'Happiness is the ultimate life goal. I think it's the only thing that's important.'

In a candid interview to mark the release of her stunning new album 'Lust for Life', Lana Del Rey opens up to ELLE about coming through the difficulties in her life and career, to find a new sense of happiness.

On Who Lana Really Is

She tells us her famed chanteuse persona has become less of a prop for her now. 'I know that if I had more of a persona [before], I have less of one now. And I think it comes down to getting a little older. Maybe I needed a stronger look or something to lean on then. But I feel like it wouldn't be hard for me today to play a mega show in jeans without rehearsing and still feel like I was coming from the right place.'

Thomas Whiteside

On Love

Talking about feeling more positive at this time in her life, she tells us, 'All the tough things that I have been through – that I've drawn upon [in my work] – don't exist for me anymore. Not all my romantic relationships were bad, but some of them challenged me in a way that I didn't want to be challenged and I am happy I don't have to do that now.'

Thomas Whiteside

One of the lessons she has learnt is avoiding the types of men she's been drawn to in the past.

'For me, the dream is to have a little bit of edge, the sexiness, the magnetism, the camaraderie, be on the same page and all that stuff, but without the fallout that comes from a person who is really selfish and puts only their needs first, which is like a lot of frontmen if we're talking about musicians!'

'I'm going to write a book one day called, "The curse of the frontman and why you should always date a bassist."'

On Her Music

Lana also talks about the influences on her new album, including American politics, 'I think it would be weird to be making a record during the past 18 months and not comment on how [the political landscape] was making me or the people I know feel, which is not good. It would be really difficult if my views didn't line up with what a lot of what people are saying.'

On Happiness

She also stresses the importance of being happy and why society needs to change. "I think happiness is the ultimate life goal. I think it's the only thing that's important. There are no mechanisms in place for routes to happiness, that's the whole f**king problem.

'I think people are unhappy in school – the education structure has been the same for a long time and kids are still not satisfied with their educational experience. And you don't have enough conversations when you're young about what makes for a satisfying, mutual relationship. Those collective life experiences – your youth, your academic education and your education about business, marriage or relationship goals – they all lead up to your collective happiness. I think the emphasis is on the wrong things and it has been for a long time."

On the cover, Lana is wearing Gucci and a ring by Cartier

Read the full interview in the June issue of ELLE UK, on sale 16th May.

To watch and listen to 'Lust For Life', head over to Lanadelrey.com.