Lady GaGa
When it comes to pop music track records, Cirkut’s illustrious résumé in the genre speaks for itself.
As a sought after electro-pop producer and songwriter, the 38-year-old artist born Henry Walter has spent the last two decades churning out hits for artists like The Weeknd (“Starboy, “Die For You”), Rihanna (“Where Have You Been”), Katy Perry (“Roar,” “Dark Horse”), Miley Cyrus (“Wrecking Ball”), Charli XCX (“360”) and dozens of others. But as he explains to Billboard, he goes out of his way to not get too comfortable with his success.
“I never want to rest on my past accomplishments, and that vibe of ‘Oh, do you know all my work? Do you know all my hits?’” he explains. “That doesn’t mean anything to me. Whether I’m working with the biggest star in the world or the newest artist, you have to prove yourself over and over again.”
By his own definition, Cirkut has done just that: Over the last month, the producer has helped launch two artists into the upper echelons of the Billboard Hot 100. His work with veteran hitmaker Lady Gaga on her dark pop single “Disease” sent the song to a No. 27 debut on the chart. Meanwhile K-pop sensation ROSÉ earned her highest-charting solo single with “APT.,” featuring Bruno Mars, arriving at No. 8, thanks in no small part to Cirkut’s catchy production. He earned writing credits on both tracks as well.
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The producer attributes the successes of both Gaga and ROSÉ to their singular ideas of what they want in their music — a trait he looks for in all the artists he works with. “When an artist doesn’t really know what they want to say, or is like, ‘I don’t know, just make me a song,’ that doesn’t interest me,” he says. “The best artists always have some kind of vision, whether it’s how they see the visuals coming together, how they want the guitar to sound, or how hard the kick drums hit.”
Below, Cirkut breaks down the writing processes for both “Disease” and “APT.,” why Lady Gaga stands out in a crowded field of pop stars, how an ad-libbed drinking game inspired ROSÉ’s hit song, and what he envisions for the future of pop music.
Let’s go all the way back to the beginning — when and how did you first get involved with Gaga and her team for this project?
It happened sometime last year — I had been working with [“Disease” co-writer/co-producer] Andrew Watt for a while. We [had] worked on a few different things together, and one day he called me and said, “What do you think about working with Gaga?” He said that we would be a great fit to do this project together. So, I met Gaga for the first time in the studio, and it was amazing. I was really excited to work with her, we were off to the races as soon as we met.
What immediately appealed to you about the prospect of working with Gaga?
I’ve been a fan over the years, she is just a legendary artist. There’s only one Gaga, and she has influenced so many of the artists who are out now. I think her music paved the way for so many people. Selfishly, I did want to see what I could accomplish with her. Just the thought of wondering what a Gaga record would sound like if I produced it was really exciting from the get-go.
When you look back on the inception of “Disease,” was there a stated goal with that song? What were you aiming to accomplish?
It was just one song in a collection that we worked on together, but fairly early in the process, we all loved it and knew that it would be some kind of cornerstone of this body of work. “Disease” [is] a daring record to me. It’s very aggressive. I wouldn’t say it’s a safe, “nice” song to ease you into things. I was spending some time with my mom the other day and she asked what I’d been working on — I threw on the music video for “Disease,” and she was just stunned and saying “oh my God” a lot. It’s a very in-your-face kind of record.
I do all kinds of music, but I love aggressive electronic music. When Watt and I get together, something just kind of happens — with his rock background, we end up bringing in a lot of heavy guitars, and I wanted to make it this cool, industrial synth dance record. When you listen to the final result, I’m pretty happy with how we melded those two things.
What do you remember from the studio sessions with Gaga here — were there any particular moments where it felt like things really locked in for you?
We all huddled up at the beginning to see if we had any common ground when it came to taste in music and the places we wanted to go with the sound. She was very instrumental in leading that discussion. We all wanted to make something that still felt like it was decidedly Gaga, but always asking the question of “What does that sound like today?” That’s always a challenge, especially with artists who have established themselves so firmly in pop culture, to figure out that balance. Do you do something so different that you move away from the things that you are known for? But if you just do the same thing that you’ve been known for, does that end up feeling like a “more-of-the-same” type situation? I wanted to make sure that we brought the essence of Gaga into this song and all of the things that are so great about her — the drama, the theatrics, that in-your-face sound — but still putting a fresh spin on it. That said, you also cannot overthink things too much on something like this. Ultimately, you just have to get in there and have fun.
