Lady Gaga Previews ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ With Companion Album ‘Harlequin’

Lady Gaga has been extremely busy this year. In the spring, she released her concert film "Gaga Chromatica Ball," and she concluded her Jazz + Piano residency in Las Vegas in July. Shortly after, she delivered an unforgettable performance in French during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Just last month, she hinted at her musical comeback with her collaboration with Bruno Mars titled "Die With a Smile."

The much-awaited launch of Joker: Folie à Deux is only a week away, and Gaga is kicking off the festivities ahead of time with Harlequin, her accompanying album for the film that features soundtrack songs along with two brand-new original tracks.

The album mainly includes interpretations of cherished jazz classics and other timeless songs from the last hundred years that appear in the film. Tracks like "Good Morning," "Get Happy," "That's Entertainment," and "Smile" showcase Gaga—or more accurately, her character Lee—bringing a fresh take to the Great American Songbook.

Before the album came out, Gaga playfully referred to it as “LG 6.5,” signaling that it’s distinct from her next studio album, codenamed LG7, which is set to release in February. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she clarified the difference and discussed whether this is a Lady Gaga album or a Harley Quinn album. She explained that the process of creating this album reflects her entire artistic journey.

"I see it from both perspectives," she explained. "It's a Lady Gaga album, but it also reflects my character and my idea of what a woman can represent. That's why the album doesn’t stick to a single genre."

In a conversation with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, she elaborated on that concept.

"I’ve always felt that having two identities was an important aspect of my music. Creating different characters has been a constant in my work. When I brought Lee to life for Joker, it deeply impacted me," Gaga shared. "I got to explore this character through the film's narrative, the music we performed daily, as well as through our dance, costumes, and makeup."

When everything was over, Gaga found it hard to leave behind the Harley Quinn persona. Even though she was still immersed in the mindset of Lee, she crafted a performance that would make the legendary comic book character proud.

"I had a profound connection with the character, and she stuck with me creatively, which led me to the idea of creating an entire album based on her," Gaga shared. "She's a truly intricate woman."

Joker: Folie à Deux will hit theaters on October 4.