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Culture August 28, 2020

What to know about Katy Perry's new album, 'Smile'

WATCH: Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom welcome their daughter

After announcing the birth of her daughter, Daisy, early Thursday, Katy Perry's other baby -- her new album, "Smile" -- has now arrived as well.

By now, most fans have likely heard Perry explain how she wrote "Smile" about emerging from a struggle with depression. Her hope now, she says, is that the album might help others in similar situations.

"It's a record that is full of hopefulness and resilience and joy," Perry said during a virtual press conference late last month, ahead of her appearance at the Tomorrowland festival. "Hopefully, people will tune into that, if they want that or need that."

As for how Perry, 35, managed to write upbeat and empowering songs like "Daisies" and the title track while she was going through such a dark time, she said that it's tough to explain.

"I actually think it's kind of like my higher self or my better self or my spirit side kind of just takes the wheel and says, 'Scoot over, I'm going to start channeling a little inspiring message for you from the heavens and hopefully it will inspire you to continue further and therefore maybe inspire someone else,'" she said.

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Perry added that writing uplifting songs is something she usually only does when she's upset -- and it's worked out pretty well for her.

"I've said it in the past ... when I write songs like 'Firework' and 'Roar,' it's not because I'm like, 'Yay!' It's like, I'm really bummed," she said. "And I just have to kind of push myself into thinking in a different way. And through that push, I usually get something kind of special."

Perry and her fiancé, Orlando Bloom, 43, announced the birth of Daisy Dove Bloom with the help of the charity UNICEF late Wednesday. She revealed she was pregnant in March by cradling her baby bump in the music video for her single "Never Worn White."

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Welcome to the world, Daisy Dove Bloom! We are honoured to introduce Goodwill Ambassadors @KatyPerry and @OrlandoBloom’s new bundle of joy.⠀ ⠀ “We are floating with love and wonder from the safe and healthy arrival of our daughter,” Katy and Orlando told us.⠀ ⠀ “But we know we’re the lucky ones and not everyone can have a birthing experience as peaceful as ours was. Communities around the world are still experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers and every eleven seconds a pregnant woman or newborn dies, mostly from preventable causes. Since COVID-19 many more newborn lives are at risk because of the increased lack of access to water, soap, vaccines and medicines that prevent diseases. As parents to a newborn, this breaks our hearts, as we empathize with struggling parents now more than ever.⠀ ⠀ “As UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, we know UNICEF is there, on the ground, doing whatever it takes to make sure every expecting mother has access to a trained health worker and access to quality healthcare. In celebration of the heart we know our daughter already has, we have set up a donation page to celebrate DDB’s arrival. By supporting them, you are supporting a safe start to life and reimagining a healthier world for every child. We hope your ♥️ can bloom with generosity.⠀ ⠀ Gratefully-⠀ ⠀ Katy & Orlando.”⠀ ⠀ Please tap the link in our bio to support the most precious gift: a healthy child.

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