Killah (song)

"Killah"
Song by Lady Gaga featuring Gesaffelstein
from the album Mayhem
ReleasedMarch 7, 2025 (2025-03-07)
StudioShangri-La (Malibu)
Genre
Length3:30
LabelInterscope
Songwriters
Producers
Official audio
"Killah" on YouTube

"Killah" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga featuring French musician Gesaffelstein, included in her studio album Mayhem (2025). It was written and produced jointly by Gaga, Andrew Watt, Cirkut, and Gesaffelstein. The song is characterized by its electro-funk industrial sound, blending elements of alternative rock, dark techno, and synth-pop.

"Killah" was positively received by music critics, who praised its experimental production and vocal performance while naming it a standout track on the album. Commercially, it charted in several countries upon the release of its parent album, including Canada, France, and the United States, as well as on the Billboard Global 200. In 2025–2026, Gaga sang "Killah" live at The Art of Personal Chaos concerts, including a Coachella set where Gesaffelstein joined her, as well as her Mayhem Ball tour shows. She also performed it on Saturday Night Live and at her one-off Mayhem Requiem concert.

Production and composition

Gaga wrote and produced "Killah" with Andrew Watt, Cirkut, and Gesaffelstein. Paul Lamalfa recorded the track at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California; Marco Sonzini provided additional engineering, while Tyler Harris worked as the assistant engineer. "Killah" was mixed by Serban Ghenea at Mixstar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound Studios in Edgewater, New Jersey. Gaga, Watt, and Cirkut played keyboards; Chad Smith played drums; and Cirkut and Gesaffelstein played synthesizer and provided drum and bass programming. Watt additionally played electric guitar. Bryce Bordone worked as the assistant mixing engineer, and Marc VanGool served as the studio technician.[1]

Person in a dark blazer and white shirt with headphones around the neck, looking down while standing at a DJ booth.
Gesaffelstein (pictured in 2012) is a featured artist on the track.

"Killah" was combines the industrial and dark aesthetic characteristic of Gesaffelstein with the maximalist approach of Mayhem.[2][3] The song encompasses electro-funk, industrial, and dance genres and has been compared to the sound of David Bowie,[4] Nine Inch Nails and Prince due to its use of dense synthesizers, heavy bass, and aggressive electronic rhythms.[5][6][7] Structurally, the track builds on what some media outlets have described as "a hypnotic groove," with whispered verses that gradually intensify until culminating in a high-energy chorus.[8][9] Various reviews noted that Gesaffelstein's production influence becomes particularly evident in the second half of the song, where the instrumentation breaks into a distorted techno interlude before returning to the chorus with greater impact.[2][9] The lyrics of "Killah" explore a dangerous game of seduction, with Gaga embodying the role of a femme fatale, alternating between seductive and threatening tones.[9] The song uses metaphors of power, desire, and destruction, suggesting that the protagonist is both irresistible and lethal.[9] Some critics interpreted the lyrics as a representation of female strength and autonomy, highlighting how Gaga takes control of the narrative rather than being merely the object of desire.[7][10]

Gaga described “Killah” as one of her favorite tracks on the album and highlighted her collaboration with Gesaffelstein, calling him the creative force behind the production.[11] In an interview with Rolling Stone, she stated it was one of the songs that most pushed her out of her comfort zone during the album's recording, affirming:

"I love the production of Killah. The only live instrumentation on the entire album is a guitar, and it's so much fun. It has so much confidence. I've never worked with a rhythm and groove like this before. The truth is, I'm not always that confident. I'm someone who can feel deeply insecure, but in this track, it's like my ultimate confidence. And that's part of the journey of Mayhem as a big night out. If you think of the album as a full night, this is that moment where you feel on top of the world."[12]

