About to Pop: Katy Perry

September 3, 2008

Who: Katy Perry
Album: ‘One of the Boys’
Video: ‘I Kissed a Girl’
Hails From: Santa Barbara, Calif.
For Fans Of: Gwen Stefani and Alanis Morissette

Why She’s About to Pop: This 23-year-old’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics are what probably got the likes of Perez Hilton to call her “one of the breakout stars of the summer.” While the daughter of two pastors was brought up singing gospel, Katy credits Queen with inspiring her own musical pursuits. Perry worked with a slew of top-notch pop producers to create her debut album, including Glen Ballard, Max Martin and Butch Walker. The result is an explosion of groovy beats and tart lyrics that take a concentrated effort to forget. In addition to her increasing modeling and acting gigs (she appeared on ‘The Young and Restless’), Perry will be hitting the road this summer on the entirety of the Vans Warped Tour.

Six Questions with Katy Perry:

What inspired the songs on your record?

I was inspired by the simple day-to-day events of my personal life in writing this record. It’s a heart-on-the-sleeve Dear Diary, and I remember specific times throughout my days where I would make mental notes of something I said or some kind of catchy phrase that I overheard in someone else’s conversation — or even a headline or a story in a paper. I would all bring it back to my life, though. It’s very autobiographical, and if you listen to the lyrics close enough, you can find double meanings and puns — fun things like that.

What’s your favorite song on the record?

My favorite song on the record is probably ‘Thinking of You.’ I love to play this song whether it be with my full band, orchestra or even alone in my little old apartment. I wrote this song by myself about three years ago and didn’t think anything of it. I started playing it around at open mics and coffee shop shows, and people started to react to it. Girls would request it and MySpace me about it and state, “I can’t believe you wrote exactly what I am going through. It’s like you’ve been a fly on my wall.” It’s one of those songs, I think, that doesn’t need fireworks to shine on its own.

If you could have any musician’s career other than your own, whose would it be?

Of course I’d have Madonna’s. She’s the ultimate in female pop music, and she’s like the Energizer bunny. Plus, she’s got years on me and she looks my age still. She must have sacrificed something or sold her soul in exchange for continuing to be a world dominator in all things pop culture.

If we looked inside your refrigerator, what would we find?

You would find some expired attempts at trying to eat healthy — a lot of veggies and different sauces to dip them in, edamame, stir fry packs and lots of Trader Joe’s ready-to-go lunches. I like those CPK frozen pizzas, even if they aren’t the healthiest things out there. I think you will find the silliest thing I have in my freezer is a tiny pink marzipan piglet that is sitting up and waving at my each time I open my freezer door. I got him as a gift from Dean & DeLuca during a trip to New York City.

What are the most played songs on your iPod?

I’ve a few most-played songs on my iPod. One is a song called ‘Handle Me’ by Robyn. It’s cheeky, it’s funny and dead on. There’s also another artist named Meiko — her song ‘Hawaii.’ It’s a moody song I have loved this whole year, and makes me wanna just throw all my gadgets into the ocean and buy a one-way ticket to an island and have the boy I love by my side.

What did you think life as a musician would be like when you first started out and how does it compare to what it’s really like for you now?

I always knew life as a musician would be hard work — that is all it’s ever been for me. Lately, and thankfully, it’s been insane amounts of work. Thank God I’ve got most of my party bone out of me. There’s no time to not keep your eye on the prize. Every day I wake up, and I pray for strength and a sound mind. You can’t let the wonderfulness get to your brain and turn it sour. But then again, you must know when it’s your time to toast with that glass of Dom. It’s a fine line. It’s not just about being a musician. I see myself as a personality. I’ve a lot of it and though music is my ace, I have a few other cards in the deck before I show my full hand.

Purchase ‘One of the Boys’ on iTunes