ARTPOP: Act II was a planned sequel to Lady Gaga's fourth studio album, ARTPOP (2013). Gaga first introduced the album as 'ACT TWO' during a Twitter Q&A[1] on October 13, 2013. Instead, she released a collaborative album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek in 2014, her fifth studio album, Joanne in 2016, and her sixth studio album, Chromatica in 2020.
Background
In October 2012, Gaga considered ARTPOP "a bit more modern" and mentioned the possibility of splitting the project into a two-volume record; the first would contain the "commercial songs", while the second would feature the "experimental material" (Little Monsters).
In October 2013, Gaga teased that she had "lots of songs for Act 2". The following month, she mentioned an "Act 2" again, commenting that it might be released before her tour as "it'll be nice to play both acts on the tour", and dismissed her previous ideas of splitting ARTPOP into two halves because "this was during the inception of the record and I wasn't even quite sure what ARTPOP meant yet". In her keynote interview at SXSW, Gaga confirmed that ARTPOP could potentially have more than two acts, further stating that the second act of ARTPOP was complete but not ready for release. In April 2014, the singer stated that "there's a strong possibility" that she will release another volume of ARTPOP; however, this plan never materialized.
In November of 2018, DJ White Shadow's Instagram (@iamdjws), mentioned #LG6 as a little sister to ARTPOP. Some fans mistakenly interpreted his post as a teaser for ARTPOP Act II. He later clarified that Gaga's sixth album would be all new songs.
| “ | So let’s continue with the emotional shit. 4 years ago I put out a record called ARTPOP with @ladygaga. I could write a book about it, maybe one day I will. I lost a best friend and manager, LG lost her entire support team, and we were all alone. I am so grateful for this record because it taught me a lot. I made some friends that have changed my life forever in the halls where this record was recorded, whom I love so incredibly deeply. For all her flaws, strangeness and beauty, I thank you ARTPOP for the lessons learned and the gifts you gave. Happy 4th Birthday. I can’t wait to introduce you to your little sister. #LG6 | ” |
On April 30, 2021 during "no skips” ARTPOP party at the Scarlet Bar in Chicago DJ White Shadow teased the possibility of releasing of the album, saying: "And if I could ever do anything for any of you, including making a second version of this album..."
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly on June 7, 2021, DJ White Shadow was asked: "Wasn't Act II a concrete project formed with a track list or anything? People assume it was a project ready to go," and he answered: "No. [...] I'm not privy to the behind-the-scenes work, but, to my knowledge, there wasn't another record ready to release right away. It was either going to be enough records to be two records or enough for one, and it turned out to be one." DJ White Shadow confirmed that songs from ARTPOP: Act II sonically are in line with what people can hear on ARTPOP and "they're conceptually well thought out, cool ideas….". However, "there were a lot of different sonic directions…"
During the interview DJ White Shadow also revealed:
| “ | I pulled my ARTPOP computer back out and listened to it, and there are 40 songs on there that are done or in the phases of being done. I listened to some of the tracks and honestly, it's good stuff. It still holds up. [But] it's not like, "This is a good song! Let's put it on the internet!" You have to send it to the whole factory. | ” |
—DJ White Shadow on Entertainment Weekly | ||
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly DJ White Shadow was asked "How close did you actually get to releasing it [ARTPOP: Act II] back then?" and he answered: "I think we [he & Lady Gaga] made enough to do two records. It was probably on an idea list…. We probably talked about it. We had enough records to do it. I was happy to get that record ["ARTPOP"] out. I couldn't brush my teeth for a week after it was done, much less was I thinking about other songs…"
Petition to release album
In April Fool's day of 2021, DJ White Shadow took to Instagram to joke about the unreleased song "Tea" from ARTPOP Act II being released through an NFT.
| “ | JUST ANNOUNCED: @ladygaga and I will be releasing Tea as an NFT through YElLOWHEART @nfttracker | ” |
—DJ White Shadow via Instagram (April 1, 2021) | ||
Fans questioned DJ White Shadow about song, and the producer suggested to "petition Gaga" and ask her to release it. On April 2, 2021, fans launched a petition on Change.org[2] calling Lady Gaga, Bobby Campbell and Interscope Records to release album and give Gaga full creative freedom over her art. The petition started to go viral and got the attention of DJ White Shadow and he immediately post about it.
| “ | ❤️❤️❤️ FOR YOU ALL...
