After finishing her performance as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga felt she was not ready to leave the character behind. This experience led her to create Harlequin, an album inspired by the perspective of "Harley Quinn" or "Lee," as Gaga calls her. This record is both a farewell to the character and an artistic representation of Harley's chaos and energy.
Harlequin includes 13 songs that blend jazz, surf-punk, blues, and standards, offering a unique fusion that feels familiar yet also innovative. Although fans are eagerly awaiting her return to pop, Gaga continues exploring new musical directions, with Harlequin considered a LG6.5: an intermediate album between Chromatica (LG6) and her upcoming main studio album (LG7).
The term LG6.5 is an unofficial reference used by fans and the media to describe this album as a side or special project, between her sixth studio album (Chromatica, 2020) and the seventh (LG7). Gaga is known for experimenting with different musical styles and exploring artistic themes beyond traditional pop, so Harlequin occupies a unique category. It is not a main pop album, but neither is it a simple minor project, as it delves into the narrative and aesthetic of her Harley Quinn character.
