Lady Gaga's Pop Music Comeback: Everything We Know About 'Perfect Illusion'

By
Getty Images

Lady Gaga, the pop star, is ready to step back into the spotlight.

The 30-year-old superstar will release her new single, "Perfect Illusion," on Friday, marking her first proper solo offering since 2013's Artpop. Will it deliver musical magic?

Gaga has been heavily promoting the single on Instagram, revealing a handful of teasers along the way. Here's what we know so far.

NEWS: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper Officially Starring in 'A Star Is Born' -- He'll Direct, She'll Write the Music

THE COLLABORATORS

In a posed snap from the studio, Gaga mugs for the camera alongside co-writers and co-producers Mark Ronson, Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala) and BloodPop. In another dramatic performance shot, Gaga can be seen perched on top of BloodPop's shoulders.

RONSON CAN'T STOP RAVING

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio last month, Ronson gushed over Gaga's album. "It's some of my favorite music I've really ever worked on. It's incredible - I love it." 

Days later, in a separate interview with Buro247, Ronson doubled down on his remarks.

"It's been one of my favorite records to work on and some of the people who have come in to play on it are my favorite musicians, writers and some of her favorites," he said. "I think it's just really good music and probably a record for people who might not have realized that her music had something for them — at least based on the small amount of people who've heard it so far. It's definitely pretty deep musically, for sure." 

READ: Lady Gaga Says There's Nothing More 'Isolating' Than Being Famous

THE LYRICS

In a collage posted to Instagram, Gaga revealed a small selection of what appear to be song lyrics.
"I don't need eyes to see/ I felt you touchin' me/ High like amphetamine/ Maybe you're just a dream."

"The song is about modern ecstasy ... We found our sweet, simple, ragey way of saying it," Gaga revealed during an appearance at iHeartRadio HQ in New York City. "I get this sick adrenaline rush every time I hear it."

The iHeartRadio article likens Gaga's newest track to some of her "best dance floor anthems" and posits that the story is about "the highest of highs and lowest of lows in a relationship gone wrong." 

THE MUSIC VIDEO

Judging by the behind-the-scenes snaps Gaga has shared, it looks like the "Perfect Illusion" video was already shot. In one photo, Gaga sings to the camera while perched on top of a piano in what looks like the ocean. In another, she's captured in the desert, mid-jump, singing passionately into her microphone. In yet another, she swings her microphone around her head while making her way through a mosh pit.

Then, there are subdued moments: lying in the park while Ronson strums his guitar nearby, and a classic black-and-white tinted studio session. It's not clear whether this imagery will be included in the video, or if it's simply behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process. (But it's gorgeous, either way!)

According to Page Six, Gaga's longtime fashion collaborator, Brandon Maxwell, styled the shoot, which reportedly took place outside Los Angeles over the course of two days. 

THE RELEASE

"Perfect Illusion" will be revealed on Friday, Sept. 9, with a full-length album expected to follow. No word yet on the LP's release date.

RELATED: Lady Gaga Hits the Stage for an Emotionally-Charged, Post-Taylor Kinney Breakup Performance