In 2006 Stefani worked with music producer Rob Fusari who’d chosen Stefani to front a new band, he also helped create her persona and, he claims, the stage name Lady Gaga. Their musical relationship took a while to become successful but in 2006, when Def Jam’s A&R man heard some of their electropop recordings, he signed Gaga to the label. The intention was to release an album in nine months' time but after just three the label dropped her.
Devastated, Gaga returned home and submerged herself in the seedy nightlife of New York’s Lower East Side, she became a go-go dancer, experimented with drugs and alienated her once supportive family. It was during this time that she met Lady Starlight and the pair began to perform together, they were invited to perform at 'Lollapalooza’ in 2007 and the show was a success, confirming to Gaga that her musical oeuvre, ostensibly, glam rock with a pop twist, was working.
Later that year, Fusari encouraged Gaga to work with Streamline Records and she became a songwriter for Sony/ATV. After writing songs for the likes of Britney Spears, New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls she signed to Cherrytree Records.
In 2008 she moved to Los Angeles and released her debut album ‘The Fame’ on 19 August 2008. The ‘Fame Ball tour’ helped the album to sell but it wasn't until the lead single ‘Just Dance’ reached the international charts that she became a household name. In January 2009, it topped charts across the globe, the sale of her album went through the roof and ‘Just Dance’ earned her first Grammy nomination which became one of the world’s best-selling singles.
Her next song ‘Poker Face’ was even bigger selling 9.8 million copies and winning Best Dance Grammy at the 52nd edition of the awards, ‘The Fame’ won Best Dance/Electronica album. More accolades followed including Billboard's Rising Star title, three MTV VMA nominations and she took home the prize for Best New Artist for the video of her third single ‘Paparazzi’.