thePULSEAnd We Liked It
By Andy Sullivan
What’s it like being Katy Perry?
“Really intense,” said the 23-year-old singer/songwriter.
With a number-one hit song (“I Kissed a Girl”), top-ten debut album and guest appearances all over television, it’s easy to see why. People are fascinated with this rising female performer and they’re letting her know. While many musicians allow the fame and fortune to run straight to their head, Perry is content on being herself.
“It’s weird that people want to take time out of their lives to talk with me about me,” she said. “It’s really cool.”
The excitement in the modest musician’s voice is obvious. But what’s more obvious is her carefree and upbeat personality. The idea that she’s an overnight success is far from accurate. Over five years of hard work and three record labels later, Perry realizes how lucky she is.
“This feels good because I’ve had it all and lost it all in some sense when I first started out here in L.A.,” she said. “I got the opportunity again but I’m not going to take it for granted again. It could be all gone in the blink of an eye and I could be just another girl that almost made it.”
Perry’s early music is a far cry from her latest sound. The singer, who’s seen her share of controversy with her lyrical content, grew up in a strict religious household and released a Christian album when she was 15. It’s quite a
turnaround to where she’s at now. For Perry, it was just a natural progression.
“I just think you grow up from [age] 15 to 23,” she said. “Perspectives changed. I traveled the world. I lived on my own for the last six years. I’m definitely not trying to be someone’s poster child for any particular thing.”
Perry’s influences were Queen and Joanie Mitchell. But the most important icon she drew inspiration from was Alanis Morissette, the rocking empowering female voice of the 90s. Morissette’s words struck a chord with Perry and she tries to have her own music correlate a similar message.
“I want to be so honest in my own songs and in my own life,” said Perry. “I want to be a fly on the wall in a [fan’s] life. We’re all human. We all go through the same things.”
These days Perry can be found traveling the country on Vans Warped Tour, with a recent stop in Mansfield, MA at the Comcast Center last July 23. Think she may be out of her element on the male-dominated, punk-oriented tour? Think again.
“I’m adjusting perfectly,” she said with a chuckle. Certainly her album title One of the Boys is accurate. “The bruises on my legs aren’t adjusting too well because I’m trying to keep up with the scream-o, emo, hardcore band that goes on before me.”
Her toughness isn’t a front. Perry has gained a reputation for speaking her mind without holding back. Take for instance her thoughts on actions of other pop-rock princesses that get too caught up in the celebrity life.
“Nobody f***ing cares about who your dating, where your going, what your wearing,” she said boldly. “Especially if that’s your excuse for your lack of talent and that’s the only thing you’ve got going. I mean, if you’re an amazing talent and you have all those other things, then God bless ya. But don’t let the celebrity take over your musicianship.”
Perry chooses to keep focused on her connection with fans.
“I’m not here to do anything else but play rock n’ roll music and try to put on a good show and make my fans happy,” she said. “I think that’s my job. Everything else comes secondary.”
The rest of the year is pretty much packed for Perry. She’ll continue touring with a show at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, MA August 9. At the end of the year, she’ll be heading overseas to perform in Japan and Germany among other countries. What’s she looking forward to most? The scenery? The history? The food? Not quite.
“I can’t wait to see people that can’t even speak English sing along to one of my songs,” she said. “I think that would be really cool.”
For more info on Katy Perry check out her web site at www.katyperry.com or her MySpace page at www.myspace.com/katyperry.
Photo credit: Michael Elins
