Katy Perry: Push myself into thinking in a different way

<br>The pop superstar, who has gained global fame with hits including “Firework”, “Roar” and “Dark horse”, has always been candid about her constant struggle with darkness, and how she overcomes it.

Asked how she manages to push herself to write upbeat songs when she is down, Perry said: “Actually, I think it’s kind of like, my higher self or my better self from my spirit side kind of just takes the wheel and says, ‘scoot over, I’m gonna start channeling a little inspiring message for you from the heavens and hopefully it will inspire you to continue further and therefore maybe inspire someone else’.”

“When I write songs like ‘Firework’ and ‘Roar’, it’s not because I’m like ‘Yay’, it is like ‘I’m really bummed’ and I just have to push myself into thinking in a different way. And through that push, I usually get something kind of special,” she added, and joked: “There is a lot of pushing in my life and a lot more pushing coming up.”

Amid the pandemic and the quarantine, Perry is looking forward to giving birth to her first child with fiance, actor Orlando Bloom. She is keeping a positive outlook throughout — something that can be sensed through her posts on her social media handles.

“Yeah, it is good and I am happy and my body feels good,” she said, when asked about her pregnancy during a special virtual press event held before her first-ever performance at the Tomorrowland Around The World – The Digital Festival this weekend.

She says a happy state of mind means she “can give a great performance”.

Asked if it will be her last performance before she gives birth, she said: “I actually think it is possible.”

The digital edition of the festival uses the technology of 3D design, video production and special effects to bring the music gala alive virtually, which will be available to Indians through BookMyShow.

The line-up includes: Alan Walker, Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Armin van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Kolsch, Lost Frequencies, Martin Garrix, Paul Kalkbrenner, Steve Aoki, Tale of Us, and Tiesto.

Perry is excited about her debut performance here.

“I thought it was so innovative and so resilient of a festival to say ‘okay, we are just going to pivot and we are going to bring something really technically advanced and difficult, but we are going to create something beautiful out of this mess’. So I really admire and respect how the festival went and did it. And basically some of my other pop friends have done the festival, and I felt really in sync with the roaster of all. I am happy to be invited and included in this kind of new way of doing it,” she said.

The 35-year-old continued: “I have been doing so many things because I have a record coming out in August. I have been doing so many things remotely and I have the capability and even though I am like an extra 40 pounds, I am still dancing around and still bringing that kind of sparkle in life and finding joy. So I was just happy to be called.”

Perry, also known for her songs such as “I kissed a girl”, “Swish swish” and “Bon appetit”, has prepared a special set for the performance, and says it is not going to be “just the original versions”.

“I think it’s really important to know your audience and I definitely made a setlist based on that. There’s going to be my new song ‘Smile’ and a little bit of my new song ‘Daisies’. So, it’s not going to be just the kind of original versions,” said the 35-year-old.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)

–IANS<br>sug/vnc/rt