We definitely had a synergy in the studio. In the beginning, it is kind of a trial run [with a new collaborator]. It felt a little bit like she was feeling me out, trying to figure out where I was coming from when it came to production. But then there was kind of a breakthrough moment — I had been working through something over my headphones, and when I played it out loud, she was just like, “Oh my God, Cirkut, that’s crazy.” And as soon as that happened it was like, “Great, I got through to her.” It’s not like she was difficult to impress, but I wanted us to be on the same page. I treat every project I work on like that — you have to approach it from the mind of being a student always, rather than a know-it-all. I’m always learning from new people.
You’ve worked on massive hits from artists like The Weeknd, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Kesha and Charli XCX. As someone who has been in the room with so many of these major pop stars, how does Gaga stand out amongst that pack?
I think something all the great artists that I’ve worked with have in common is that they all have a vision. Whether it’s fully realized or not doesn’t matter — there is always intention and direction behind the art that they’re making. Even if that’s not fully fleshed out, I find that to be really important. There is always an opinion.
Gaga is very much like that — she is very interested in the sonics of everything. She would say, “Maybe try a different drum here,” or she would hop on the synths and start playing things. She’s a musician and a visionary, and she knew all about the attack, decay, sustain and release settings on a synth. She is all about the details, which definitely sets her apart from a lot of artists. Also, the passion that she puts into her work is amazing. She really lives and breathes and eats and sweats and bleeds this music.
“Disease” is not the only track of yours currently on the Hot 100 — ROSÉ’s “APT.,” featuring Bruno Mars debuted at No. 8 debut earlier this month. Tell me a little bit about how you got involved on that song, and what ROSÉ and Bruno were like to work with?
I don’t try to say, “Oh, I knew this would be a hit,” because I simply do not have that kind of foresight. But I thought this one was a really great, fun, catchy song, and I really loved working with Rosie. I was so excited when she had played the song for Bruno and I heard that he was getting involved, because I genuinely feel like he took it to another level.
We worked together probably three days in a row in the studio, and I think [“APT.”] was one of the last ideas we started. It was the end of the night, we had just done a song or two, and we were like, “Might be time to go home.” And Rosie was sitting there and just sort of chanting to herself, “apateu, apateu.” I think it was [co-writer] Theron [Thomas] who stopped her and asked what it was. She said, “It’s just a Korean thing, it’s basically a drinking game.” All of us were immediately like, “Why is that not a song?” We took that and put together a very quick hook. It was kind of random — I love it when stuff like that happens! It’s not always planned. It’s not always, “We’re going to get in the studio and make a mega hit featuring Bruno Mars.” Sometimes it’s a spontaneous session based on a drinking game. Sometimes somebody is whispering something in the corner, and it becomes this incredible hook.
As someone who has been as vital as you are in creating these massive pop moments throughout your career, how do you view the direction pop music is headed today? What are you seeing in the pop space right now that feels like something that will continue on into the future?
More than ever, almost anything goes. Nowadays, because there’s so much music out there, listeners are so discerning. They like what they like, and it is up to us — creators, producers, songwriters, artists — to show people fresh, new things that they haven’t heard 1,000 times already. Sure, there are trends that go in and out of style, but sometimes, it can be about just changing one thing, and all of a sudden you’ve got a fresh new sound.
Honestly, I try not to think about all of this too much because it can be a little overwhelming. The “next sound” could literally be anything. I really try to just create and not think about the future because that can ultimately remove the spontaneity of it. Messing around and stumbling upon something you love is kind of the random magic that happens. In the age of [artificial intelligence], I think that’s a tool that is here to stay, whether people like it or not, and I do think it could help when it comes to creativity in the studio. But, at the end of the day, it’s the human element of production and songwriting that succeeds. People care about authenticity, they want something that’s real, and listeners are not stupid.
A version of this story appears in the Nov. 16, 2024, issue of Billboard.
Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Oprah Winfrey are just some of the celebrities who will appear at Kamala Harris’ Pennsylvania rallies on Monday night (Nov. 4), the Harris campaign has announced.
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The two rallies will take place simultaneously, with both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh events running from 5pm—10pm EST, with Harris slated to appear in person at both.
The Harris campaign has also revealed the special guests who will be appearing at each rally, with the Pittsburgh event featuring Andra Day, DJ Arie Cole, D-Nice, and Katy Perry.
