One of Gaga’s earliest supporters was veteran music executive Vincent Herbert. Herbert had previously managed stars like TLC and discovered Gaga’s potential when she was still going by her birth name, Stefani Germanotta. In 2001, Herbert signed Gaga as one of the first artists on his new label, Streamline Records.

As her manager, Herbert helped Gaga navigate the challenges of breaking into the male-dominated music industry. He secured her a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and a development deal with Interscope Records. Herbert also coached Gaga on stage presence, songwriting, and the business side of the music business. Their work resulted in Gaga’s first singles and demos under Interscope.

Despite parting ways professionally in 2011 amid rumors of a financial dispute, Herbert played a pivotal role in launching Gaga’s career in its earliest stages. His guidance as her first manager was instrumental in helping an unknown Gaga gain a foothold in the industry and land her record deal with Def Jam, which ultimately led to her breakthrough. In interviews, Gaga has acknowledged Herbert’s role in shaping her development as both an artist and performer in those formative years.

Rob Fusari: The Producer Behind Gaga’s Early Sound. Another key figure who helped cultivate Gaga’s signature style was producer and songwriter Rob Fusari. In 2007, Fusari began collaborating with Gaga, then going by Stefani, after hearing her sing at a New York City club. Impressed by her vocal talents, he offered to help develop her songwriting and production skills in his home studio.

Over the next two years, Fusari co-wrote and produced much of Gaga’s demo material. Their collaborations resulted in early versions of songs that would later appear on Gaga’s debut album like “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich.” Fusari helped hone Gaga’s songwriting and bring her melodic pop sensibilities into the electronic dance realm. His production introduced textures of synth beats, auto-tune, and other club-friendly elements that defined Gaga’s emerging electropop sound.

However, their partnership ended in 2009 amid disputes over royalties and songwriting credits. Gaga later credited Fusari for less involvement than he claimed, leading to legal battles. Despite the messy split, Fusari undeniably played a huge role in cultivating Gaga’s signature style and sound in those pivotal early years of development and demo recording. His collaborations helped Gaga land her record deal with Interscope and set the stage for her breakthrough commercial success.

Space Cowboy: Inspiring Gaga’s Unfettered Creativity

Another artistic influence during Gaga’s formative years was performance artist Space Cowboy, also known as Matthew Barney. In 2005, Gaga began collaborating with Barney, assisting him on various multimedia projects that blended avant-garde performance art with music. Their collaborations pushed creative boundaries and influenced Gaga’s fearless approach to self-expression through her work.

Working with the unconventional Barney inspired Gaga to think outside the box when it came to blending artistic mediums. She learned to ignore social norms and push creative limits without fear of backlash or judgment. Barney showed Gaga there were no rules in art and anything was possible if she believed in her vision. These formative experiences working with the pioneering performance artist helped cultivate Gaga’s sense of artistic freedom that would later define her boundary-pushing persona and live shows.

In interviews, Gaga has cited Space Cowboy as one of her biggest early influences. His mentorship during her New York underground days was instrumental in developing her uninhibited creativity and willingness to challenge norms through provocative art. While their professional partnership was brief, Barney left an indelible mark that shaped Gaga’s fearless approach to artistic expression.

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