Katy Perry looks shocking in purple lipstick and completely see-through dress at Prism album launch

 Something to celebrate: Katy Perry celebrated the release of her new album, Prism, with a performance and Q&A at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California on Tuesday night
Katy Perry celebrated the release of her new album, Prism, on Tuesday night with several thousand of her nearest and dearest fans.


The star took to the stage at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California for a performance and Q&A with Mario Lopez, which was live-streamed on 175 Clear Channel stations.

The songstress, who turns 29 on Friday, wowed the audience with her rendition of Roar, though all eyes were on her rather interesting ensemble, which consisted of a silver leotard worn under a clear plastic dress, with silver hologram-look belt, fishnet stockings and white platform heels.

She was flanked by two backing singers clad in white dresses and lace-up ankle boots and a four-piece band also wearing all white as she treated her adoring public to a sample of her new work.

The feisty singer wore her black locks in a wavy styled down 'do and went a little overboard with the bronzer on her face, clearly going for that sun-kissed look.

Purple lipstick added to her unusual overall appearance, though she somehow managed to pull it off.

Katy appeared happy and relaxed as she later sat down with the Extra TV host to talk about her album, which drops today.

Intimate gathering: The star treated fans to a preview of her highly-anticipated new album, which drops today, as the launch party festivities were live-streamed on 175 Clear Channel stations

It's a knockout! The songstress sang her heart out as she took to the stage in a rather unusual outfit consisting of a silver leotard worn under a clear plastic dress with hologram belt, fishnets and white platform heels

Talking previously to USA Today, she revealed that Prism is 'less over-the-top and more "me"'.

'There were good songs that I left off, like Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Reborn. It's gritty and angry and has a dark side, and it didn't fit how I feel now,' she explained of her writing process. 'Sometimes you have to write those songs to get them out of the way.'

Telling the publication she is 'very excited to unleash' her latest baby to the world, the ever-optimistic star admitted she doesn't think 'the idea that light always wins over the darkness' is 'cheesy'.

Moment of silence: The singer appeared to quietly bask in the appreciation of her adoring public for a moment following her rendition of Roar

Recalling how Prism came to life, Perry revealed she spent plenty of productive time in the studio in Santa Barbara with Bonnie McKee, Dr Luke and Cirkut, before retreating to Stockholm, Sweden where she recorded with Max Martin, Bloodshy and Klas Ahlund of Teddybears.
It was during her time in Sweden that she wrote three additional songs for the album she had already deemed complete.
'Max and Luke push me harder than anyone else, which is irritating, but the stuff we end up with is incredible. They call my bluff if something's not good enough,' she says.

The additions to Prism are said to have come after Perry split briefly from boyfriend John Mayer.

Time to talk turkey: The star - who turns 29 on Friday - looked happy and relaxed as she was then joined on stage by Extra TV host Mario Lopez for a Q&A about her latest album

Fancy footwear: Katy topped off her futuristic look with a pair of white pumps with high and chunky heels

'When you have loss in your life, you can go down a spiral and turn to alcohol or substances. I've never been down that road too hard. I went the opposite way: I went into a self-reflective, meditative, learning-of-lessons period. In astrology, it's called the return of Saturn.'

Speaking of the signature bubblegum pop style that has seen her nominated for nine Grammy Awards, Katy admits she 'likes to have fun with it'.

'You can play with any idea as long as the music is represented,' she says. 'I'm not trying to be Doris Day, but I'm not going to abuse the attention of people watching or listening. I love double entendres and puns. It's all done with a wink.'
While the star is currently happily ensconced once more in a relationship with 36-year-old Mayer - who sadly couldn't support his lady love on her big night as he was performing in Amsterdam - he's not the only man to have inspired a tune on the album.

Crowd pleaser: Katy looked like she was having a great time performing and the audience seemed to love it

Vampish for Halloween: Katy flashed a purple lipstick covered smile as she displayed her fishnet tights

Ghost was written about the painful text message former husband Russell Brand sent her asking for a divorce, while By The Grace Of God deals with the 'suicidal gloom' she subsequently fought through as she lent on her sister for support.

'Both songs are 100 per cent autobiographical,' she confirms. 'I was a ball of vulnerability. People say, "How did you get through it?" I did vitamins, supplements, therapy. At the end of the day, it was by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening.'

But it's not all doom and gloom, with the second single from Prism, the ballad Unconditionally, which hit airwaves last week, inspired by her on-again relationship with John.

'To this day, it gives me goose pimples,' Katy smiles. 'It's a pure, simple love song, a song about acceptance. I was thinking about how much I love this person. That word stuck out to me.'

Rave reviews: Billboard calls the hitmaker's new offering a 'firm and well-executed step toward adulthood' and 'something much deeper from an artist striving to tell her full story'

While she isn't ditching her California Gurls persona altogether, despite the short video she posted of her burning the blue wig and burying her alter-ego, Katy is growing and maturing as an artist.

And she hopes that her fans will continue to follow her as she does so.

'I hope people will be along for the ride for decades. I've dealt with my 20s pretty good. I faced reality. I've learned from it and I'm ready to take on my 30s, which I hear are great.'

Fans who missed the live broadcast or simply want more can catch Perry's performance and interview on the CW this Friday at 9pm.

There in spirit: Katy's on-again boyfriend of more than a year, John Mayer, was notably absent from the launch party as he performed in Amsterdam on Tuesday

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