Unwilling to join the ranks of the average pop-rock idols, Perry has developed an unapologetic provocative style all her own that has even caught the attention of pop icon Madonna. Between country hopping on her world tour and heating up the charts with one spicy track after another, Perry is quickly becoming a one-woman revolution… just don’t ask her if she’s kissed a girl.
How did it feel to be endorsed by Madonna?
It feels special because I haven’t heard Madonna giving a whole lot of shout outs. And it was nice that she did it in the beginning of my career before anything happened. She kind of gave me a “champagne send-off,” and of course it’s every girl’s dream to have any kind of correlation with the queen!
Were you surprised that “I Kissed A Girl” became such a controversial song or was that part of your intention?
Well I knew I wasn’t serving plain ol’ vanilla! I knew it had bit more spice to it! Some people found it provocative, some found it curious and some just realized it was a good ol’ fun pop song! I have no agenda but sometimes people overthink things. Provocativeness has always played its part in pop music. It’s nothing new, from Elvis to Madonna!
Was it frustrating when parts of the media described your lyrics as homophobic?
No, because I understood that they were just misinformed. People sometimes judge a book by its cover. If you didn’t listen to the whole song and hear the story, then it would be easy to judge. The fact of the matter is I wrote about a real epidemic — the epidemic of metrosexuals. It’s all about context.
Do you find yourself controversial?
I never want to be boring, so therefore I aspire to always be interesting, experimental and entertaining. There are many cards in my deck of personality.
I understood what it meant to come out with a song like this as my first single. I understood what some people’s perceptions would be, but I was okay with it. It definitely set me apart, made for some interesting interviews and helped establish me as something different, which is what I have wanted to be from the jump off! But I think what I am trying to establish here is more about me as an artist rather than about a song. I’m happy to have written that song because it has so many dimensions to it, but I am excited about having a career with many different shades to it.
Have you started working on your next album yet? What direction do you think it will take?
I’m always thinking. My brain never turns off. I keep a notebook with me to write down headlines that I see in my travels and have a voice recorder for quick melodies that pop into my head. I started to think about people I would love to work with on the next record. Some of them probably would not have taken my call last year, but now I will take advantage of being in a position where I could possibly work with some new people for the next one. But, I am still caught in the wonderful hurricane that is my first record!
Is there an artist in particular you are hoping to collaborate with in the future?
Yes. Calvin Harris because he created disco, and Ben Folds because he says whatever the fuck he wants.
When it comes to songwriting, what kinds of life struggles inspire you most? Love? Heartbreak? Rebelling against conformity?
Heartache. Heartache to me is the easiest subject to write about. It’s full of passion and feeling and everyone can relate. Sometimes when you’re in love it’s so blissful you don’t feel the same sense of urgency and passion that you do when you’re heartbroken, because it’s easy. I deal with issues in my life usually concerning love by writing them out. I’m also inspired by the way people communicate with each other and headlines and catch phrases.
What inspires your vintage style?
It originated when I started taking swing dance lessons at the age of 13 in Santa Barbara. I was in awe of how dedicated some of the dancers were. From the moment they stepped out of their old Chevy to the minute their foot hit the ground, they were head-to-toe from a time warp. They had an attitude, they had an air, they were unforgettable. I’m attracted to big personality anything, which usually means my clothes have a personality of their own. I like to not take it so seriously. I like clothes with a sense of humor to them. But I do have days where I like to look more chic than others.
What is one the thing you wish people would stop asking you?
If you’re really expecting me to say the most frequent question in the book, “Did you really kiss a girl?” then no. I don’t just expect that people know who I am. My record has only been out for five months. I am a new artist. It’s part of my job to answer the same question thousands of times. But if I were a journalist, I would ask the questions I can’t find online because you always know I’ll give a good answer and that gives a good read.
Since you’ve gone from singing Christian gospel to being a mainstream artist, how have your parents handled the evolution of your career?
They have evolved themselves, and I have always pushed their envelope of course. But I think in general parents grow up with their kids and finally when they see that they’ve grown and are having success, I think they are less strict and more friend. I’ve never been a big shock to them because I’ve always been this way. But not all at once. It was gradual.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the industry so far?
Remembering that I’m one person, and I can’t be in 10 other places just because it’s a worldwide success. It’s a good problem to have, but my health, both mental and physical, is most important in the bigger picture. There are no sick days in show business!
You appeared in an episode of The Young and the Restless, would you ever want to further
explore acting?
Yes, I appreciate a great film. It can have the same emotional impression as a great song, but I would have to have ample amount of time to devote myself to specific movies in order to be any good. It’s the perfectionist in me! I can’t be greedy. Just because I’ve had success in one area of the entertainment industry does not mean I can go out and make Glitter. When I do something I’ll be very specific as I am with all of my ideas.
What advice do you have for people just starting out in the music industry?
Take advantage of living in the future. We live in an internet world. Use your MySpace; use your Facebook to develop relationships and a fan base. If you have nowhere to play, go to open mic nights and sign up. If you want to learn how to sing better without paying for it, join the choir! If you want to learn how to play an instrument, teach yourself or read a book on how to do it. Or trade your skill for someone else’s skill. The answers are out there for you, you just have to believe in yourself more so than anyone else. And do not wait for it to come to you. It will never come to you, you gotta go and get it!
What is one thing people do not know about you that they would find surprising?
I cup my own farts.
For me, every day is a new episode to a widely hilarious comedy. Some days we get to hold snow leopards and other days we get to have normal conversations with hugely famous people. And it’s amazing to see the whole world and what all the different cultures are like.
When you’re not playing a show or recording, what is your favorite way to spend a Saturday night?
With my always entertaining group of friends having a nice dinner and either playing stupid board games, going to amusement parks, dancing or going to see a really good show.
By Jillian Gordon
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