I understand that she wants her team to create a different image for her next era however it's a slippery slope my friends. She's been building her Katy (Keene like) image for quite some time. Her songs hold no value (the ones Capitol decides to release as singles) and it's just fun pop. And people grew to like that from Katy.
Even when she tries to venture into other genres her producers make it as sweet and as sugary as possible. Unless her team is ready to make some drastic changes I don't see her sound evolving any time soon.
The album might hold a ballad or two but just like with 'Prism' those songs will never be chosen as singles and if they do, people will turn their back on her just like they did when 'Unconditionally' underperformed.
This interview seems as though she knows her last era underperformed compared to her previous one and she made peace with it. It seems like she's aware her next era's gonna do even worse (in terms of singles) in my opinion.
