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Prism is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Katy Perry, released in October 2013 by Capitol Records. It was recorded in her hometown of Santa Barbara and Stockholm, from November 2012 to 2013, during a reflective period of her life which followed suicidal thoughts and a depression. She was one of the album's executive producers and worked with many record producers, including Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Cirkut. Perry was also reinforced by Bonnie McKee while writing the songs. The record additionally features guest vocals from rapper Juicy J on the song "Dark Horse".

The first half of Prism comprizes dynamic genres, experimenting with disco, trap among others. The other half of the record embraces a more mellow tone, addressing self-acceptance and relationships, during a reflective period of her life which followed suicidal thoughts and a severe depression. She was one of the album's executive producers and worked with many record producers, including Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Cirkut. Perry was also reinforced by Bonnie McKee while writing the songs. The record additionally features guest vocals from rapper Juicy J on the song "Dark Horse". Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla.

Prism is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Katy Perry, released in October 2013 by Capitol Records. It was recorded in her hometown of Santa Barbara and Stockholm, between November 2012 and April 2013, during a reflective period of her life which followed suicidal thoughts and a severe depression. She was one of the album's executive producers and worked with many record producers, including Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Cirkut. Perry was also reinforced by Bonnie McKee while writing the songs. The record additionally features guest vocals from rapper Juicy J on the song "Dark Horse".

The album has so far produced three singles: "Roar", "Unconditionally" and "Dark Horse". While the former and the latter peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100, "Unconditionally" became her second single to miss reaching the top 10 of that chart. The album has so far produced three singles: "Roar", "Unconditionally" and "Dark Horse". While the former and the latter peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100, "Unconditionally" became her second single to miss reaching the top 10 of that chart. The album has so far produced three singles: "Roar", "Unconditionally" and "Dark Horse". While the former and the latter peaked atop the US.

Background
After ending her California Dreams Tour, Perry stated that she intended to "live a little" before recording any new material that was "worth listening to". Perry officially dissolved her marriage with comedian Russell Brand in February 2012. That event took a negative route in Perry's personal life, provoking her to develop a depression and suicidal thoughts. Describing the divorce as "devastating", Perry revealed to L'Uomo Vogue that she planned to record a "darker" album than her previous records. She stated: "It was inevitable, after what I went through. If I had a time machine and could go back in time, I would. But I can't, so, you'll discover another part of me." To Interview, she admitted she would like to include a more acoustic vibe to the record.

During that interview, she also said that her music would be getting "real f---ing [sic] dark", however, she stated that her fans would be able to relate to it. "I imagine that maybe my next record would be a little bit more of an artistic venture", she said. "Not that I'm going to self-sabotage either and be like, 'I'm going to make a crazy record that nobody really understands.'" During a Q&A with Billboard after being named "Woman of the Year" in November 2012, she spoke on the album, saying she already envisioned several aspects of it. Perry told the magazine that she already had songs and ideas, and knew the type of record she would make next. She also said that although she hadn't started recording yet, she already knew how the artwork, coloring and tone of the album would turn out. Perry further detailed: "I have to let the music take shape first. I even know what type of tour I'm doing next. I'll be very pleased if the vision I have in my head becomes a reality. But I have to honor the music."

Recording
The development of Prism started when Perry was embarking on the California Dreams Tour. She began with a process she deemed "slow cooking", which consisted of recording random "fragments of ideas" into her mobile phone's dictaphone application. A member of Direct Management Group, Ngoc Hoang, then transcribed the audio files, which he inserted into what Perry described as a "treasure chest"; such object was consulted by Perry later on during the album's recording sessions. While Perry started recording the album officially in November 2012, accompanied by Greg Wells and Greg Kurstin, she noted she was still in a "dark place", and that she had not "let the light in". The sessions began again in March 2013, following a trip to Africa which Perry credited as having "put [her] priorities in perspective", thus leading her to "do more work on [her]self". Perry also viewed a video made by Eckhart Tolle, which discusses loss. She commented: "When you lose something, all your foundations crumble—but that also leaves a big hole that's open for something great to come through."

