Lady Gaga is a name that you’ve probably heard a lot as of late. She’s been extremely popular on the New York City club and dance circuit, and has even had a worldwide #1 hit called “Just Dance“. She recently dropped an album, and even hosted an event with the only and only Perez Hilton for CMJ.
She is currently on tour with New Kids on the Block, and her new album, “Fame” is in stores now. We got a chance to learn a little more about this tough, native New Yorker and got a peek into what’s behind her fabulous shades. Read more to get to know about the pop/dance phenomenon that is…Lady Gaga.
ATF: For those of our readers who don’t know, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Gaga: I am 22 years old. I’m a born and raised, Manhattanite, New Yorker. I started writing music when I was 13, and started playing in clubs when I was 15. I worked my way up the club circuit, got signed twice, and I released “Just Dance” in January after working and writing for other artists on Interscope Records. I wrote “Just Dance” and it went #1 around the world, and now I’m gonna make it #1 in the US!
ATF: Who are some of the artists that you’ve written songs for in the past?
Gaga: Britney Spears, NKOTB, Michael Bolton, Tammy Chynn, PussyCat Dolls, and Akon.
ATF: How was it working with Akon?
Gaga: Akon is awesome. I did the Tammy Chynn project with him. He’s Amazing, and there’s really just nobody like him in the industry. I love working with him, and I feel very blessed that he took a liking to my music.
ATF: So, I hear you’re currently working with Britney Spears. Is there a chance that you’re going to be on her new album?
Gaga: It’s looking like I’ve got two songs on it.
ATF: That’s great. We’ll definitely look out for that. I read that you went to NYU’s School of the Arts. Have you always wanted to be an artist, or want to be involved in music some sort of way, or did you stumble onto it?
Gaga: I always wanted to be an artist of some sort. I never really planned to be anything else, but I just didn’t know what kind, you know? I didn’t know whether it would be music, or performance, maybe film, I just didn’t know. I do everything now, though. I do music, I do performance, I make movies, I speak to fashion, I design the technology for the shows…I’m living my dream!
ATF: Lady Gaga is a very interesting name. How did you get your name?
Gaga: You know the Queen song, “Radio Gaga”? That’s it.
ATF: Was Queen one of your musical influences?
Gaga: It was more that I was getting compared to theatrical pop artists. Because I went to theatre school, I was told a lot by record labels that I was “too theatre”, and I when I auditioned for plays, I was told that I was “too pop”. I really combined the two, and started to explore them even more after that started happening. My producer once said “You’re so gaga”, like “Radio Gaga” or you’re so Freddie Mercury. It was more something that I stumbled upon. I’ve always been a really dramatic pop performer, and me discovering Queen, David Bowie and Prince gave me an idea of the kind of artist that I wanted to be.
ATF: Who are some of your favorite artists right now, and who are your musical influences?
Gaga: Right now, I love Madonna, MIA, Gwen Stefani, Santogold, The Saint, The New York Dolls, I could go on forever.
ATF: You mentioned that you kind of grew up in the New York club circuit. Can you explain how you got involved in that scene and how it treated you while you were on the come up?
Gaga: Well, there’s really no other way to start. You can either hope and pray that somebody hands life to you on a silver platter, or you can work for it. I didn’t know any other way to do it. I moved out of my parent’s house, got a place downtown, got a bunch of jobs and it was just me , my piano, and a dream. This was at the age of 18. It was a journey and I really figured out who I was, but you have to test yourself and say “Can I handle this?”
People ask me all the time “What’s your life like”? “How do you handle all of this?” But I just feel like I’m really ready. I feel like I was made for this, because in between all the craziness, I feel like I’m just meant for this life of total devotion to art. Its not something that everyone is built for, because a lot of people want boyfriends, dinner, parties, a family, etc. but I don’t do any of that. I work all day and go to bed.
Lady Gaga on Jimmy Kimmel
ATF: Do you feel as though being from New York has you into the person that you are?
Gaga: Yeah, New York definitely raised me and made me into who I am. I’m a fighter. You know how New York is.
