Perry has a contralto vocal range.[59] Among Perry's musical influences are Alanis Morissette,[9][18] pop rockers Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Shirley Manson,[60] and Freddie Mercury,[8] the late frontman of the British band Queen. Growing up listening to gospel music, Perry had few references when she began recording songs.[8] Asked by the producer with whom she would like to collaborate, Perry had no idea. That night, she went with her mother to a hotel. Inside, she turned on VH1 and saw producer Glen Ballard talking about Morissette;[8] Ballard produced Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, the album that had a "huge influence" on Perry.[13] She told her initial collaborator that she had decided to work with Ballard. The producer arranged a meeting for her and Ballard in Los Angeles. Perry presented him a song, and a day later she was called. Ballard developed Perry for a few years.[8]
Perry described her music by saying, "Someone kind of penned it for me the other day, and I've been using it ever since."[8] According to her, she has "changed a lot between the ages of 15 to 23."[7] Her first album dwells on Gospel music.[7][14] She related that her perspective in music was "a bit enclosed and very strict", and everything she did was church-related.[7] Her second album, One of the Boys, is described as "secular" and "rock," and reflects a departure from her religious musical roots.[61] Perry expects to record more pop songs for her next album.[11][62]
Perry is artistically involved in her projects, especially in the writing process. Since she could play guitar, she would start writing songs at home and present it to her producers. Perry is mostly inspired by specific moments of her life. She said it is easy for her to write songs about heartbreak.[8] Most of the themes in One of the Boys deal with heartbreak, teen adventure, and "puking into toilets".[13] Perry's mother reportedly told British tabloid Daily Mail that she dislikes her daughter's music, calling it "shameful and disgusting".[7][63] Perry said her mother was misquoted and told MTV that it was false information.[63] Her songs "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl" have received negative reactions from both religious and gay sectors.[63] The songs have been respectively labeled as being homophobic and promoting homosexuality, as well as "lez ploitational".[7] MTV mentioned criticism suggesting that Perry is using "bi-curiosity" as a way to sell records.[63] Perry responded to the controversy surrounding "Ur So Gay": "It's not a negative connotation. It's not, 'you're so gay,' like, 'you're so lame,' but the fact of the matter is that this boy should've been gay. I totally understand how it could be misconstrued or whatever ... It wasn't stereotyping anyone in particular, I was talking about ex-boyfriends."[64]
