Entertainment

Lady Gaga Announces New Album On Instagram

by Rachel Semigran

Lady Gaga just finished up a tour with Tony Bennett, promoting their joint album Cheek to Cheek and she's jumping right into her next project: a new album. On Monday night, Lady Gaga teased her new album by posted a very up-close selfie on Instagram with the caption, "LG5 time," which signaled to her fans that she is indeed starting to work on her fifth solo studio album. In the photo, Gaga looks serene and tough all at once. Her nude face paired with oversized glasses and a men's style blazer reminds us that Gaga means business. Fans have already started taking to Twitter with the hashtag #LG5Time, and everyone is losing it over the announcement. One thing is clear: the world is ready for a new Lady Gaga album.

But what can we expect from the new album? Well, it is Lady Gaga, after all, and the musical chameleon has proven time and time again that she is predictably unpredictable. Just when you think she'll drop another dance pop record, she released a jazz tune. However, since releasing Artpop in 2013, a lot has changed in Lady Gaga's life, and in the world, which will certainly influence her next album.

Here's what will likely make an appearance in her next body of work.

1. She's Engaged

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On Valentine's Day, 2015, Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney (Her video stud from "You and I") got engaged. In the past, Gaga's music focused a lot on broken hearts and fierce independence. Now that she's happily coupled up, the tune may change a little about how she writes about love. Though I reckon her take on being her own person won't change a bit.

2. She's Shown Her Classical Training

Gaga stunned the audience at the 2015 Oscars with her rendition of songs from The Sound of Music. She might be an edgy pop star, but she's also studied at New York University's Tisch School for the Arts and can sing Broadway and Opera with the best of them. Fingers crossed we get more of this.

3. Gay Marriage Was Legalized on a Federal Level

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2015 was a pivotal year in the gay rights movement, as same-sex marriage was legalized on a federal level. Lady Gaga, who has always been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community, was moved on the day and tweeted to her fans, "Same-sex marriage is now legal all across the US! Free to love. Free to marry. Free to be equal!" I imagine the subject will be a big part of her songwriting process.

4. She Made Duets a Thing Again

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Most artists like to write up other artists as "featured" or "including" on their track listings, but Lady Gaga is all about making music with someone, as she showed the world with Cheek to Cheek. Here's hoping LG5 brings in even more people to her work, especially artists who her target demo may have never heard of before.

5. She's Joining American Horror Story

The dark, violent, and absolutely nightmarish quality of American Horror Story Hotel will no doubt seep into the psyche of the artist who calls herself "Mother Monster." Expect things to get extra creepy this time around.

6. She's Proven She Knows How to Do A Cover

Gaga performed a beautiful cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" at the 2015 European Games. She might be known for her theatrics and otherwordly fashion, but, when it comes to performing other acclaimed artists' work, she sticks to the basics and is somehow more astounding than ever. If Adele can do it on 21, Gaga can do it on LG5 and still be the inventive, game-changing artist that she's always been.

7. There's A Woman Running for President

Gaga has been supporting Hillary Clinton's campaign for months now — she showed her partnership with the Presidential candidate by performing at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser. The two share political beliefs on many subjects, including women's rights and LGBTQ rights. Could one of Gaga's songs become Hill's campaign song? It's highly possible. Gaga has always been an outspoken advocate for women, and having a woman run for President will definitely influence the more politically-charged songs Gaga writes.

Lady Gaga, who is endlessly full of surprises, is really going to deliver with her upcoming album.