Lady Gaga’s long-awaited return to the music community has finally arrived after five years. “Mayhem” marks Gaga’s seventh studio album, and one of her most successful yet. The new album is grungy, dark and is marked under the dance-pop category. It consists of 14 tracks, featuring French DJ, Gesaffelstein and Bruno Mars. Gaga began teasing the album back in August 2024, when she and global phenomenon Bruno Mars debuted “Die With a Smile,” which has since won a Grammy award and continues to top the charts as a number one globally streamed hit. Despite the lack of recognition that her lead single, “Disease,” received, the follow-up, “Abracadabra,” topped the charts after its music video premiered as a Super Bowl commercial.
“The song is about facing the challenge of life and the challenge of the night and finding the magic in it all,” Gaga said.
Fans have been anxiously awaiting Gaga’s return to music as she hasn’t released a solo album since 2020. Although she has not released any music, she has been keeping herself busy. Recently, Gaga starred in “Joker: Folie à Deux,” playing the role of Harley Quinn. Despite the heavy anticipation for the film, audiences were left disappointed. The incorporation of dance and musical numbers drove DC fans away from the movie. In addition to acting, Gaga has released many products for her iconic makeup brand, Haus Labs, which she founded in September 2019. The line stays consistent with viral and fan-favorite products, such as the foundation and concealer. It is sold at Sephora and hauslabs.com, and it is commonly recognized for its inclusive shade range and high-quality cosmetics.
Despite the recent success of her makeup brand, music has always been where she receives the most recognition. “Mayhem’s” variety in musical style, technique and lyricism proves Gaga to be irreplaceable, marking yet another hit album. Fans are expecting a stadium tour from Gaga in the next year, spanning across the world. However, Gaga and her team have not yet confirmed or posted anything regarding an upcoming tour.
Overall, “Mayhem” showcases Gaga’s evolution as an artist. The album’s diverse soundscape seamlessly blends dance-pop with darker, grungier elements, reflecting her lyric and productional growth, and willingness to experiment and take a risk. The collaborations show that she is able to work with artists of different styles, and still make a phenomenal track, as she applied unique textures to the album’s sound and showcased her ability to integrate opposing musical styles. While her performance in “Joker: Folie à Deux” may not have pleased all audience members, it underscores her versatility and her true potential as an artist and actress. Her ability to take musical risk showcases her diversity and accounts for her success. The next chapter in her career marks a new beginning for Gaga, and 2025 is only the start for how far her career will go.
