Is Taylor Swift Entering her Lana Del Rey Era?

If stan culture on the Internet has made you question whether two successful pop icons can ever truly coexist, know you're not alone. Taylor Swift, in particular, seems to fall victim to a new celebrity comparison with every new outfit, album, or era. As for the artists she's compared to? The likes of Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Lorde, Phoebe Bridgers, and Harry Styles—all artists who have undeniably unique sounds and subject matters—but where the Internet has a will, there's a way. 

With the release of The Tortured Poets Department, who is the latest person of interest? None other than Lana Del Rey, queen of coquette-core, old Hollywood glamour, and quintessential California melancholia. Although the Internet may be happy to forget it in favor of raising their idol to number one status, the two women are actually close friends. 

“Lana Del Rey in my opinion is one of the best musical artists ever,” Swift commented after announcing their collaboration on "Snow on the Beach," a track off of Midnights. “The fact that I get to exist at the same as her is an honor and a privilege. The fact that she would be so generous as to collaborate with us on this song is something I’m gonna be grateful for for life. Absolutely love her.”

As two major forces within the industry, the two have met a number of times over the years, but it's thanks to their mutual friendships and working partnerships with producer Jack Antonoff that the duo united in the studio. In 2024, ahead of the release of The Tortured Poets Department, the pair have been spotted together frequently, with appearances ranging from exchanged embraces at the Grammy Awards to partying together at the Super Bowl in support of the Chiefs. 

Whether you believe Taylor truly is channeling Lana in her new album or that the pop star simply went through a series of difficult, depression-inducing breakups, there's no denying that fans have spotted a link between the sound and style of the two stars. There's no doubt that the newest Swift album taps into a sense of melancholy, loss, and mania never seen from the pop star before, but does that alone make it Lana-esque? Fans have cited Swift's shift to a sultry, coquette-core aesthetic as evidence of her dipping her toes into the Del Rey realm, but others aren't convinced. 

The jury's still out for now, as fans are currently embroiled in an all-out debate online to get to the bottom of the issue. While their fans are locked in on the Internet, neither pop star seems particularly concerned over the claims, as both are busy enjoying the sunshine, music, and party scene at Coachella. 

Curious to determine whether Taylor's supposed Lana era is a conspiracy or factual? Join L'OFFICIEL in diving into all the Taylor/Lana theories, comparisons, and observations that have had Stan Twitter in a vice grip the past few days.