She began writing songs at the age of 18, and started performing in nightclubs in Brooklyn, New York City.

[1][2] After meeting Van Wilson, an A&R executive for the independent label 5 Points Records, at a songwriting competition, she signed a record deal with the label in 2007, and began working with the producer David Kahne.

[2][4] Three months after the release of Lana Del Ray, Del Rey met her managers Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, who helped her break off her contract with 5 Points Records, where, in her opinion, "nothing was happening".

[5] In 2011, Del Rey was signed by Stranger Records and released her debut single, "Video Games".

In November 2015, Del Rey received the Trailblazer Award at the Billboard Women in Music ceremony.