Not One of the Boys

Singer Katy Perry barfs stars and hearts, thinks she’s a domino, and doesn’t do drugs (anymore).

When we got the invite to an industry-only acoustic showcase by upstart songstress Katy Perry, the promise of free tacos and beer were admittedly part of the draw. But Perry looked cute enough on the invite—like a Suicide Girl without the body ink—and the title of her breakout single “Ur So Gay” gave us the impression that she is totes, def, and obv one of us, an old friend. And who doesn’t support their friends? Perry was dressed every part the Silverlake-chic MySpace maven we made her out to be in our head, in turquoise waist-high jeans and a Minnie Mouse polka-dot top—L.A.'s Lily Allen. Perry played a short four-song set—just a taste—off her debut disc One of the Boys, out June 17. “I hope you hang yourself with your H&M scarf/ While jacking off listening to Mozart,” she crooned, as we wondered how she saw past our closed blinds. Days later, we visited Perry at Mercury Lounge, hours before she was set to take the stage for an intimate New York show. Perry was there, best friend-personal assistant in tow, nursing an anonymous fast-food soda cup. “You look familiar,” she said, indicating that our unholy taco-eating must have made an impact at the showcase. We assured her this was our first time meeting, and promptly hit record.

BLACKBOOK: In 2004, Blender magazine named you a “Next Big Thing.” That was a long time ago.

KATY PERRY: I’ve been making this record for about five years with the intent to put it out every year. But it didn’t happen because I wasn’t ready, record labels were shifting, I’d been signed then dropped, all kinds of things.

BB: Were you worried that the hype was going to die down?

KP: There was only a little bit of hype, and everyone around me told me not to be worried, that it was going to happen. Every time something “bad” happened, a better opportunity was right around the corner, and it was all a part of getting me here. Seriously, I should have quit a long time ago.

BB: What would you be doing if you had quit?

KP: I’d probably be in North Dakota popping out babies. I’ll probably be doing that in three years anyway.

BB: When you are singing “Ur So Gay,” who are you talking about?

KP: I got dumped, and it was one of those situations where the end of the relationship lasts as long as the actual relationship, where you’re still sleeping with them even though you’re broken up.

BB: So you’re going on record and saying you’re not a virgin?

KP: [Laughs.] It’s official, we can send out the press release: I am not a virgin. The song is inspired a little by a guy who dumped me, and I was like, Fine, you want to dump me? I’m gonna write a song about you. And the song definitely takes the piss out of that scene we call emo—those guys who wear the guyliner, use flatirons, and steal my jeans.

BB: I went on your website, and it’s quite elaborate. Do you have control over it?

KP: I design everything. Every step of the way, from the colors, to what I want on it, is me. I’m very meticulous, and my label actually sends me e-mails asking me to stop micro-managing. And I’m like, Madonna does it, so I’m gonna do it!

BB: Do you think that you might have had even more control with an independent label?

KP: I’m all about selling out. My music is for the masses, it’s pop mainstream music. I’m not trying to hide anything. I’m trying to sell records. I want my music to replace some of the shit that’s out there. I’ve always wanted to do a big pop record and that’s what I’m starting with. Maybe next, I’ll do a hip-hop, “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” meets the Beastie Boys kind of record, and then maybe then I’ll do a purely acoustic record. I would love to be respected in the New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo scenes, but we need someone for those people in Wisconsin, and I want to fill that void. Let me fill your cup, honey.

BB: You’re going on the Vans Warped Tour, but you seem like an odd fit.

KP: I am an odd fit. I was really scared when I got the phone call. But it’s a great opportunity because the people who come to the Warped Tour are like 14- and 15-year-old girls, and that’s my audience. I’m excited though. It’s going to be draining and I hear you can’t shower every day. But I’m bringing out cool people, my band’s great, my tour manager is an Amazonian woman and nobody fucks with her. And me, well, I barf stars and hearts all the time, but I’ll kick your ass.

BB: Are you planning on partying a lot during the tour?

KP: I don’t do drugs anymore at all, just because I can’t. I don’t have the chance to be hungover the next day. I don’t drink drink like I used to, because I’m a professional now. This is really happening, and I’m the biggest domino here. If I fall there are a hundred other dominoes that fall.

BB: I view you as the quintessential MySpace artist. Even in your first single, the title is “Ur” instead of “You’re.”

KP: I’m for sure part of that generation. It’s a very internet savvy group, and I’m not trying to appeal to that, it’s just who I am. When I’m typing on my phone, I don’t want to write out Y-O-U-R, I want to write U-R.

BB: Are you a Facebook addict?

KP: No, I can’t get into the Facebook thing because I didn’t go to college, so I’m not part of that “here are all my college friends who are knocked up and married and I’m here in L.A.” Plus, I don’t want to vampire bite you. I don’t have time to choke you and poke you! I’m just going to throw away all my gadgets and move to an island one day. I haven’t had internet access all week, and it’s been better for my brain to not see stuff online.