Pop Base: Gaga's Vogue Cover, Halsey's Scavenger Hunt, Sade's Return, and Much More!

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Lady Gaga Talks ‘LG7’, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, Engagement, and More in Vogue Cover Story

Lady Gaga is featured on the cover of Vogue this month, just in time for the release of Joker: Folie à Deux next month. The cover story includes a stunning photo shoot by Ethan James Green, accompanied by an article written by Jonathan Van Meter. In the interview, Gaga discusses the new film, her engagement to Michael Polansky, and provides insights into her highly anticipated upcoming album, known as LG7.

In the interview, Gaga sheds light on the process of LG7, stating, ‘There’s a lot of pain associated with this adventure, and when I start to explore that pain it can bring out another side to my artistry. When I’m here at the studio, I’m relaxed and I am able to face my demons and what’s remarkable is that’s the music. I’m able to hear it back.’

Gaga continued to tease LG7 this week, sharing a post on social media that sneakily announced that the album’s lead single will be released in October, she has now revealed to Vogue that the album is set for a February 2025 release.

The record, described by Vogue as ‘intense and ominous -- an old-school Gaga banger’, was inspired by her fiancé Michael Polansky, who stated ‘Babe, I love you. You need to make pop music’. 

Joker: Folie à Deux made its debut at the Venice Film Festival this week, earning an 11-minute standing ovation from attendees. On the red carpet, Gaga captivated onlookers by wearing a Dior gown, a Philip Treacy headpiece, and a dazzling Tiffany necklace. 

Halsey Sends Fans on Five City Scavenger Hunt to Unveil ‘The Great Impersonator’ Artwork

Halsey's highly anticipated album, The Great Impersonator, was preceded by an engaging five-city scavenger hunt that captured the excitement of fans worldwide. As part of the hunt, participants were tasked with locating time capsules hidden in different cities, each containing items symbolizing various decades. The cities involved in the hunt were London, New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Sydney. Clues were shared by Halsey on social media, adding an interactive and thrilling element to the album's release.

Scheduled for release on October 25th, the album's artwork was revealed shortly after fans successfully located the hidden time capsules. The artwork features a striking black-and-white close-up of Halsey, with the artist sporting rosy cheeks and a star-shaped sticker displaying the album's title on their forehead. The sticker's fine print tantalizingly invites fans to "Step right up, ladies and gentlemen" and promises them the opportunity to witness the astonishing ability of a woman who can embody anyone or anything their hearts desire.

Five variants were unveiled on the scavenger hunt with London receiving the album’s official artwork, whilst New York’s time capsule featured the 1970s cover, Torontos the 1980s, Los Angeles the 1990s, and Sydney the 2000s.

Sade Set to Release New Music on Compilation Celebrating Trans Artistry 

Scheduled to be released on November 22, 'TRAИƧA' is a compilation album created by the non-profit organization Red Hot. The album is divided into eight chapters, each representing one of the eight colors of the rainbow pride flag. Each chapter opens with a “chapter track” that sets the thematic tone for that section.

Sade Adu's contribution will be featured in the 'Liberation' chapter and is dedicated to her son, Izaak Theo Adu, who is a trans man.

This upcoming track will mark the first new music from Sade Adu, a multi-GRAMMY Award-winning singer, since her contribution to Steve McQueen's film 'Widows' in 2018. In the same year, the group emerged from an eight-year hiatus to record a track for Ava DuVernay's film 'A Wrinkle In Time,' and reports in 2022 suggested that a new album was in the works.

New Music Friday

Can friends kiss?

We’re back visiting Miami in Camila Cabello’s C,XOXO deluxe – the Magic City Edition. The deluxe includes four new songs including the single “GODSPEED.” These songs feel bright as the city village lights, and they add onto the album’s concept pretty well. You can find Cabello playful as ever on “can friends kiss?” in which she sings, “Fall in love with me / I’m bored.” Eem Triplin joins her on “baby pink,” a song that feels more appropriate on the album’s standard track-list. “Teasing my ex is my favorite hobby / Went a little too far / I’m sorry,” she sings. You’ll find, though, that despite the city’s never-ending noisy soundscape, Cabello never gets lost. On “GODSPEED” she’s plenty aware of the heart’s most coveted needs. The song fades the album’s sound-world really so gracefully into these little piano key fragments as she directly sermonizes the muse. (“I let you go and I feel more like me / I wish you well and far away from me.”) The nights out felt long, but the morning’s finally arrived, and Cabello’s pulling apart the curtains it seems. She has our favorite release this week.

On a totally different note, Halsey’s killing her ego. Or considering it, anyway. “I think that I should try to kill my ego / Cause if I don’t, my ego might kill me,” she sings. The song is from her upcoming album The Great Impersonator. The album has a pretty incredible concept in which Halsey is seemingly taking on the many previous decades. Out October 25^th.

BAEKHYUN released his mini album Hello, World. We’re really impressed by “Rendez-Vous.” The jazz venture is especially nice.

Megan Thee Stallion and BTS’ RM got together for “Neva Play.” While this is an interesting partnership, it still works anyway, and it’s pretty fun. We’ll definitely be coming back to this one.

While we’re at it, Megan Thee Stallion also released her version of the band Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” This is actually a great alteration of the song that feels original.

And speaking of pretty well-done covers, Ethel Cain’s newest release is a cover of American Football’s “For Sure.” She brought the length to nine minutes, and it’s absolutely stunning.

Bleachers, the band led by the notable producer Jack Antonoff, has re-recorded their album Strange Desire, calling it A Stranger Desired instead, and they’ve changed the songs a little, too. The acoustic session is great and it was nice going back to this album today, in a totally new manner. There’s always comfort in revisiting.

—Dawson Therre

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ICYMI:

• Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Justin Jefferson star in new Pepsi ad in collaboration with Gladiator II and NFL.

• Justin Bieber is rumored to be working on new music, Mk.gee has revealed.

• The Weeknd has announced his upcoming album will be titled Hurry Up Tomorrow.

• Ticketmaster are set to be investigated by the UK’s Watchdog following a government meeting that called on an investigation into ‘dynamic pricing’ following Oasis’ reunion.

• ‘Only Murders In The Building’ featuring Selena Gomez has been renewed for a fifth season.

• Instagram has introduced story comments. Only people you follow back can comment on your stories and only your followers can see them.