“Whatever your preconceived notions are, the minute you meet her and see the piano or the guitar and see how real or legit she is, everyone is like, ‘Oh, f—, I want to give her the best song I’ve ever written,’” Ronson says.
Once the record started taking shape, Ronson brought in what he calls his “extended musical family,” including producer Emile Haynie (Lana Del Rey) and Kevin Parker of Australian psych-rock outfit Tame Impala. The latter dropped by with an unfinished demo he had titled “Illusion,” which evolved into the album’s first single, “Perfect Illusion.” “We all sat down and Gaga just started flying with the lyrics and melodies,” Ronson says of the song’s creation.
“Some of my favorite songs I’ve ever written came out in the first week,” says Ronson, who executive produced the set. “It’s amazing, because you play three chords for her and all of a sudden she starts spouting off the most gorgeous melodies and catchy hooks you’ve ever heard.”
