Lady Gaga Explains Why She Is Striving to Live ‘More of a Life of Solitude’
Lady Gaga gave an exceptionally rare interview to Wallpaper magazine to promote her new Dom Pérignon campaign—and got deep in it, discussing candidly how she sees her future. It won’t be spent out in the Hollywood celeb scene.
“I’m actually really interested in living more of a life of solitude,” Gaga started. “It’s really nice to just have time to be alone, and be expansive, and know that you’re enough. I wish I could tell my younger self that. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time alone writing music. But the more successful I became, the more I felt like I needed other people to tell me I was great.”
“When I was about 14 years old, I read a book called Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke,” she continued. “And I have a [line from the book] tattooed on my arm. I got it in Osaka, when I was 23. ‘In the deepest hour of the night, ask yourself if you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. Look deep into your heart where the answer spreads its roots and ask yourself, Muss ich schreiben? (Must I write?)’”
“If I wasn’t successful in the way that I am today—I’m very grateful for my success—I’d still be doing it, I’d be on the Lower East Side [creating art with other artists as an unknown like I did when I was 18],” Gaga said. “I would do it no matter what. Absolutely, 100 percent. I know that because I actually don’t spend a lot of time in Hollywood. I might look like I do, because sometimes award season happens and you see me on red carpets. But I’m very much at home working… that’s the thing that really makes me happy.”
You can read her full interview here.
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