Critical reception

"Killah" was singled out as a standout track of Mayhem by several journalists. Variety's Steven J. Horowitz described it as "a bold and confident track," highlighting its fusion of electro-funk and industrial techno.[7] Dakota West Foss of Sputnikmusic considered it one of the album's biggest sonic surprises, praising its "impressive switcheroo" and particularly strong bass.[13] Billboard's Stephen Daw noted that Gesaffelstein's collaboration "elevates the song to another dimension, with an interlude that transports us to a Berlin nightclub."[9] Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic found it to be "wonderfully unhinged", with Gaga adopting a darker "nightclub seductress" persona.[14] CJ Thorpe-Tracey of The Quietus saw it as an homage to Prince's sound, emphasizing "the mix of sensuality and danger in Gaga's performance."[10] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times similarly viewed "Killah" as a Prince tribute blended with Gaga's signature electronic pop, calling the track "a treat" despite his otherwise negative assessment of Mayhem.[15]

Evening Standard's India Block praised the track's sonic combination, calling it "fun and cruel."[8] JT Early of Beats Per Minute found the song "the pinnacle of slick, funky rock", complimenting its 1980s-style guitar riffs, Gaga's confident delivery and "gloriously catchy" hook.[16] Chris Hedden of Screen Rant praised "Killah" for its humor and playful delivery, noting Gaga's "confident self-assurance", double entendres and climactic scream.[17] Kristen S. Hé of Vulture called it "an absolute joy", where everyone "were clearly having the time of their lives making this", adding that Gaga was at her "silliest" since the release of "Applause" (2013).[18] Gary Grimes of Attitude compared "Killah" to the Born This Way (2011) tracks "Electric Chapel" and "Bad Kids".[19] MusicOMH's Donovan Livesey similarly linked the song to the darker dance-pop of The Fame Monster (2009) and Born This Way, praising its "gloriously excessive, more-is-more production" and its lasting impact despite not matching the instant-classic quality of "Bad Romance".[20]

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian's stated that "Killah" stands out within the album for its "unexpected production shifts."[21] AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung highlighted the track as one of the album's best moments, describing it as "a collaboration with Gesaffelstein that blends Bowie and Prince's influence with the intensity of St. Vincent or Trent Reznor."[22] David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit felt that while the production was ambitious, it did not reach the depth of Gesaffelstein's previous works with The Weeknd.[23] Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters found the "sassy" track a "superb moment", and a "sincere tribute to Bowie".[24] Billboard included "Killah" on its list of the 100 best songs of 2025, placing it at number 56 and noting its chaotic energy and experimental blend of industrial and funk elements. Stephen Daw highlighted its "wonderfully weird" production, its intense techno breakdown, and Gaga's 17-second scream.[25]

Commercial performance

After the release of Mayhem, "Killah" debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Global 200 for the chart dated March 22, 2025. It was one of twelve tracks from the album to appear on the chart, ranking as the tenth highest-charting track among them.[26] In the United States, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 93, while reaching number 8 on the Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart.[27] On the latter chart, Gaga simultaneously placed nine songs from the album, with "Killah" ranking as the sixth highest-positioned track.[28] In Canada, it debuted at number 87 on the Canadian Hot 100, while in the United Kingdom, it entered the UK Streaming Chart at number 82.[29] Although it did not chart in Brazil, Pro-Música Brasil awarded the song a platinum certification.[30]

Live performances

On March 8, 2025, Gaga performed "Killah" live for the first time on Saturday Night Live as part of its fiftieth season, along with "Abracadabra".[31] The performance began in the hallways of Studio 8H, where Gaga and her dancers interacted with security cameras before returning to the main stage.[32] For the performance, she wore a purple outfit, interpreted by Variety's Chris Willman as a tribute to Prince, one of the song's primary influences.[32] Wilman described the performance as "one of her most frenetic and immersive."[32] Kristen S. Hé of Vulture called it "unforgettable", describing Gaga as "skulking" through the hallways "like a woman possessed".[18]

Stage scene featuring a giant skull prop under purple lighting. A performer wearing an ornate black gown with red rose accents stands in front of the skull during a live performance.
Gaga performing "Killah" during the Mayhem Ball tour in front of a giant skull

