Katy Perry Defends Collaboration With Dr. Luke On New Album “143”
Katy Perry is facing criticism over her decision to collaborate with music producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald on her upcoming album 143. Dr. Luke, who worked with Perry on some of her biggest hits like I Kissed a Girl and Teenage Dream, has been involved in a lengthy legal battle with singer Kesha. However, Katy, now 39, is addressing the backlash head-on.
In a recent interview with Call Her Daddy, released on September 4, Katy acknowledged the concerns but made it clear that the album is deeply personal and that Dr. Luke is just one of many contributors. “I understand that it started a lot of conversations and he was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with,” she said. “But the reality is, it comes from me.”
She went on to explain that 143 is a reflection of her life experiences. “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,” she added, emphasizing that her work is authentic to her journey.
The conversation shifted to her new album’s empowering lead single, Woman’s World. Katy spoke passionately about how becoming a mother has given her a sense of empowerment. “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,” she said, expressing how motherhood has shaped her sense of strength and purpose.
143 marks a major return for Katy, whose sixth studio album is set to release on September 20. A press release described the project as a “sexy, fearless return to form,” filled with bold, exuberant dance-pop.
The Roar hitmaker herself explained the album’s theme, saying, “I set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message.”
To celebrate the release, Katy is set to headline a sold-out show at Rock in Rio in Brazil on the same day. This will mark her first performance at the iconic Rio de Janeiro festival since 2015, and fans are eagerly awaiting her return to the stage.
