Katy Perry has addressed recent criticism regarding her decision to collaborate with producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald on her forthcoming album, 143. In an interview released Wednesday, Sept. 4, on the podcast Call Her Daddy, Perry, 39, responded to concerns surrounding the producer’s involvement.
Dr. Luke, known for his work on Perry’s hits such as “I Kissed a Girl,” “California Gurls,” and “Teenage Dream,” has been a controversial figure due to his lengthy legal battle with singer Kesha. Despite this, Perry emphasized that Dr. Luke was just one of many collaborators on her new album.
“I understand that it started a lot of conversations and he was one of many collaborators that I worked with,” Perry said. “But the reality is, it comes from me. The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that. One of the writers, one of the producers. I am speaking from my own experience.”
Perry then shifted the focus to her album’s lead single, “Woman’s World,” which she described as “empowering.” The song reflects her feelings of empowerment, particularly as a mother.
“When I speak about ‘Woman’s World,’ I speak about feeling so empowered now, as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life, creating another set of organs. A brain! A heart! I created a whole ass heart! And I did it, and I’m still doing it,” Perry said. “I’m still a matriarch and feeling really grounded in that, that’s where I’m speaking from. So I created all of this with several different collaborators, people that I’ve collaborated with from the past, from the Teenage Dream era. All of that.”
In July, Perry announced via social media that her sixth studio album, 143, will be released on Sept. 20. A press release describes the album as a “sexy, fearless return to form” for the 13-time Grammy-nominated artist.
“I set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message,” Perry said in a statement.
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143 marks Perry’s first album release since her 2020 project, Smile. The new album is expected to showcase a mix of Perry’s signature pop sound and a more personal, introspective approach. Perry has indicated that the album’s theme revolves around self-expression and empowerment, echoing the sentiments she expressed about “Woman’s World.”
On the day of the album’s release, Perry is set to headline a sold-out show at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil. This performance will be her first appearance at the Rio de Janeiro festival since 2015, adding an extra layer of excitement to the album’s launch.
As Perry prepares for the release of 143, she continues to navigate public scrutiny and personal growth. The album’s title, inspired by the numerical representation of “I love you” on a phone keypad, reflects Perry’s focus on themes of love and self-affirmation.
For updates on Perry’s upcoming album and more information on her tour dates, fans can follow her on social media and check out the latest news on her official website.
