Next month marks the release of Baz Luhrmann's eagerly anticipated film adaption of The Great Gatsby. The soundtrack seems to be racking up as many stars as the movie, with Lana Del Rey's offering of Young And Beautiful already garnering thousands of listens on Soundcloud. Del Rey – who wrote the track with Rick mobile casino Nowels – recently described Luhrmann's take on the F Scott Fitzgerald classic as “highly glamorous and exciting”.

The ballad features haunting vocals typical of Del Rey's style, with dreamy strings and insecure lyrics. Jay-Z has curated the overall soundtrack, which also includes Beyoncé, Florence The Machine, Andre 3000, Fergie, Jack White, will.i.am and Emeli Sandé.

The Great Gatsby debuts on May 16 in the UK with the soundtrack set to release on May 7.

Text by Beccy Hill

Tags: Lana Del Rey

For our final rewind, Twin names the art shows, books and music that made it big, as well as those waiting to enter centre stage…

Francesca Gavin – Art Editor

For me this has been the year of Mark Leckey – both his solo show at the Serpentine and an hypnotic installation at the Printemps de Septembre in Toulouse. I’ve been obsessed by his work for years and think he has a massive influence on a whole younger generation on artists with his fascination with pop culture, technology, music and screens. I like many others wait with excitement at whatever comes next.

In 2012, I’m really looking forward to surviving the apocalypse and visiting the Marrakech Biennial in February. Some really great artists are in the line up including Aleksandra Domanovic, Jon Nash and Matthew Stone and I think its going to be a fascinating trip.

Elsewhere 176 new monthly programme of emerging artists, Yayoi Kusama and Edvard Munch at the Tate Modern, Rashid Johnson’s big shows at Hauser and Wirth NYC and London throughout the year, Urs Fisher at Palazzo Grassi in Venice, and the Berlin Biennial (which can only be an improvement on two years ago which was uber-dull).

Aimee Farrell – Features Director

In terms of writers in 2011 it has to be Caitlin Moran at the top of the list. How To Be A Woman managed to make feminism funny and accessible.

In 2012 I’m excited about Rachel Cusk. Her Granta essay about life after marriage, which throws a feminist light on the institution of divorce has been developed into a major new work of non-fiction, called Aftermath: On Marriage and Separation. Published by Faber the book will be a series of meditations on women’s mid-lives and family life after divorce.

Last year marked another 12 months of female dominance in the music industry, whether it was Beyonce at Glastonbury or Adele taking America. There were strong albums from the likes of Feist and a great debut from songstress Anika. For me though, the highlight was PJ Harvey storming the Mercury Music Prize for a second time. Let England Shake easily summed up the zeitgeist for 2011 and proved that there are still important albums being made.

For 2012, there’s a feeling it’s going to be the year of the viral superstar. We’ve already had Azealia Banks’ 212 and Lana Del Rey’s Video Games, now we need to hear the albums.

Tags: Aimee Farrell, Azealia Banks, Beyonce, Caitlin Moran, Edvard Munch, francesca gavin, Lana Del Rey, Mark Leckey, PJ Harvey, Rachel Cusk, Yayoi Kusama

No overnight YouTube success can sing a tune quite like Lana Del Rey. Ever the DIY recording star, the 24-year-old’s self-edited clip of debut single Video Games has garnered over 2 million hits and spawned the album Born To Die, set for release in early 2012.

The New Yorker, whose stage name is derived from a combination of film noir actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey automobile, cites Nirvana and Biggie Smalls as two of her biggest musical influences. It is through this combination of retro nostalgia and catchy lyrics such as “you fit me better than my favourite sweater” that the artist also known as Lizzy Grant evokes the days of Sixties sirens singing in small jazz club venues, served with a 21st Century twist.

Del Rey kicks off her UK tour on November 4th in Manchester. It will be the chance to prove to her critics what we already know: she doesn’t just meet the hype surrounding her persona; she exceeds it.

The double single Video Games/Blue Jeans is out now.
lanadelrey.com

Tags: Biggie Smalls, Born To Die, Ford Del Rey, Lana Del Rey, Lana Turner, Lizzy Grant, Music, Nirvana, Video Games