The synthwave track, a cowrite with Sia and pop maestro Max Martin, features reggae bars from Bob Marley's grandson Skip Marley, who just signed to Island Records and released his own single "Lions" last Friday.
Behind the song’s veneer of bouncy beats, the lyrics are laced with ideas of being fixed to a sheltered mindset and an unbreakable routine with the inclusion of lyrics like: "Are we crazy? / living our lives through a lens / trapped in our white picket fence / like ornaments / so comfortable we cannot see the trouble, trouble."
Perry is expected to deliver a performance of the disco-dance hybrid at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday (February 12), hosted by The Late Late Show's James Corden. She joins a star-studded performers roster featuring Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Adele, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Daft Punk, Keith Urban, and others.
Ahead of the track's official release, Perry stoked excitement with an unconventional rollout featuring disco ball pop-ups in major cities around the world. The pop star released an interactive map -- which listed Los Angeles' Griffith Park, New York's McCarren Park, and more as listening locations -- for fans to find and plug in their headphones for an exclusive preview.
"Chained to the Rhythm," Perry's first release since 2016's "Rise" for the Rio Games, serves as the lead single from her forthcoming fifth studio album. The set -- which is the follow-up to 2013's Prism that spawned her radio singles including "Roar," "Unconditionally," and "Dark Horse" featuring Juicy J -- has yet to receive a definitive release date.
You can purchase the shiny new track on iTunes here.
(Marc Inocencio)