, she’s Dave Gahan’s daughter (from Depeche Mode), but her sound is this dark, gritty, industrial-tinged pop that feels like a spiritual successor to Lana’s darker moments. Her debut, Eyes of Glass, is a mood.
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Another one is Sylvie Kreusch. She’s Belgian and her stuff is incredibly cinematic, almost like a Bond theme but if the Bond girl was the one doing the spying. It’s got that "old world" European glamour mixed with modern, twitchy production.
Why do we even want "Lana-type" music?
Usually, it’s because we want to feel like we’re in a movie. Lana’s music provides a backdrop for a life that feels more significant than it probably is. We’re looking for that "main character energy," even if that character is a bit of a disaster.
How to find your next obsession
Don’t just stick to the Spotify "Fans Also Like" section. It’s usually just a loop of the same five big indie-pop stars. Instead, look at who Lana herself listens to. She’s famously obsessed with:
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- Nancy Sinatra: The literal queen of the "Nancy Sinatra-meets-Gangster-Nancy" vibe.
- Mazzy Star: Hope Sandoval’s voice is the closest thing to Lana’s "dream pop" DNA. "Fade Into You" is basically a requirement for this genre.
- Joni Mitchell: For the lyric-heavy, folk-leaning style of Chemtrails Over the Country Club.
Actionable Insights for the Music Hunter:
- Listen to "Blue" by Madison Beer: I know, I know. But she’s a huge Lana fan and this track is a total homage to that Born to Die era.
- Explore the "Slowcore" genre: Bands like Mazzy Star or Cigarettes After Sex will give you that same lethargic, romantic pace.
- Check out Goldie Boutillier: She’s a "hidden gem" who blends Americana with a classic Hollywood look and sound.
If you’re ready to expand your playlist, start with Ethel Cain’s "Family Tree" or Alexandra Savior’s "Vanishing 20s." They’ll get you where you need to go.