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Meanwhile, the Philadelphia rally is a rather stacked affair, with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Fat Joe, and Oprah Winfrey appearing as guest speakers, while Adam Blackstone, DJ Cassidy, Freeway and Just Blaze, Jazmine Sullivan, Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and The Roots serve as special musical guests.
“It’s time to get ready to vote–I’ll see you guys in Pennsylvania,” Lady Gaga shared in a brief video shared to Instagram alongside the announcement of the rallies.
Harris’ previous campaigns have recruited a number of high-profile celebrities in recent weeks, including Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Cardi B, and more.
“I understand folks have different opinions about things, but this election is about a group of folks who want to fundamentally undermine our American way of life,” Springsteen said to those in attendance at an earlier Philadelphia rally last week (Oct. 28). “Donald Trump doesn’t understand this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American.”
Ahead of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and others being announced for the Election Day eve rallies, rumors had swirled that Taylor Swift may have been booked to appear, with the Pennsylvania native having thrown her support behind the Harris campaign in September, just hours after the first Presidential Debate.
“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most,” Swift wrote. “As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.”
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Haus Labs by Lady Gaga introduced a liquid eyeliner whose design was inspired by a calligraphy pen, and beauty lovers are already “obsessed” with it. Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner earned a 4.9-star rating on the Haus Labs website from more than 170 customer reviews raving over the quality of the product, including its deep pigment, easy application and “one-swipe wing precision,” as one shopper wrote.
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The $26 liquid eyeliner — which delivers a long-lasting, waterproof, matte finish with no smudging — debuted on Tuesday (Aug. 26) via Haus Labs and Sephora.
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Haus Labs
Haus Labs Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner
Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner is designed for all eye shapes, suitable for beginners and novices, and it’s only available in one shade: Black Onyx. Inspired by the design of Japanese calligraphy brushes, the eyeliner brush was constructed with more than 300 vegan fibers in different lengths and engineered in Korea.
Gaga teased the eyeliner on Instagram early in the month. “Say hello to Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner: Haus Labs’ unique take on a highly-usable precision eyeliner. We’re really proud of this one. We’ve spent the last two years developing an ultra-black matte pigment that’s long wearing and won’t transfer or smudge with water or sweat,” Gaga shared with her 57 million followers. “And unlike most liquid liners, it is clean and completely free of carbon black. The brush is amazing. We were inspired by Japanese calligraphy and our design includes over 300 vegan fibers of varying lengths, resulting in effortless tug-free comfort and better control around the eye than anything else you’ll find. Whether you’re into fine lines or bold designs, I think you’ll love it and I can’t wait to see you use it very soon.”
Keeping with its commitment to clean beauty, Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner features a vegan formula fueled by the brand’s charcoal powder and herbal flower complex and free from carbon black, a known carcinogen, that has been used to pigment eye makeup.
“Our new Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner is two years in the making, labs across three countries and more than 20 iterations to land the right formulation,” said Gloria Ryu, chief product officer for Haus Labs. “In addition to being HausTech Powered with our custom Charcoal Powder Complex, the eyeliner is also formulated with an herbal flower complex, which boosts longwear performance while protecting the skin, and panthenol, rich in Vitamin B5 and supports skin barrier function for comfort and a smooth application. I am incredibly proud of how we were able to push innovation in this competitive category.”
Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner is available online at Sephora.com and Hauslab.com. It hits Sephora stores on Sept. 5.
In other Haus Labs news, Gaga’s popular beauty line has expanded into Kohl’s.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. The Paris Olympics are here, and fans worldwide are showing their support for Team USA. Among them, the ever-stylish Lady Gaga […]
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Diddy has yet another legal issue to deal with. It is alleged that a law firm has stopped representing him at the request of Lady Gaga.
As spotted on News Nation Now, the media mogul has had another door close on him. Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks has formally dismissed him as a client. While this is not the first business to sever ties with the Bad Boy Entertainment founder, an unidentified source tells the website that this decision was made at the behest of Lady Gaga. If the firm refused she threatened to walk. “Lady Gaga said she was leaving if they didn’t drop Diddy. And she’s too big to lose,” their insider claims.
Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks has represented Diddy for almost two decades. Over the years the “I’ll Be Missing You” MC built a personal relationship with co-founder Allen Grubman as News Nation Now states the two would hang out on the weekend while at the Hamptons. According to their website, GSM&S has represented the likes of LeBron James, Robert Dinero, U2, Bette Midler and Elton John.
