Katy Perry has described her new single 'Wide Awake' as a "dose of reality".

The singer has often been linked with colourful, positive pop but she told MTV that her new cut is perhaps a little more down to earth.

She said that the song almost represents "coming down from a high" and focuses on how people need to deal with the "facts of life". Perry said:

"I have a lot of different emotions and feelings in all of my songs. This song in particular is a dose of reality."

Perry continued: "It's kind of like coming down from a high. You've been on cloud nine for so long and it can't always be so sweet and sometimes you need to realise that, and you have to pick yourself up and move forward and face the facts of life, and know that this is just a lesson you learn and you're stronger because of it."

As previously reported, Perry has now released the video for 'Wide Awake', which sees the singer take a Gothic fairy tale turn.