This Is How We Do

The Creation and Chart Journey of "This Is How We Do" by Katy Perry

Katy Perry released "This Is How We Do" in June 2014 as the fourth single from her fourth studio album, Prism. By the time the track arrived, Prism had already yielded several successful singles, including "Roar," "Dark Horse," and "Birthday." The album had been commercially dominant throughout late 2013 and into 2014, and "This Is How We Do" was intended to extend its visibility through the summer months with a lighter, more carefree offering.

The song was written by Katy Perry, Sarah Hudson, Henry Walter (Cirkut), Bonnie McKee, and Karl Rubin. Production was handled by Cirkut, who had become a trusted collaborator on several tracks throughout the Prism album sessions. The production approach for "This Is How We Do" was deliberately playful and throwback-influenced, drawing on early 1990s R&B and girl group aesthetics to create a sound that felt nostalgic yet contemporary. Elements of that decade's slow-jam and dance-pop traditions were woven into the track's structure, giving it a retro-tinged quality that distinguished it from the more straightforwardly contemporary production of Perry's earlier singles.

Lyrically, the track was conceived as a celebratory account of a relaxed, indulgent weekend day. The writing process apparently involved a fairly casual and collaborative approach, with the writing team building the song around the concept of a laid-back Sunday ritual of small pleasures. The track's casual, conversational tone was a deliberate choice intended to showcase a lighter side of Perry's personality and artistic range.

"This Is How We Do" was officially impacted at radio in June 2014, and the music video was released in July 2014. The video, directed by Diane Martel, leaned into the song's retro aesthetic with saturated colors, playful visual gags, and imagery referencing early 1990s pop culture. Perry's presentation in the video included nods to that decade's fashion and style, reinforcing the song's nostalgic musical framing.

On the Billboard Hot 100, "This Is How We Do" debuted at number 88 on the chart dated August 16, 2014. The song climbed steadily through August and September, reaching its peak position of number 24 during the week of September 20, 2014. It spent a total of 18 weeks on the Hot 100. While the peak of 24 was lower than those of several other Prism singles, it nonetheless represented a solid chart performance for a fourth single from an album that had been active on the charts for nearly a year.

Internationally, "This Is How We Do" performed strongly in several markets. In the United Kingdom, the song charted in the top twenty, and it reached similar positions in Australia and Canada. The song's breezy, summer-oriented character made it well-suited for international radio formats that were oriented toward lighter fare during the warmer months.

The track received a broadly positive critical reception, with reviewers praising its retro-influenced production and Perry's relaxed, confident vocal delivery. Several publications noted that the song's deliberate avoidance of anthem-scale ambition was itself a calculated artistic choice, demonstrating Perry's ability to operate in a lower-key register without sacrificing commercial appeal. The nostalgic production was frequently cited as one of the track's most appealing characteristics, connecting listeners to an earlier era of pop music while remaining fully modern in its presentation.

Perry performed "This Is How We Do" at several major events during the summer and fall of 2014, including television appearances that helped sustain the song's chart presence. The track also featured in her live setlists, where its upbeat character made it a crowd-pleasing moment in performances.

Radio airplay was a significant driver of the song's chart performance, particularly on pop radio formats, where its bright production and accessible lyrical content made it a natural fit. The song also benefited from digital download sales and early streaming activity, reflecting the increasing importance of these distribution channels to chart performance in the mid-2010s period.

"This Is How We Do" contributed to the broader commercial success of Prism, which became one of the best-selling albums of 2013 and 2014. The album's run of singles across more than a year demonstrated the depth of its commercial appeal and established Perry as one of the most consistent hit-generating artists of that era. Within that context, "This Is How We Do" stands as a lighter but distinctive contribution to Perry's recorded output during the Prism period.