A Blend of Past and Present

Lady Gaga’s latest album, MAYHEM, has been characterized as her most “Lady Gaga” project in years, capturing the essence of her earlier works like The Fame Monster and Born This Way. This new release features a compelling blend of dark electro-pop—an iconic sound that propelled her to international fame over a decade ago. With theatricality and camp at its core, MAYHEM revives the grandiose style that defined her earlier career, most notably seen in tracks like “Die With A Smile,” which aims to reclaim her spot in the top 40 charts.

The Making of MAYHEM

The creation of MAYHEM was shaped by a variety of unique circumstances that have allowed Gaga to make a powerful comeback. The record was produced during 2023 and 2024 at Rick Rubin’s renowned Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California. This studio has previously been the birthplace of her albums Joanne and parts of Artpop.

Gaga collaborated closely with a selected team, which included executive producer Andrew Watt, French electronic artist Gesaffelstein, Canadian producer Cirkut, and her fiancé Michael Polansky, who also contributed as an executive producer and occasional co-writer. Unlike her experience with Chromatica, where self-doubt crept in, Gaga entered the MAYHEM project with a definitive vision for the sound she wanted, encompassing specific ideas for guitar riffs, bass lines, and synths. This approach enabled a smoother and quicker creative process.

“It was important to work with people that were going to collaborate well with me,” Gaga explained, highlighting her drive to take charge of the creative direction during the production.

A New Era of Empowerment

Gaga’s artistic evolution is evident not only in her music but also in her personal growth. “I’ve always been in charge of my music, but I would definitely say that I’m more the boss in my life now than I ever have been,” she shared with The FADER, acknowledging the journey she undertook to reach this empowered state in both her career and life.