Released on March 7, Lady Gaga’s album, “Mayhem” is a bold reawakening to the world of pop music, long-awaited by Gaga fans. Since her rise in popularity in the late 2000s, Gaga has consistently merged with a variety of genres, producing music all along the spectrum. With “Mayhem,” she fearlessly dives into new territory while seamlessly keeping her artistry firmly intact. The album is both raw and unashamedly eccentric, in clear alignment with its title.
In an interview with “Vogue,” Gaga herself describes the album as “chaotic from a genre perspective – it is genre-bending, and I think in that way is a deeply personal look into my mind as a producer and the way I think about music,” Gaga said. “In that way, this album is a celebration of a lot of the music that made me who I am, because when I returned to a darker pop style of pop, all my early experiences with music came out.”
The entirety of the album is a testament to this statement. From the more upbeat songs such as “Disease” and “Abracadabra,” to the somewhat slower “Die with a Smile,” the album reflects Gaga’s style throughout her entire career and showcases her entrancing energy in addition to her undeniable magnetism. “Mayhem” is already loved among both die-hard Gaga fans and occasional listeners, even though it has only been released for just under a month.
Part of the album’s appeal is its distinct ability to captivate the ears of listeners and evoke an experience that is both meaningful and fun. The album continues to prove that Gaga has a miraculous manner of evolution in her music without losing sight of herself.
Ashley Montes, one of many Gaga fans on Northwestern’s campus, said, “Listening to her album felt like a fever dream. We get to see Lady Gaga in a whole new perspective – you can see the evolution of her music, yet she still stays true to herself. I can tell in her music that the themes aren’t as dark and depressing – they’re more relatable and pleasing to the ear. She delivered.”
Complete with 14 featured tracks, a new single and a music video that came out Feb. 2, “Mayhem” comes just five years after her album “Chromatica” in 2020, and also follows companion album, “Harlequin,” which Gaga created for “Joker: Folie a Deux.” The star’s seventh studio album garnered its inspiration from Michael Polansky, Gaga’s fiancé, who encouraged the pop route.
In her “Elle” cover story, Gaga also described the album’s concept as “following your own chaos into whatever cranny of your life that it takes you to… Part of the message of even the first song on the album is that your demons are with you in the beginning and they are with you in the end, and I do not mean it in a bleak way. Maybe we can make friends sooner with this reality instead of running all the time.”
The album includes previously released singles, “Disease,” “Abracadabra” and “Die With a Smile” in addition to two bonus songs: “Kill for Love” and “Can’t Stop the High.” The full track list includes: “Garden of Eden,” “Perfect Celebrity,” “Vanish Into You,” “Killah ft. Gesaffelstein,” “Zombieboy,” “LoveDrug,” “How Bad Do U Want Me,” “Don’t Call Tonight,” “Shadow of a Man,” “The Beast” and “Blade of Grass.”
Gaga is well-known for good reason, and her ability to blend her distinct artistry with bold evolution in the music she produces has earned her the unofficial title of one of pop’s most enduring figures. Whether you already love Gaga’s vast repertoire of music or are a newfound fan, “Mayhem” is the perfect album for you. Give it a listen, dive into Gaga’s bold re-entrance to the pop genre and find yourself immersed in the eccentric, theatrical and unapologetically chaotic album.
