It’s about making a real, genuine impact on the culture and that’s either your destiny or it isn’t.

I write what I know about: sex, pornography, art, fame obsession, drugs, and alcohol.

When I did American Idol, they let me do whatever I wanted. We were like, ‘We want 800 pounds of fog and 50 [extra] lights, and they were into it. They were all about the art.

I make unabashed pop. I sit at the piano and think, ‘Find it, GaGa. What’s that killer chorus?’ It’s not about what I’m feeeeling.

I am a brilliant musician.

Nothing I really say is that new. I mean, it’s Andy Warhol. I’m not claiming to be the newest innovation thinker. But I do think the execution is very different.

I’m not overly concerned with the way people receive my work. More than anything, I want to do something important.

I’m inspired by that 70′s glamour and decadence.

On Donatella Versace: She’s iconic and powerful, yet people throw darts at her. She’s definitely provocative.

Some artists are working to buy the mansion or whatever the element of fame must bear, but I spend all my money on my show.

I was the arty girl, the theatre chick. I dressed differently and I came from a different social class from the other girls. I was more of an average schoolgirl with a cork.

On her style: My grandmother is basically blind, but she can make out the lighter parts, like my skin and hair. She says, “I can see you, because you have no pants on.” So I’ll continue to wear no pants so that my grandma can see me.

You must never ever let a guy know how much you like him, because then he’ll run in the other direction … Well, I just sign that when you don’t play hard to get, if you’re too easy or you come off too eager, they run away so you gotta keep your pokerface on.

I love Dolce & Gabbana. I love Versace. I love the crazy, more eccentric stuff. I can’t pay my rent, but I’m f—ing gorgeous.

I dropped out of NYU, moved out of my parent’s house, got my own place, and survived on my own. I made music and worked my way from the bottom up. I didn’t know somebody, who knew somebody, who knew somebody. If I have any advice to anybody, it’s to just do it yourself, and don’t waste time trying to get a favor.

Writing a record is like dating a few men at once. You take them to the same restaurants to see if they measure up, and at some point you decide who you like best. When you make music or write or create, it’s really your job to have mind-blowing, irresponsible, condomless sex with whatever idea it is you’re writing about at the time.

My album covers are not sexual at all, which was an issue at my record label. I fought for months, and I cried at meetings. They didn’t think the photos were commercial enough… In my opinion, the last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself.