Katy Perry evokes a French cabaret style, circa the 1930s, in a glamorous new photo shoot that’s a sharp departure for her candy-colored on-stage persona. Photographer Ellen von Unwerth used her discerning eye to capture the singer sensual look.

Perry, 27, poses for hair brand ghd, a hair products company that specializes in straighteners and high gloss products.

The company is owned by the Jemella Group, which in turn, is owned by Montagu Private Equity, LLP, a European middle-market buyout firm. The products are sold worldwide.

Check out Katy’s photos; click to enlarge.

Perry is the brand’s official ambassador. She’s starred in earlier campaigns, shot by acclaimed photographer David LaChapelle before this one, her third for the brand. Session stylists Zoe Irwin and Kenna represent the brand professionally.

The company wants to be known as innovative and iconic, on the cutting edge of creativity and style, and Perry’s photo spread reflects that image. Needless to say, the focus is on her dark, lustrous hair.

It cascades over her shoulders in a loose wave as she reaches above her head to clutch a chandelier, her body extended sensually as she gazes off into the distance, looking pensive.

There’s no colored tricks in her hair for this shoot, which is done in black and white. Another photo catches her reflection in a mirror. Her skin looks porcelain thanks to a heavy foundation, and no doubt digital imaging. Her pale skin, however, accentuates her eyes and hair, which is straighter and tossed over one shoulder.

Her first LaChapelle campaign in 2011 was a take-off of Snow White, and she returned in February to pose as a mermaid with more trademark purple hair and a glistening sequined tail.

Katy sat for the photos in Los Angeles after wrapping up her last tour. “It was fun to go a more natural route after playing characters in my last ghd campaign,” she said in a statement. “Ellen von Unwerth captured both the playful and chic looks amazingly well.”

Check out her photos to see if you agree.