In 2025–2026, Gaga added "Killah" to the setlist of The Art of Personal Chaos concerts. In its initial run of shows, which included a headlining set at Coachella, she was wearing a blue and glittering black leotard paired with a dramatic blue ruffled coat during the song.[33][34] For the first weekend of Coachella, she was accompanied on keyboard by Gesaffelstein, who appeared on stage wearing his trademark sleek black suit and a gleaming chrome mask.[35][36] Gaga paused to quickly dance with him before walking down the stage, where she played a drum set lifted by her dancers.[37] Reviewing the Mexico City show for The Daily Telegraph, Jamie Fullerton wrote that the concert's third act lost momentum during "Killah", comparing its riffs unfavourably to Prince's "Kiss" (1986).[38] The Art of Personal Chaos show was updated for the Mayhem Ball tour, where "Killah" was staged with gothic imagery, as Gaga performed before a large spinning skull in a darkly ornate costume adorned with roses.[39][40] The stage was illuminated with purple lights during the performance; Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today found it to be another nod to Prince.[41] Joe Lynch of Billboard wrote that the staging allowed Gaga to appear "funky and freaky", as she spun down the runway before delivering an extended scream.[39] Reviewing the tour for The Times, Will Hodgkinson described "Killah" as a "searing gothic metal overload" that nevertheless fit into Gaga's camp theatricality, writing that it was "about as heavy as a guest spot by Cher in a drag club".[42]

"Killah" also appeared in Gaga's live album and concert film Apple Music Live: Mayhem Requiem, which was released on May 14, 2026, and recorded during an invite-only performance at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles in January 2026. The song was presented in a heavier industrial arrangement that incorporated elements of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" (1994), with Paper's Taylor Lomax singling out the performance as one of the project's highlights.[43]

While touring in support of his 2024 studio album Gamma, Gesaffelstein performed "Killah" in a mashup with his own tracks "Mania" and "Hysteria". On January 23, 2026, he released the live album Enter the Gamma (Live), which contains the mashup as its final track.[44]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Mayhem.[1]

  • Lady Gaga – songwriter, producer, lead vocals, background vocals, keyboards
  • Andrew Watt – songwriter, producer, electric guitar, keyboards
  • Cirkut – songwriter, producer, synthesizer, keyboards, drum programming, bass programming
  • Gesaffelstein – songwriter, producer, synthesizer, drum programming, bass programming
  • Chad Smith – drums
  • Paul Lamalfa – recording engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer
  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
  • Marco Sonzini – additional engineer
  • Tyler Harris – assistant engineer
  • Bryce Bordone – assistant mixing engineer
  • Marc VanGool – studio technician

Charts

Chart (2025) Peak
position
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[45]87
France (SNEP)[46] 194
Global 200 (Billboard)[47]95
Greece International (IFPI)[48] 73
Portugal (AFP)[49] 136
UK Streaming (OCC)[29] 82
US Billboard Hot 100[27]93
US Hot Dance/Pop Songs (Billboard)[50]8

