Lana Del Rey + Dan Auerbach open up about fight to release Ultraviolence

Lana Del Rey and Dan Auerbach have spoken out about the record label 'bullshit' that they had to battle in order to release her latest album, Ultraviolence. 

The Black Keys frontman was brought on board to produce Del Rey's smash hit sophomore album to provide a new approach, but in a new interview with Rolling Stone, reveals that they struggled with record label interference and pressure for a more commercial sound. 

Del Rey is signed to the majors Interscope in the US and the U.K.'s Polydor.

"There was a lot of bullshit I'm not used to," said Auerbach. "The label says, 'We're not going to give you the budget to extend this session unless we hear something.' And we send them the rough mix and they fucking hate it and they hate the way it's mixed. And it's like, 'Thanks, asshole.'… I think Lana put her foot down. Maybe it's normal for her, but it's not normal for me. Really rubbed me the wrong way. I got really defensive because I thought it was bullshit."  

He continued: "The story I got told is that they played it for her label person and they said, 'We're not putting out this record that you and Dan made unless you meet with the Adele producer'. And she said, 'Fine, whatever.' And she was late to the meeting, so while they were waiting, the label guy played what we recorded for the Adele producer and he said, 'This is amazing, I wouldn't do anything to change this.' And here's the kicker: Then all of a sudden, the label guy said, 'Well, yeah, I think it's great, too.'"

Speaking of the six week period last year when she was unsure if the album would even be released, Del Rey said: "I mean, I think there were people they wanted me to work with. I don't know who they were. When I said I was ready, they were like, 'Are you sure?'", laughing "Because I feel like you could go further.'"

Interscope co-founder Jimmy Iovine added: "On this album, in my opinion, you didn't want her to try to do something. I felt she hit a bull's-eye. Everybody's saying to me, 'We need a single,' calling me from Europe. I said, 'You don't need anything.' It's a very coherent body of work, and thought any other conversation was a distraction."

Either way, the album debuted at No.1 in many countries and has since sold over 185,000 copies. A world tour announcement is expected imminently.