Finally feeling prepared to record again, she reunited with her team from Teenage Dream—Dr. Luke, Bonnie McKee and Cirkut—in Perry's hometown of Santa Barbara, California, where they spent a month recording. After those sessions, she went to Stockholm, where she worked with Scandinavian record producer Max Martin, to do what Perry called "put[ting] the ice on the cake". She also recruited other collaborators, such as Norwegian team Stargate, Bloodshy, Benny Blanco, Jonatha Brooke and Sia Furler. By April 2013, recording for the album was halfway complete, and Perry revealed to ASCAP how was working with such collaborators. She affirmed that Wells allowed her to "vomit words"; with Martin, she picked the melodies of the songs; Luke mostly helmed the production and she worked with "topline and melody". Perry described writing sessions with McKee as "emotional abuse", adding that they argue over the "best lyric", as if they were fighting in a boxing ring. McKee, who wrote four songs for Prism, spoke with MTV on the effort, describing it as "a little bit more grown up" and "interesting".

Composition
Despite having been envisioned as a dark effort before recording began, Prism was based on the idea of self-reflection. Perry said that although the songs have some "textures and colors", her first statements about the album were said during a "different phase" of her life. She reckoned that Teenage Dream was "highly conceptual, super-pop art" whereas Prism, which she described as "more organic, au natural, vulnerable and honest", however with "the same amount of fun." Referring to the album's title, she claimed that she had "let the light in" and it inspired her to create a variety of songs, a process she described as "beam[ing] colors" from herself. Billboard's Jason Lipshutz viewed the record as a "step towards adulthood" that incorporates "more detail in its tempered shades".

Prism presents contrasting sounds and lyricism. In its first half, Prism explores a variety of genres and "color[ful]" themes. The album opens with its lead single, "Roar", which is a power pop-styled empowerment anthem. Its instrumentation contains "pounding pianos" and "booming bass drums". Containing tablas and oriental strings, love song "Legendary Lovers" follows, which revolves around Eastern philosophy and the motifs of karma and infinity. "Birthday" utilizes a partner's birthday commemoration as a metaphor for sexual intercourse. Randall Roberts of Los Angeles Times described it as an updated version of disco, due to "jerky breaks and synth washes" replacing "cheesy strings". This genre is also incorporated in house song "Walking on Air", where elements of 90s Eurodance also appear. Lyrically, Perry narrates an extremely "strong" love. "Dark Horse" is styled in trap music and presents a loose song structure due to the absence of a chorus; rapper Juicy J features on it. Perry co-wrote the song from the perspective of a witch, who warns a suitor about her "inescapable love".

Release
While Capitol Records had intentions of releasing Prism only after February 2014, Perry convinced them to release it in the fourth quarter of 2013. She commented: "[...] you don't want to sit on something that's about to burst". The album was officially released

In May 2013, Perry talked with her managers with intentions of releasing new material in the fourth quarter of that year. She said: "We weren't really thinking we'd be able to put anything out until February [2014], but you don't want to sit on something that's about to burst." etc

Artwork and packaging
Photography for Prism was handled by Ryan McGinley, while art direction and design were done by Mogollon. The photoshoot features Perry in a meadow with natural outfits: Perry is seen wearing a variety of clothes, such as a brown cardigan, a floral dress and a lace dress. She is depicted holding sunflowers in one picture while other features an almost-naked Perry. The album cover was unveiled during Perry's appearance on Good Morning America, on September 6, 2013 where it appeared on a Jumbotron. It was shot in upstate New York, and shows her standing in front of a "rainbow-hued sunlight". Perry stated that she "wanted it to be pure and radiant and full of light".

Several editions of Prism were produced for release. Aside from a standard edition, deluxe editions of the album with three bonus songs were made—a limited version, exclusive to 300,000 copies, was housed in an iridescent digipak; it also included the album's logotype printed onto seed paper. In Australia, such inserts were considered a biological hazard, and would be searched for on arrival to the country, and if found would be confiscated. Perry's production company responded to such concerns by substituting the Australian version's seeds with Swan River daisy seeds from Western Australia. Other variants of the edition were produced, including a jewel case packaged version and a ZinePak edition which included temporary tattoos, nail decals and seeds.