EDIT: I didn't make this, I just signed it, and not just because I was mean on April fools day. You guys want something, you should fight to get it! Too fun! |
” |
—DJ White Shadow via Instagram (April 2, 2021) | ||
Following the success of the petition DJ White Shadow proposed getting the petition to 10,000 signatures and he would send it to Gaga. After the petition reached 10,000 signatures DJ White Shadow confirmed that he would send the petition to Gaga herself, and suggested to get the petition to 100,000 signatures to get the serious attention of Interscope.
On April 4, 2021, DJ White Shadow revealed on Instagram that he texted Gaga in response to the petition, which getting over 30,000 signatures in just over a day and posted a letter regarding this petition.
| “ | A MESSAGE REGARDING ARTPOP ETC. First off let me say how grateful l am for all of you. You are completely badass and some of the most incredibly loving and rabid fans in the world. I love you all dearly, even when you hate me most. I made an April fools day joke about "Tea" (sorry) and am amazed how much you all still care about that era, and about some songs you have never heard. I can only say to you that I am humbled every day that I am able to share some of myself with you and for it to be loved in such a special way. To answer a couple of the questions and in an effort to clear some stuff up with some honesty I wanted to tell you a couple things. Making music and delivering it the way ARTPOP was made and delivered was particularly difficult. Imagine it as if you were going skydiving and you are stuck in a free fall for what seems like forever. Then, smashing into the ground after your parachute doesn't open, and having to do it again and again and again. Then imagine a bunch of people just standing on the sidelines watching you, and stealing your wallet from your lifeless body every time you hit the ground. There are SO many stories I can tell you about what it took to get ARTPOP into the world, and one day I might. So many scum bags trying to latch on to the train I had worked so hard to get out of the station. So much transition and turmoil. Let me tell you that I have never been so broken as a human being the day when that record was turned in. I was nearly dead. I felt trampled on, and finished with music. At times I felt finished with life. This is not an exaggeration. In the years to follow, actually, largely up until last year, I have been trying to undo the trauma of completing that phase of my life. Some still lingers. That being said, I am much better now and much better for having gone through it. I am strong and can hear the music with a happy heart finally. While I want you to hear the "extras" that you guys want to hear, I would also like to make you some new things. I am 100x better at what I do now, and am at an all time creative high. I have eliminated all the dirty rat fucks that were in my life and have surrounded myself with joy and love. I am ready to get back in. I am ready, and whenever LG is, we can get after it. That being said, try and be nice to her. She has feelings (like any other normal person) and this "era" was a hard time for her too. I am sure she will be ok with revisiting it one day and building on it when the time is right. I will continue to push for those songs you want so badly, that LG and I did, and I hope you will get to hear them. Don't let them die. Continue to get your message to the people in charge. You have the power, don't give up. Lastly, thank you to Nick and Dino and Dave Russell too. I wouldn't be shit without you guys. Oh, and I sent LG a text. I don't feel right about sharing our private talks but I promise you all I did. :) ❤ P |
” |
—DJ White Shadow via Instagram (April 4, 2021) | ||
On April 12, 2021, fans launched new campaign #BuyARTPOPoniTunes on Twitter. ARTPOP began climbing up the iTunes charts worldwide, reaching number one in 18 countries including France and Italy, number two in the US, and number three in the UK. The petition reached 40,000 signatures on change.org. On April 13, 2021, Gaga took to Twitter to acknowledge the petition and trending hashtag.
