Studio Album · No. 4
Witness Songwriting Credits by Katy Perry
Produced by Max Martin, Stargate, others · Engineered by Serban Ghenea (mixing), Randy Merrill (mastering), Tom Coyne (mastering)
Holds writing credit on 15 of 15 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 15 / 15 documented
Scored across the 15 tracks with documented writers, by whether Katy Perry carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 15 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Witness was produced by Max Martin, Stargate, and others, including Ryan Tedder, Sia, and Skip Marley as collaborators, with mixing by Serban Ghenea and mastering by Randy Merrill and Tom Coyne. Perry's first politically oriented album, she described it as an attempt at "intentional pop" addressing social justice and personal awakening. "Chained to the Rhythm" (featuring Skip Marley) peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Swish Swish" (featuring Nicki Minaj) and "Bon Appétit" (featuring Migos) were its other Hot 100 entries. The album sold 1.25 million copies worldwide, a significant decline from her prior albums, before Perry pivoted toward a more personal direction with "Never Really Over" (2019).
Witness is the fourth studio album by Katy Perry, released in June 2017 on Capitol Records and produced by Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Stargate, Sia, and others, the most commercially divisive album of Perry's career, arriving amid a public conflict with Taylor Swift that dominated the press narrative and a thematic shift toward 'purposeful pop' that critics found awkward. Perry co-wrote most tracks; 'Chained to the Rhythm' (featuring Skip Marley), 'Bon Appétit' (featuring Migos), and 'Swish Swish' (featuring Nicki Minaj) were the principal singles. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 but sold only 180,000 first-week units, a significant decline from Prism, and has been certified platinum in the United States. Critical reception was broadly negative, with reviewers citing the album's thematic inconsistency and the gap between the 'purposeful pop' concept and the actual lyrical content. Witness is regarded as the commercial and critical low point of Perry's catalog.
Track Listing & Credits 15 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Witness
|
Katy PerryMax MartinSavan KotechaAli Payami | Katy PerryMax MartinSavan KotechaAli Payami | Max MartinAli Payami | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Hey Hey Hey
|
Katy PerryMax MartinSia FurlerAli PayamiSarah Hudson | Katy PerryMax MartinSia FurlerAli PayamiSarah Hudson | Max MartinAli Payami | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Roulette
|
Katy PerryMax MartinShellbackAli PayamiFerras Alqaisi | Katy PerryMax MartinShellbackAli PayamiFerras Alqaisi | Max MartinShellbackAli Payami | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Swish Swish
#46
|
Katy PerryDuke DumontSarah HudsonPJ SledgeOnika MarajBrittany Hazzard | Katy PerryDuke DumontSarah HudsonPJ SledgeOnika MarajBrittany Hazzard | Duke DumontPJ SledgeNoah Passovoy | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals)Nicki Minaj (Rap) |
| 5 |
Déjà Vu
|
Katy PerryHayden JamesFerras AlqaisiThomas Stell | Katy PerryHayden JamesFerras AlqaisiThomas Stell | Hayden JamesNoah Passovoy | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Power
|
Katy PerryJack GarrattWilliam Robinson | Katy PerryJack GarrattWilliam Robinson | Jack GarrattNoah Passovoy | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Mind Maze
|
Katy PerrySarah HudsonCorin RoddickMegan James | Katy PerrySarah HudsonCorin RoddickMegan James | Corin RoddickRachael Findlen | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Miss You More
|
Katy PerrySarah HudsonCorin RoddickMegan James | Katy PerrySarah HudsonCorin RoddickMegan James | Ali PayamiCorin RoddickMax MartinRachael FindlenPeter Karlsson | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Chained to the Rhythm
#4
|
Katy PerryMax MartinSia FurlerAli PayamiSkip Marley | Katy PerryMax MartinSia FurlerAli PayamiSkip Marley | Max MartinAli Payami | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals)Skip Marley (Vocals) |
| 10 |
Tsunami
|
Katy PerryMichael WilliamsMarcus BellSarah HudsonMia Moretti | Katy PerryMichael WilliamsMarcus BellSarah HudsonMia Moretti | Mike Will Made ItScoolyNoah Passovoy | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Bon Appétit
#59
|
Katy PerryMax MartinShellbackOscar HolterFerras AlqaisiQuavious MarshallKiari CephusKirsnick Ball | Katy PerryMax MartinShellbackOscar HolterFerras AlqaisiQuavious MarshallKiari CephusKirsnick Ball | Max MartinShellbackOscar Holter | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals)Migos (Rap) |
| 12 |
Bigger Than Me
|
Katy PerrySarah HudsonCorin RoddickMegan James | Katy PerrySarah HudsonCorin RoddickMegan James | Oscar HolterCorin RoddickRachael Findlen | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
Save as Draft
|
Katy PerryNoonie BaoDijon McFarlaneNicholas AudinoLewis HughesElof Loelv | Katy PerryNoonie BaoDijon McFarlaneNicholas AudinoLewis HughesElof Loelv | Elof LoelvMax Martin | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 14 |
Pendulum
|
Katy PerryJeff BhaskerSarah Hudson | Katy PerryJeff BhaskerSarah Hudson | Jeff BhaskerIllangeloNoah Passovoy | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |
| 15 |
Into Me You See
|
Katy PerryJoe GoddardAlexis TaylorFerras Alqaisi | Katy PerryJoe GoddardAlexis TaylorFerras Alqaisi | Dustin O'Halloran | Katy Perry (Lead Vocals) |