Witness

by Katy Perry

Overview

Katy Perry achieved maturation with Prism, the 2013 album anchored on the self-empowerment anthem "Roar" and the club smash "Dark Horse." Considering how "Roar" scored the closing stages of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, it would've seemed like a logical move for Perry to build upon its adult alternative affirmation but she's instead chosen to use "Dark Horse" as a blueprint for Witness, the long-awaited 2017 successor to Prism. Perhaps Perry shifted her approach after "Rise," the "Roar"-alike written for the 2016 Olympics that she also performed at that year's Democratic National Convention, failed to crack the Top Ten, perhaps she always planned to construct this album with electronic beats and synths, but Witness is so slick with synths it seems slippery. Arriving on the heels of Prism, a record littered with AAA crossover ballads, the dance-heavy Witness feels like a bit of a shock. The album is filled with songs where Perry attempts to address big cultural issues while walking a musical cutting edge. These conflicting desires surface on a tune as effervescent as "Chained to the Rhythm" -- the only track here that could be called that, although "Pendulum" comes close -- and a song as somnolent as "Bigger Than Me," the second of two ballads on the record and the one that addresses the fallout of the 2016 presidential election. Despite some sociological broad strokes, Perry generally keeps her focus personal -- and usually romantic, although "Swish Swish" plays like a swipe at another superstar -- a decision that, when married to aggressive EDM-pop, makes Witness feel very different than Prism. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2017
Label:	Capitol / Virgin Emi
UPC:	0602557675535

Tracks

1. Witness
2. Hey Hey Hey
3. Roulette
4. Swish Swish
5. D¿¿j¿¿ Vu
6. Power
7. Mind Maze
8. Miss You More
9. Chained to the Rhythm
10. Tsunami
11. Bon App¿¿tit
12. Bigger Than Me
13. Save as Draft
14. Pendulum
15. Into Me You See

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Katy Perry   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Pino Palladino   Bass
Max Martin   Bass,Drums,Solina,Keyboards,Percussion,Prophet 600,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Jeff Bhasker   Keyboards
Sia Furler   Vocals (Background)
Duke Dumont   Drums,Synthesizer
Nicki Minaj   Featured Artist
Shellback   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Ali Payami   Bass,Drums,Piano,Clapping,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Edie Lehmann Boddicker   Conductor
Noah Passovoy   Keyboards,Percussion
Peter Karlsson   Percussion
Joshua Moreau   Bass
Elof Loelv   Bass,Drums,Piano,Synthesizer
Oscar Holter   Keyboards
Casey Hooper   Guitar
Hayden James   Bass,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Migos   Featured Artist
Thomas Stell   Synthesizer
Astrid S   Vocals (Background)
Skip Marley   Featured Artist
James Alan Ghaleb   Guitar

Technical Credits

Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Joe Goddard   Composer
Dustin O'Halloran   Arranger,Instrumentation
John Hanes   Mixing Engineer
Max Martin   Composer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Producer,Executive Producer
Jeff Bhasker   Composer,Producer,Drum Programming
Sia Furler   Composer
Alexis Taylor   Composer
William Robinson   Composer
Katy Perry   Composer,Executive Producer
Duke Dumont   Composer,Producer,Programming
Savan Kotecha   Composer
Shellback   Composer,Producer,Programming
Ali Payami   Composer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Producer
Tom Coyne   Mastering
Rob Simonsen   Drum Programming
Edie Lehmann Boddicker   Vocal Contractor
Sam Holland   Engineer
Noah Passovoy   Engineer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Editing,Vocal Producer,Additional Production
Randy Merrill   Mastering
Peter Karlsson   Vocal Editing,Vocal Producer
Nicole Frantz   Art Direction
Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine   Engineer
Sarah Hudson   Composer
Onika Maraj   Composer
Elof Loelv   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Dijon McFarlane   Composer
Corin Roddick   Composer,Producer,Vocal Producer
Ferras Alqaisi   Composer
Cory Bice   Assistant Engineer
Stephen Hybicki   Additional Production
Iain Findlay   Assistant Engineer
Oscar Holter   Composer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Editing
Michael Williams   Composer,Producer
Noonie Bao   Composer
David Rudnick   Cover Art
Rachael Findlen   Engineer,Vocal Producer,Additional Production
Mia Moretti   Composer
Lewis Hughes   Composer
Nicholas Audino   Composer
Megan James   Composer
Hayden James   Composer,Producer
Zeke Mishanec   Assistant Engineer
Ryan Nasci   Engineer
Kirsnick Ball   Composer
Lauren Glucksman   A&R
Kiari Cephus   Composer
Quavious Marshall   Composer
Illangelo   Drum Programming
Thomas Stell   Composer
Jack Garratt   Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
Jeremy Lertola   Assistant Engineer
Skip Marley   Composer
Brittany Hazzard   Composer
Daryl McPherson   Vocal Engineer
Pj “Promnite” Sledge   Composer,Additional Production