After finishing her performance as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga felt she was not ready to leave the character behind. This experience led her to create Harlequin, an album inspired by the perspective of "Harley Quinn" or "Lee," as Gaga calls her. This record is both a farewell to the character and an artistic representation of Harley’s chaos and energy.

Harlequin includes 13 songs that blend jazz, surf-punk, blues, and classics, offering a unique fusion that feels familiar yet innovative. Although fans are eagerly awaiting her return to pop, Gaga continues to explore new musical directions, with Harlequin considered an LG6.5: an intermediate album between Chromatica (LG6) and her next major studio album (LG7).

The term LG6.5 is an unofficial reference used by fans and the media to describe this album as a side or special project, between her sixth studio album (Chromatica, 2020) and the seventh (LG7). Gaga is known for experimenting with different musical styles and exploring artistic themes beyond traditional pop, which places Harlequin in a unique category. It is not a main pop album, but neither is it simply a minor project, as it delves into the narrative and aesthetic of her Harley Quinn character.