Katy Perry is gearing up to release her new single, titled “Watch It Burn,” on June 26, marking her first musical offering of 2026. The pop sensation recently shared insights about the song, revealing that it draws inspiration from a challenging period in her life. During an appearance on the Unfamous podcast with Justin Tranter, Perry elaborated on her personal journey and the creative process behind her latest work.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Katy-Perry-061726-9843708f36d54491969e554e36eef8d8.jpg)
The 41-year-old artist expressed that “Watch It Burn” represents a significant shift in her life’s narrative, confronting her “darkness” while making a conscious choice to seek healing and light. Reflecting on the difficulties she faced in the past year, Perry acknowledged the temptations to succumb to a victim mentality. “I don’t typically feel like a victim,” she noted, but admitted that the past year made that inclination difficult to ignore.
Instead of resigning herself to despair, Perry chose to embrace her emotions fully. “I just was like, ‘Okay, let’s just feel this f—ing pain,’” she said. This cathartic approach involved acknowledging her pain and anger while also learning valuable lessons from those experiences. The song, she explained, is structured in two parts: the first segment reveals her struggles, while the second showcases her bravery in expressing these feelings publicly.
The singer, known for hits like “Firework,” highlighted that the process of sharing her story was no simple feat. “That f—ing takes a long time,” she remarked, emphasising her commitment to using her platform to help others articulate their own narratives. Although Perry refrained from detailing the specifics of her tumultuous year, it is known that she ended her engagement to actor Orlando Bloom in 2025, following nearly a decade together and the arrival of their daughter, Daisy Dove, who is now five years old.
Teasing the upcoming release, Perry shared a dramatic video on Instagram on June 16, which featured her wielding a baseball bat, symbolising her readiness to confront her past. In one verse, she notes, “There’s nothing more you can take / Don’t wanna cause a scene / But give me the gasoline,” setting the tone for an anthem of empowerment and resilience.
Currently, Perry’s personal life appears to be on an upswing, as she is now in a relationship with Justin Trudeau, the former Prime Minister of Canada, who is 54 years old. The couple made their red carpet debut at the Tribeca Festival on June 8, where they attended the premiere of her concert film, *Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris.* During the event, Perry expressed her happiness about her romance with Trudeau, calling him the “love of my life” and describing how his support has offered her a solid grounding amidst her often turbulent career.
Reflecting on her recent experiences and the newfound stability in her personal life, Perry shared the impact this relationship has had on her. “I fly super high and touch the veil… and sometimes I need to be anchored,” she said. “So, to have that anchor finally makes me feel really whole now.”
Perry’s last studio album, *143,* was released in September 2024. The lead-up to “Watch It Burn” also included her last single, “Bandaids,” which came out in November 2025. As she prepares to unveil her new music, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be another powerful addition to her discography.
With “Watch It Burn,” Katy Perry looks set to continue her evolution as an artist, using her experiences and insights to inspire others. As she embarks on this new chapter, the singer invites listeners to join her in the journey towards healing and empowerment, a theme that resonates deeply in both her personal life and musical narrative.