Certifications

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[30] Platinum 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Gaga, Lady (2025). Mayhem (vinyl liner notes). Interscope Records. 602475451099.
  2. 1 2 Ackroyd, Stephen (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga - Mayhem". Dork. Archived from the original on May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ Potton, Ed (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga: Mayhem review — dancefloor bangers are the diva at her best". The Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  4. ↑ Camp, Alexa (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga 'Mayhem' Review: An Album That Falls Short of Its Title". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  5. ↑ Levine, Nick (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga – Mayhem Review: Queen of Pop Bombast Dials Everything Up to Eleven". NME. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ Burn, Richard (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Mayhem Review: An All-Out Pop Microcosm of Her Career So Far". Rolling Stone UK. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Horowitz, Steven J. (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Returns to Her Dance Floor Roots — and Has a Blast — on Mayhem: Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Block, India (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Mayhem Review: Murderous Music to Dance All Night To". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Daw, Stephen (March 7, 2025). "Every Song From Lady Gaga's 'Mayhem' Album, Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Doran, John (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga – Mayhem". The Quietus. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  11. ↑ Mier, Tomás (April 8, 2025). "Lady Gaga Can't Wait to Play This 'Mayhem' Song at Coachella: It 'Just Pops Off'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ Mier, Tomás (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga Found 'Peak Confidence' on 'Mayhem': 'Now I Really Feel Like Myself'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ West Foss, Dakota (March 10, 2025). "Review: Lady Gaga - Mayhem". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ Kornhaber, Spencer (March 10, 2025). "Lady Gaga Sounds Like Herself Again". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga Fails to Follow Her Own Mantra in the Risk-Averse Mayhem — Album Review". Financial Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  16. ↑ Early, JT (March 19, 2025). "Album Review: Lady Gaga – MAYHEM". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on April 30, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  17. ↑ Hedden, Chris (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga's New Album: Every Song On Mayhem Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 10, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  18. 1 2 S. Hé, Kristen. "Every Lady Gaga Song, Ranked A deep dive into a star who almost single-handedly raised the bar for pop music". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  19. ↑ Grimes, Gary (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga MAYHEM review: 'Gaga in her most straightforward pop star mode since The Fame'". Attitude. Archived from the original on March 13, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  20. ↑ Livesey, Donovan (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga - Mayhem - Album of the Week, Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  21. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga: Mayhem Review – a Fabulous Return to Her Freaky First Principles". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  22. ↑ Yeung, Neil Z. (March 7, 2025). "Mayhem by Lady Gaga". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  23. ↑ Cobbald, David (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Seventh Studio Album Needs More Mayhem". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  24. ↑ Piatkowski, Peter (March 11, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Creativity Is Trapped In Retro Sounds Now". PopMatters. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2025: Staff Picks". Billboard. December 11, 2025. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Billboard Global 200 - Week of March 22, 2025". Billboard. March 22, 2025. Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  28. ↑ Zellner, Xander (March 18, 2025). "Lady Gaga Charts 10 Songs on Hot 100 From 'MAYHEM,' Breaks Record on Top Dance Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  29. 1 2 "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  30. 1 2 "Brazilian single certifications – Lady Gaga – Killah" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  31. ↑ Vaillancourt, William (March 9, 2025). "'SNL': Watch Lady Gaga Perform 'Abracadabra,' 'Killah'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  32. 1 2 3 Willman, Chris (March 9, 2025). "Lady Gaga Goes Full 'Killah' in Kinetic 'SNL' Performances of Her New 'Mayhem' Songs". Variety. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  33. ↑ Frank, Jason P. (April 12, 2025). "Lady Gaga Played Chess with Her 'Poker Face' at Coachella". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  34. ↑ Sasic, Ema (April 12, 2025). "Coachella 2025: Lady Gaga brings a night of 'Mayhem' to desert with sets, vocals galore". The Desert Sun. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  35. ↑ Wood, Mikael (April 12, 2025). "Lady Gaga proves she's music's greatest kook in campy Coachella thriller". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2026-04-20. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  36. ↑ Heffler, Jason (April 12, 2025). ""Killah" Chemistry: Lady Gaga Brings Out Gesaffelstein as Sole Coachella 2025 Guest". EDM.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  37. ↑ Bucksbaum, Sydney (April 12, 2025). "Lady Gaga releases 'Abracadabra' remix after Coachella 2025 headlining set with surprise guest Gesaffelstein". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  38. ↑ Fullerton, Jamie (April 27, 2025). "Lady Gaga, Mexico City, review: more brilliantly bonkers than Katy Perry in space". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  39. 1 2 Lynch, Joe (July 17, 2025). "Lady Gaga's the Mayhem Ball Unleashes Upon Las Vegas: Nine Best Moments from Opening Night". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  40. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (July 17, 2025). "Lady Gaga Pits the Past Against the Present at Spectacular 'Mayhem Ball' Opening in Las Vegas: Concert Review". Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  41. ↑ Ruggieri, Melissa (July 17, 2025). "Lady Gaga thrills at theatrical Mayhem Ball tour kickoff: Review". USA Today. ISSN 0734-7456. OCLC 8799626. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  42. ↑ Hodgkinson, Will (September 29, 2025). "Lady Gaga at the O2 in London — a pop diva redefines the arena gig". The Times. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  43. ↑ Lomax, Taylor (May 15, 2026). "We Infiltrated Lady Gaga's Funeral for 'MAYHEM' at the Grove". Paper. Archived from the original on May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  44. ↑ Bain, Katie (January 23, 2026). "Best New Dance Music: Gesaffelstein, Fred again.., Jessie Ware & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2026. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 11, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 11/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Top 200 Singles Semana 11 de 2025" (PDF). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. March 20, 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  50. ↑ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot Dance/Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
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