KATY THE CAREERIST

No overnight sensation, Perry is a polished pro with a solid

résumé:

• At 17, she made an album for Island Def Jam with producer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Aerosmith). It was never released.

• Columbia Records paired her with the Matrix, the production team behind Avril Lavigne. The label dropped her, but the Matrix released those recordings two months ago under its own name.

• She appeared in videos for Carbon Leaf's "Learn to Fly," Gym Class Heroes' "Cupid's Chokehold" and P.O.D.'s "Goodbye for Now."

• She co-wrote two songs for Kelly Clarkson's new CD (including current single "I Do Not Hook Up") with hit tunesmith/"American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi.

JON BREAM