Who is Trent Reznor? Lady Gaga confesses she ‘blacks out’ whenever she meets Nine Inch Nails’ founder

Lady Gaga has never been one to shy away from discussing her musical influences, and with the release of her latest album, Mayhem, she’s giving credit where it’s due. Among the many artists that helped shape the sound of the album, Nine Inch Nails stands out as a major inspiration.

In a recent interview with Howard Stern, Gaga candidly shared her admiration for NIN’s frontman, Trent Reznor, revealing that his work has left such an impact on her that she claims to black out whenever she’s in his presence.

---

Lady Gaga admits she 'blacks out' when meeting Trent Reznor

Gaga's admiration for Reznor is obvious in the new interview. During the interview, Stern played the NIN song "Closer" from 1994, and Gaga’s reaction was swift, warm, and excited right off.

In the interview, she revealed,

"I think I black out every time I’m in his presence."

The singer was asked if she was intimidated by the NIN founder.

She replied,

“Not intimidated, just really excited, stoked, quiet.”

While Mayhem is influenced by all sorts of 90s grunge, pop of the 2000s, and some funk or 80s vibe music, Lady Gaga has been very upfront and direct about how much Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails meant for both the mood of their music and the depth of sounds.

In an interview with Elle, Lady Gaga talked more about the artists who inspired her.

“There was industrial inspiration with a lot of the sounds,” she said.

She added,

“There’s a transitional moment on the album that’s rooted in ’90s music. A sort of electro grunge defiance. That era in music which was a response to the music that came before it. And then David Bowie theatrical rock, Prince, Radiohead. I was inspired by so much music that has grown roots in my veins.”

One of the key tracks on Mayhem, the lead single “Disease," carries a distinctively darker and more industrial sound than much of Gaga’s past work. Fans have already started likening the song to how Nine Inch Nails sounds now that it's got such a chewy texture and layered production. Gaga confirmed the connection, citing “Closer” as a major inspiration.

---

Who is Trent Reznor?

Trent Reznor is an American musician. He is the founder and songwriter of the rock band Nine Inch Nails. He is also a singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer.

As Lady Gaga embarks on this new chapter with Mayhem, Nine Inch Nails are also making waves. The band announced their Peel It Back tour, which will see them performing across the U.K., Europe, and North America this summer.

Reznor confirmed late last year that new Nine Inch Nails music is in the works, signaling that the band is gearing up for a fresh era.

---

With Mayhem already sending strong waves, Gaga's fans are expecting great things as she explores new creative frontiers, just like her major inspiration, Trent Reznor, has done his whole career.