Sell, sell, sell

“I feel like a door-to-door salesman, seriously. Hi, I’m Katy Perry. This is ‘One of the Boys,’ ’’ Perry, who headlines the Agganis Arena tomorrow night, jokes about the breakneck peddling of her debut.

Released a year ago, the album plucked the 24-year-old singer-songwriter from obscurity, bolstered by her retro-sexual bombshell image - all pouty red lips, here-to-there gams, eyes wide open in mock surprise - and a vague notion of female empowerment. She may be one of the boys, but if you cross her, no doubt you’ll end up in one of her “emo love songs,’’ as she once branded her music.

“One of the Boys’’ is technically her second album but the first released under the name Katy Perry. Back in 2001, Perry, who grew up in California with two preacher parents, released a self-titled album of Christian pop under her real name, Katy Hudson. The criticism that she had sold out - and, worse, lost her Christian faith - was relatively muted (except on YouTube; more on that later).

We recently caught up with Perry, who was in Istanbul at the tail end of an eight-week touring blitz across Europe and Asia, to see how she’s handled such a whirlwind year where her inner good girl went bad.

Q. Your album has been out just a year, and already I’ve seen you in concert twice. You’re a road warrior, aren’t you?

A. I feel very accomplished right now. I’m very proud of my hard work. I’m glad that I haven’t passed out on stage so that someone could put it on YouTube. I know it’s probably bound to happen one day since I go at such incredible speed, but I’m doing it the right way. I’m touring and meeting people, and I think people are connecting with me and seeing the different dimensions and realizing that [I’m] not just a one-trick pony.

Q. I know it’s only a year old at this point, but how has your debut aged for you so far?

A. Well, it’s a year old in the public, but I started writing some of the songs when I was 17. They still relate to me, but sure, I’m over my period now and I know how to deal with boys in a different way. The “One of the Boys’’ record was really important to me. It’s very coming-of-age. Everybody goes through those things of leaving home and having relationships and getting dumped and having revenge and doing things they shouldn’t do.

Q. Is it strange to realize you’ve had all this acclaim for just one record? What does that do for you as an artist?

A. I don’t feel pressure for the next record. I’m actually like a volcano ready to pop. Can you imagine singing songs that you wrote when you were 17? It’s still me - it’s the same tongue-in-cheek, silly, slapstick-humor Katy - but yeah, I’m definitely growing up and having different ideas. I think I’m just excited to have this opportunity. I don’t take it lightly.

Q. So what’s the key to singing “I Kissed a Girl’’ and still seeming to enjoy it?

A. The idea that I’m probably going to be singing it my whole life. There’s no not singing it. It’s the hand that fed me, and I’m not about to bite it. Yet.

Q. In my research, I came across on YouTube a very enjoyable parody of “I Kissed a Girl’’ called “I Dissed the Lord.’’

A. Oh, “I Dissed the Lord!’’ [Laughs] That is actually one of my favorites because it’s so [expletive] up.

Q. Is it safe to say you were ready for this kind of fame, maybe even a little hungry for it?

A. Nobody’s really ready for this.

Q. Were you at least forewarned?

A. I was very forewarned, and I was always ready. I’d be at dinner and someone would say, “Hey, so-and-so is at the studio and they want to meet you,’’ and I’d be like, “Hey, guys, gotta go.’’ Just ready to go, ready for that next thing that would hopefully open the door that I really needed to catch that lucky star. And since I caught that lucky star, I’ve kind of been holding on for dear life.