Chromatica

by Lady Gaga

Overview

Chromatica is a comeback album from an artist who has never gone away and never experienced a dip in popularity. Maybe Artpop provided a dent in her armor back in 2013, with none of its singles dominating the charts or conversation the way the hits from The Fame Monster and Born This Way did, but the album went to number one, as did her 2014 duet record with Tony Bennett, as did 2016's purported country-rock makeover Joanne, and the soundtrack to 2018's A Star Is Born, a smash that also earned her an Oscar for the ballad "Shallow." None of these stylistic excursions can be heard on Chromatica -- there isn't even a ballad that attempts to replicate the surging pathos of "Shallow" -- but they can be felt underneath the diamond-hard surface of this determined revival of Gaga's dance-pop roots. By dedicating the entirety of her sixth proper studio set to club music, she's effectively declaring that she's come in from the cold, but the old-school show biz moves that made her beloved of old-timers like Bennett and Hollywood alike can be heard by how she slyly finds cameo space for her spiritual godfather Elton John and Ariana Grande, the biggest star in dance-pop in 2020. Gaga stands proudly between these two poles, hipper than Elton John but sounding down-right old-fashioned when compared to Grande. Gaga leans into her status as a veteran on Chromatica, making only the mildest attempts to sound modern. She'd rather revive memories of The Fame Monster while evoking sounds that conjure memories of the '90s and Y2K. Since it's been so long since Gaga has been determined to deliver glitzy thrills, it might take a moment to realize that Chromatica is simultaneously a retreat from the contemporary pop charts and as personal a record as Joanne, which was touted as her singer/songwriter affair. Chromatica willfully ignores trap and the other dour pop trends of the late 2010s for exuberant disco and house, styles that are not only in her musical comfort zone but allow her the freedom to explore personal pain and loss, such as the cry for help of "911." The emotional urgency driving a good chunk of the songs means Chromatica doesn't feel stiff or fusty even if it rejects the present, and there's also a lot to be said for the show biz razzle-dazzle Gaga has absorbed in the years since Artpop. Maybe she's lost her appetite to be a weird provocateur, but she has learned how to sharpen and stylize her attack, and that focus makes Chromatica one of her most consistent and satisfying albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/25/2021
Label:	Interscope
UPC:	0602435824932

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lady Gaga   Primary Artist
Elton John   Primary Artist
Ariana Grande   Primary Artist
BlackPink   Primary Artist
Madeon   Drums,Guitar,Bass,Keyboards,Percussion
Rachel Mazer   Saxophone
Jyvonne Haskin   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Ronald O'Hannon   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Jantre Christian   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Daniel Ozan   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Daniel Joshua   Vocals (Background)
Allen Fogle   Horn,French Horn
Laurhan Beato   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Tchami   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Madison Love   Vocals (Background)
Nick Daley   Trombone
Matthew Bloyd   Choir/Chorus
BloodPop   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
LIOHN   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Amie Doherty   Conductor,Orchestra Leader
Linnea Powell   Viola
Klahr   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Tia Britt   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Nicholas Daley   Trombone
Vanessa Freebairn-Smith   Cello
William Washington   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
BURNS   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Teag Reaves   Horn,French Horn
Rami Yacoub   Vocals (Background)
Leddie Garcia   Percussion
Tia Simmone   Vocals (Background)
Skrillex   Keyboards,Bass,Drums
Reggie Young   Trombone
John Robinson   Drums
Erik Rynearson   Viola
Matthew Burns   Bass,Drums,Keyboards
Jessica E. Guideri   Violin
Katelyn Faraudo   Horn,French Horn
Luanne Homzy   Violin
Dylan Hart   Horn,French Horn
Vanessa Bryan   Cello,Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Axwell   Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion,Bass
Meredith Crawford   Viola
Steven Holtman   Trombone
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Giovanna Clayton   Cello
Laura Brenes   Horn,French Horn
Shameka Dwight   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Adryon De Leon   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Matt Bloyd   Vocals (Background)
India Carney   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Lucia Micarelli   Violin
Neel Hammond   Violin
Mark Adams   Horn,French Horn
Reginald Young   Trombone
Andrew Duckles   Viola
Alyssa Park   Violin
Timothy Loo   Cello
Ian Walker   Bass
Marisa Kuney   Violin
Charlie Bisharat   Violin
Shalini Vijayan   Violin
Songa Lee   Violin

Technical Credits

Richard Zastenker   Composer
Nija Charles   Composer
E. Scott Kelly   Mixing Assistant
Isha Dipika   Design,Art Direction
Hong Jun Park   Composer
Vincent Ponte   Composer
Aditya Pamidi   Art Manager
Bo O'Connor   Managing Director
Bobby Campbell   Management
Brandon Bowen   Photography
Kim Urena   Assistant
Nico Milazzo   Assistant
Benjamin Rice   Composer,Engineer,Recording,Vocal Producer,Mixing
Martin Bresso   Composer
Tchami   Mixing,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Madison Love   Composer
Bryan Rivera   Design,Art Direction
BloodPop   A&R,Composer,Producer,Programming,Executive Producer
LIOHN   Producer
Lady Gaga   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Amie Doherty   Leader,Orchestration
Johannes Klahr   Composer
Klahr   Producer,Programming
Salem al Fakir   Composer
Randy Merrill   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Norbert Schoerner   Photography
BURNS   Composer,Producer
Rami Yacoub   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Skrillex   Composer,Producer
Matthew Burns   Composer
Mike Schuppan   Mixing,Engineer
Whitney Martin   Contractor,Orchestra Contractor
Axwell   Composer,Producer,Programming
Jacob Kasher   Composer
Tom Norris   Mixing
Lisa Einhorn-Gilder   Production Coordination
Gina Zimmitti   Contractor,Orchestra Contractor
Ely Rise   Composer
Ariana Grande   Composer
Madeon   Composer,Producer
Travis Brothers   Design,Art Direction
Ryan Tedder   Composer
Max Martin   Composer,Producer,Vocal Producer
Boys Noize   Composer
Sebastian Ingrosso   Composer
Elton John   Composer
Justin Tranter   Composer
Morgan Kibby   Composer,Producer