| “ | The petition to #buyARTPOPoniTunes for a volume II has inspired such a tremendous warmth in my heart. Making this album was like heart surgery, I was desperate, in pain, and poured my heart into electronic music that slammed harder than any drug I could find. I fell apart after I released this album. Thank you for celebrating something that once felt like destruction. We always believed it was ahead of its time. Years later turns out, sometimes, artists know. And so do little monsters. Paws up 🙌❤❤❤ | ” |
Later that day, DJ White Shadow revealed on Instagram that he had a conversation with Gaga about the future work on ARTPOP: Act II but made no promises.
| “ | LET’S KEEP THIS UP FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS. ALL POSITIVITY. ALL GOOD VIBES. ALL LOVE. ARTPOP. You [fans] were heard. I talked to LG last night and she shared my incredible joy. We made a plan to get together after Italy and discuss your wishes. No promises made, but kindness and love are strong as steel. Now is not the time to let up. Go harder. Forget the past. Think about the future. Apply positive pressure to the universe and let's make a diamond. I am so in love with you all. |
” |
—DJ White Shadow via Instagram (April 13, 2021) | ||
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly on June 7, 2021, DJ White Shadow was asked "How quickly after petition came out did your conversations with Gaga kick up again, relating to the potential Act II release?" he answered:
| “ | It's not like we take major hiatuses from talking to each other or that we only talk when there's music stuff. She was shooting [House of Gucci] when this happened. At the beginning I was like, "Oh s---, look at this petition!" And she was like, "Oh, cool." Neither one of us said anything for a couple of weeks. After it took off she was like, "Holy f---, what is this!?" Then we were both talking for a minute. | ” |
—DJ White Shadow on Entertainment Weekly | ||
However, after their call, Lady Gaga returned from filming House of Gucci back to Los Angeles, but there was no more information about the recording of the songs for the album, but according DJ White Shadow he's "...trying to get back to L.A. in the middle of the month [June, 2021]." He also doesn't know if there's real or renewed interest in releasing ARTPOP: Act II. DJ White Shadow also claimed: "If we were to work together again, we would go over these old files. Would we call it ARTPOP: Act II? I don't know." But he promised, "if the call is made and things start going, I'm sure she'll tell everybody when she wants to. She's the captain of the ship."
On November 11, 2022, DJ White Shadow posted an image of the ARTPOP gazing ball on his Instagram, along with a caption that seemingly promised an ARTPOP-related gift to fans to honor the 10th anniversary of the album's release:
| “ | 9 • THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT • YOU HAVE MY PROMISE THAT I WILL HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU ON THIS DAY NEXT YEAR • I WILL HONOR THIS RECORD AS YOU HAVE, FOREVER • THANK YOU SO MUCH • POSITIVITY ONLY IN THE COMMENTS PLEASE • I WILL NOT DELETE THIS POST TIL 11/11/23 | ” |
—DJ White Shadow via Instagram (November 11, 2022) | ||
ARTPOP collaborators Nick Monson, Frederic Aspiras, and Twista liked the post.
Writing and Recording
- For a complete list, see this page.
Gaga performing PARTYNAUSEOUS in 2014.
During her interview on The Howard Stern Show (Nov 12, 2013), Gaga revealed that she wrote "over 90 songs" during the recording sessions of ARTPOP. Late in the recording process, "Temple" and "Nothing On (But the Radio)" were cut from the album while "Brooklyn Nights" was cut at the last minute. The latter was even mentioned by Gaga to be released later during the album cycle in 2013 to 2014. At some point during the creation of the artRAVE: the ARTPOP ball, backdrop and LED lights projection video for the stage were created for "Brooklyn Nights". Instead for the artRAVE: the ARTPOP ball in 2014, Gaga included a few unreleased songs: "Cake Like Lady Gaga", "PARTYNAUSEOUS" and a part of the instrumental from "Ratchet". She also sang "Sire" backstage to fans a few times.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly on June 7, 2021 DJ White Shadow claimed: "I think we [he & Lady Gaga] made enough to do two records. [..] ...and there are 40 songs on there [his "ARTPOP" computer] that are done or in the phases of being done."