ATF: How did you feel when you first heard your song in the club or on the radio?
Gaga: [Pause] I cried. I was in Canada when my song came on the radio, and it was #1 in the country. I just freaked out. It was amazing. Its like you can’t even imagine what its like to work so hard and have it pay off.
ATF: Do you feel like the use of the internet has contributed to your success as well?
Gaga: Yeah, I mean I don’t feel there’s a particular method of using the internet. For me, its more important for me to connect with my fans. People don’t do music videos that much anymore, and the best way to connect with those fans is through the internet. I do a lot of videos, I do webisodes, and we film all the time on the road. It’s a way for me to connect and let my fans know that I’m thinking about them and working hard for them. Instead of us telling the internet to fuck off, we should just embrace it.
ATF: So let’s talk about the new video, “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich“. I really like the clothes and the imagery in the video. Who are some of your style inspirations? Also, where are some of your favorite places to shop?
Gaga: Well, I made the red outfit in that video. (The red jacket with the leotard and the hood). The Black outfit is a vintage dress that we tailored to the video. I do a lot of stuff really organically. I plan a lot, but I also like to work on the set. The House of Gaga is my personal creative team, and we really work well together. A lot of times, we just come up with stuff right on the spot. We get really inspired sometimes when we’re on the set. I don’t even like to hire stylists. I do everything myself, but I’ve been with them for a long time, and have been doing this for a long time.
ATF: With your busy schedule, do you still get a chance to go out and enjoy yourself a lot in the city, or do you pretty much work all the time?
Gaga: [Laughs] God no, but I enjoy what I do, so that’s my party.
ATF: Will you be making any appearances in New York anytime soon?
Gaga: I will be playing Madison Square Garden, opening for the New Kids on the Block. I played Highline Ballroom for my album release party, and I just did a CMJ Party with my buddy, Perez Hilton.
ATF: So can you tell us a little bit more about the album?
Gaga: Well, it drops October 28th, and its full of hit records like “Just Dance”. It’s a great pop record, and I’m excited about it. It’s a total smash.
ATF: What are your favorite songs on the album?
Gaga: My 2 favorites are “Poker Face” and “Paparazzi” I will say that when you’re checking out the songs, please really listen to the lyrics. You could look at this album and wonder if its just a novelty record about a really shallow concept, but its not. Its an in depth look at pop culture and society, and the way that fame affects us. Try to look at it in that way.
ATF: If you could, please leave us with a few last words…
Gaga: People, look out for me! I will be all over New York soon, pounding the street and playing the US playing everywhere. Also, tune in to Z100 and check out “Just Dance”.
For more, please visit Myspace.com/ladygaga
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this is a real big chance…but i don’t belive it’s true…it’s to ”pfff unbeliveble” but if it’s
…what i have to do???…i don’t understand …
pls someone give me a mail answer…i begin you!thankkkyooouu :X :* (anda_matzu@yahoo.com)
hi lady ga ga dont mean to sound like a bitch but people out there have been saying you was a prostatute last year. they been saying this. is this true? email sexythingup4anythin@hotmail.com lol sorry email add is just a laugh x
starrychelx66 (8 hours ago)
nice but did you know that she was a prostitute intil 2006 she work private and was known in the indersty as clawdia and was specillized in anal sex hows that for a fact
lol..that video was hilarious
i love you. please please please get to know me better. email me at derekW014@aol.com.
LOVE YOU LADYGAGA.
love chloe walmsley.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.S
whats your real name.
She’s educated in sex yes she loves games she loves brain
I feel that she is trying to hard to be someone she’s not, yea just do you, but that hair do, gots to go, I mean it lefted already, why in the hell would you try in bring it back? L.I.G.It, try again in stop looking like my mama with that bang! Ha Ha Ha (find a new look trust me if i could help you i would you need a new best friend cause she lied to you.
These are the dumbest comments anyone can leave. Do you ppl know how to read, write and spell? You cant even put a proper sentence together.
oooooooooooo im hot say yes if you like my sog’s
uhh. no. i’m pretty sure that’s not lady gaga. ^^^