LET'S TAKE JESUS OFF THE DASHBOARD.

Surf noir. We've no idea what it is really, but still it seems a pretty apt description for NYC via New Jersey songwriter Lana Del Rey. All femme fatale lyrics and rampant nostalgia for the kitschy Americana of yesteryear, Lana's tracks hook you with a sultry approach to pop songwriting that sets her apart from her peers in this city. The icing on the cake is her homemade music videos, which unravel like a parade of influences that serve as a mission statement for what it is Del Rey's all about, and you can view the clip she's put together for "Diet Mtn Dew" - our favorite track of hers to this point - above. While it's clear she's still trying to find her sound and pin down her sonic identity, "Diet Mtn Dew" shows she's got all the necessary components to turn serious heads in the months to come, and those at The Great Escape next week would be amiss not to check her out at the Gold Dust showcase Thursday night. She's also going into the studio with our dudes The Knocks upon her return from the UK and, as anyone whose heard their recent output knows, that can only mean good things. Watch this space.

MP3: "Diet Mtn Dew" (Demo) - Lana Del Rey [exclusive]