For the first time in eight years, Katy Perry is not attending the Grammy Awards. But she is planning a party.
On Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, ahead of the ceremony there on Monday, Perry will host what she’s billing as “An Evening to Celebrate the Creators,” a black-tie dinner for her fellow musicians that excludes the assorted hangers-on (publicists, managers, reporters) who typically crowd Grammy-weekend networking events.
“Artists are always looking for a way to connect with each other, but we don’t get that authentic connection because we’re either being pulled or pushed,” Perry said in an interview this week. Her co-hosts include producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Beck), singer-songwriter Sia, and rapper Missy Elliott; and Spotify has signed on as a sponsor. (Yes, Adele and Taylor Swift, who have withheld their music from Spotify, are invited, Perry said. “It’s just up to their schedules.”)
Along with a tight guest list — about 250 people — the night will include performances by Sia and Jack Garratt.
“I hired a 14-piece orchestra to play all of the modern Top 40 songs,” Perry added.
Perry also discussed the Super Bowl halftime show, her progress on a new album and her plans for music’s biggest night. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
So how does someone score an invite to this very exclusive party?
Well, you have to be a creator — it’s artists, producers and songwriters. And it’s a mixture of new and familiar artists, a combination of the past two years’ Grammy nominees and also [acts] from the Spotify Discover playlist. In some ways, I’m trying to start the Met Ball of music.
But publicists and managers aren’t welcome?
They are not creators. They’re important to the creation, but it’s only artists, producers and songwriters. There’s a press opportunity in the front, like a red carpet, but if you want to be more low-key, you can arrive via garage.
Why partner with Spotify?
I actually went to Spotify to get informed on the world of streaming. Two years ago, it was like, “Streaming, streaming, streaming!” And I was like, what is streaming, and what does it mean for me? One point of this night is to be able to help artists get more informed about the future, as well.
Does that mean you’re aligning yourself with Spotify in the streaming wars among Tidal, Apple Music and so on?
No, because I’m a member to all of them. I just hadn’t sat down with Tidal or Apple, even though I’m going to be partners with them in the future. It just so happened that six months ago I sat down with Spotify and had this idea.
How far along are you on a new album?
I’m in the research and development phase. I’ve been going at it for eight or nine years in the spotlight, and then before that there’s that decade of hustle that never gets recognised but still shows up in your wrinkles. So right now I’m taking a little time. I don’t want to jump on any trends. I just need to evolve.
I do my records in a more traditional way, where the cycle is three years, so that once I start writing them, I know exactly where I’ll be in spring of 2018. That can get a little bit like “Ugh.” I need a little bit more freedom, especially when I’ve been doing it for this long.
You’ve been nominated for 13 Grammys without a win. Are you gunning to be up there next year?
The only thing that is on my mind when creating music is being authentic and vulnerable and making sure that it connects. And I know that it does connect, because numbers don’t lie. I know that might sound a little sassy, but all I want to do is stay true to myself and dig deep to pull out some of the messages or perspectives that I have on the world.
You’ve always been relatively open on social media. Do you ever have to hold yourself back on Twitter?
I do this thing where I just save as draft. Save as draft and sleep — and then wake up and go, “Nah.” It’s not worth it, you know? Or I just book my therapist.
As the reigning Super Bowl halftime performer, what did you think of Coldplay this year?
I know how intense it is to do the Super Bowl and how much it takes. There are a lot of restrictions. It’s not as easy as saying like, “Hey, I want Rihanna up there with me.” I tried to get Dolly Parton out there. It’s more of a communal process with the NFL and all the different artists. But I thought it was cool.
And where will you be watching the Grammys?
In my pajamas, eating matzo ball soup. No makeup, glad I’m not in a corset. Vicks cream on.
