'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEF/8QAHhAAAgICAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBQAEESExQWL/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/8QAHhEAAgEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAWhBBEhQbH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/ALvzyQ7t/WhUM8sqyGRuWUF0I6HrwM2KmjdKrTVdkgCFAAB8jGMOtcrxQARnbhcopOTSt0gjbUEMOh5X/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lady Gaga’s latest album, Mayhem, seems to have impressed rapper Azealia Banks. Review and rating platform Metacritic gave the album an 85 Metascore and universal acclaim based on 12 critic reviews at the time of writing the story.
On March 7, 2025, the X account of Pop Base posted the news on the platform, which Banks reshared. Praising the singer’s work, she wrote:
“All and all Disease is still the biggest sounding sh*t I have heard since single ladies and 212and she ate that and clearly is not getting artistic ideas from some weird A.I algorithm. Like finally someone just said what they wanted to say and not what everyone wanted to hear. Bravo.”
Azealia Banks shared further thoughts on Lady Gaga’s album, Mayhem, giving it a solid ten. Even the parts that didn’t align with her personal taste still worked artistically. She described the album’s aesthetic as heavily influenced by modern American occult themes, blending elements of horror and mysticism.
Her references included imagery from The Craft and The Ring, as well as Catholic and witchcraft influences. She also evoked dark, surreal themes such as underground crypts, vampire bites, and a haunting, dystopian Los Angeles. Additionally, she noted a contrast between deeper occult symbolism and the more commercialized, trendy versions seen in pop culture.
Meanwhile, Variety described Mayhem as a refreshing shift that highlights Lady Gaga’s strengths. According to the magazine, the album strips away excessive complexity, focusing instead on the core elements that make her music impactful. The review noted that Gaga seems to have realized that staying true to herself is the most effective way to navigate the industry.
“That personal mayhem I think is echoed also in how I feel about the world sometimes,” – Lady Gaga explains why she named the album Mayhem
During an interview with Good Morning America on March 7, 2025, Lady Gaga was asked if she had any fears about returning to pop music. She admitted there was some hesitation. As a woman in the industry, she felt there were many opinions about what defined her success.
She questioned whether she had internalized those views but ultimately stepped into the studio with confidence, reminding herself that she was the one who built her career. When asked why she named the album “Mayhem,” she said:
“I think I felt like I was playing multiple different people throughout my whole career and kind of having to hold the duality of that and that personal mayhem I think is echoed also in how I feel about the world sometimes that the world is in a chaotic place."
Lady Gaga continued:
"So I tried to use my artistry and my lyrics and songwriting to create something that was like indicative of personal chaos but also how we can still celebrate and dance through it while that’s happening.”
Trending
Reflecting on her current stage in life, Lady Gaga shared that she now feels truly confident in her skills as a musician, songwriter, producer, and artist. While it may seem surprising, she explained that it took her nearly two decades to fully take charge of her career.
Often the only woman in the room, she had to work hard to stay grounded and focused on her artistic vision. Despite the challenges, she remained true to herself and made it through the chaos.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