Recently, Diddy has kept an even lower profile with the removal of all of his content on his verified Instagram feed. Additionally, all of his professional ties on his IMBD page have also been scrubbed and only lists Combs Global with one employee. Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks have yet to respond for comment.
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Get ready for the Chromatica Ball! Lady Gaga is bringing her hit tour to HBO for Memorial Day weekend.
Gaga Chromactica Ball, a concert special featuring performances of “Stupid Love,” “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Shallow,” “Rain On Me” and other Gaga hits, premieres Saturday (May 25) on HBO. The film will also be available to stream on Max.
Produced, directed and created by Gaga, the special was filmed during the Grammy winner’s 2022 tour stop at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, where she performed in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,000 people.
Gaga Chromactica Ball is executive produced by Bobby Campbell, Arthur Fogel, John Janick and Steve Berman.
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Keep reading for details on how to watch and stream from anywhere.
Where to Watch Gaga Chromatica Ball Online
Gaga Chromactica Ball premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will stream on Max.
If you don’t have cable but want to watch HBO live, you can access HBO and other channels on DirecTV Stream. Plans start at $79.99/month for 90+ cable and local channels including Bravo, E!, HGTV, ESPN, CNN, Lifetime, MTV, Hallmark, FX, AMC, Fuse, Food Network, TNT, TBS, TLC and more.
DirecTV Stream subscribers can add HBO, HBO Family, HBO Comedy and other HBO channels for an additional fee, or subscribe to Max and stream HBO movies, Max originals and lots more.
Want to watch for free? DirecTV’s Premiere Plan ($109.99/month) includes free access to Max, Paramount+ with Showtime and Starz, for the three months. DirecTV Stream also offers a free trial for five days and DVR storage.
How to Watch Gaga Chromactica Ball on Max
Max is available as a stand-alone streamer for $9.99/month to watch with ads and $15.99/month for ad-free streaming. Max is also available on Prime Video, Hulu and Verizon Fios.
The platform combines movies, TV, sports and news into one streaming platform. Max subscribers can stream HBO, Max Originals, ID Network, TLC, CNN, Discovery and more.
Some of the movies, TV shows and exclusive series streaming on Max include House of the Dragon, Hacks, Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, The Last of Us, And Just Like That, True Detective: Night Country, Succession, Selena + Restaurant, Dune: Part 2 and Ironclaw.
Gaga’s concert film will be a global streaming event. For fans that want to watch internationally, ExpressVPN and other VPNs provide access various streaming platforms.
Additionally, Gaga Chromactica Ball will stream on Max in Latin America and the Caribbean, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The special will be available on HBO Max in The Netherlands and Poland, on HBO GO in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, on Crave in Canada, on Pass Warner in France, on Stan in Australia, and on ThreeNow and Three in New Zealand. Streaming details for the U.K., Italy, Germany, India and Japan have yet to be announced.
Watch the for Gaga Chromatica Ball below.
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Kesha wins a major court victory in her defamation battle with Dr. Luke. Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters were not expecting to see footage from her Chromatica Ball Tour in a commercial. Madonna joins Cher as the only woman to have debuted titles on the Hot 100 in five separate decades. And more! Tetris Kelly:Kesha makes […]
Lady Gaga‘s makeup empire is expanding. The superstar revealed on Tuesday (May 23) that her Haus Labs beauty brand is heading across the pond to Sephora U.K. on June 6. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a video shared to social media, the “Bad Romance” singer […]
Lady Gaga‘s got something up her sleeve, and she took to Instagram to spill the tea — kind of. In a video shared on Monday (May 22), the “Rain on Me” superstar is seen looking into the camera, as she taps a spoon on her cup of tea. She then takes a big sip, before […]
Happy birthday, Lady Gaga! The superstar turned 37 years old on Tuesday (March 28).
Throughout her illustrious career, Mother Monster has been no stranger to the Billboard charts, particularly the all-genre Hot 100 songs chart. She has 36 songs that have made the tally in total, along with 17 top 10 hits. Of those 17, she achieved an impressive five No. 1 tracks, including her first-ever chart topper, 2008’s “Just Dance.”
Since then, 2008’s “Poker Face;” 2011’s “Born This Way;” her 2018 A Star Is Born collaboration with Bradley Cooper, “Shallow;” and her 2020 Ariana Grande team-up “Rain on Me” have all topped the Hot 100.
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In honor of Gaga’s birthday, we’d love to know which of her Hot 100 No. 1 hits is your favorite. Vote below.