In less than a year, Katy Perry has released an album, supported Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, and recently traveled to space. As she heads to Mexico City to begin her world tour on Wednesday, the pop icon shows no signs of slowing down.
“I’m always open and I say, ‘Why not?’ and ‘Let’s just try,’” she told The Associated Press at her Southern California rehearsal space. “The power of your thoughts are so incredible because everything starts with a thought. I had this thought, ‘I want to go on tour.’ And here we are.”
With her willingness to try new things comes the understanding that not everything will succeed. Her September album, “143,” was not well-received by critics, and she faced backlash for reuniting with controversial producer Dr. Luke. Celebrities like Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski criticized the spaceflight as wasteful. Additionally, Harris lost the November election to President Donald Trump.
But Perry’s long career and immense fame since her 2008 hit, “I Kissed a Girl,” can be partly attributed to her ability to bounce back after setbacks, much like she sings in her 2013 anthem, “Roar.”
“I can control what I can control,” she said.
This mindset has evolved over the last 15 years with her practice of Transcendental Meditation. Celebrities, including the late David Lynch, have embraced this technique, and Perry credits Lynch with helping to spread it.
“That changed my life. And I’ve gone on a long inner space journey to untangle some wires, to answer some questions, to become more grounded, to find the power within myself,” she said.
Perry is deeply interested in spirituality, often mentioning astrology, the enneagram, and cardology, which is believed to offer insights into someone’s personality through playing cards. She believes that becoming a mother to her daughter, Daisy, has helped her with self-discovery and strengthened her “feminine divine.”
Katy Perry, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Lauren Sanchez, and Kerianne Flynn“Being a mother just makes you level up with that type of power,” she said. “I think I’ve just grown into the strong woman that I’ve always dreamed of and idolized.”
This personal journey has influenced her music and performances, including the theme of her sci-fi inspired “Lifetimes Tour.” Perry drew inspiration from movies like “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element,” where she plays a video game character battling evil forces.
“It’s really about believing in yourself and leading with love. Those are always my messages, no matter how I wrap it or whatever tour I bring. It’s love and empowerment,” she said. “When I can lead by example, it just ripples.”
Perry’s tour, with over 80 performances, will feature a mix of her greatest hits, along with dance-infused versions of some classic pop songs. “I tell everybody they have to wear some sensible shoes,” she said.
In nearly two decades of being a pop star, Perry has made sarcastic lyrics and empowering messages a trademark of her music. While recent albums have received less enthusiasm from critics, the 40-year-old is going all in for this tour, calling it “Disneyland on wheels.”
“I feel a responsibility to my audience who have really been with me on this ride during this whole lifetime to give them that feeling that they had when they first heard ‘Teenage Dream,’” she said.
