# Linda Perry's Documentary and Album

> Linda Perry reveals how honesty shaped her documentary and album after mother's death.
- Title: Linda Perry's Documentary and Album · American Songwriter
- Summary: Linda Perry reveals how honesty shaped her documentary and album after mother's death. Linda Perry created a documentary and album about her abusive mother…
- Keywords: linda perry, documentary, companion album, abusive mother, musical process, let it die here, music, culture, Linda, Perry's, Album, American Songwriter
- Source: American Songwriter — https://americansongwriter.com/i-dont-know-how-to-be-any-other-way-linda-perry-reveals-how-she-channeled-honesty-in-her-documentary-and-its-companion-album-exclusive
- Author: Paige Gawley
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:03:02+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: linda perry, documentary, companion album, abusive mother, musical process, let it die here, music, culture
## Linda Perry's Documentary
Linda Perry released a documentary film and companion album titled Let It Die Here after her mother's death.

> It wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t a plan to do that.
## Honesty as Creative Goal
Perry said she needed truth in her life and would give it because she was lied to so much.

> I don’t know how to be any other way. I’ve been lied to so much in my life… I just grew up going, ‘I need truth in my life. I need honesty.’
## Raw Emotional Breakdown
Perry had a major breakdown in the film but didn’t want to remove it when she saw the first cut.

> I was, literally, like, ‘Oh my God.’ I was in shock… The film is over.
## Scene Removal Request
Perry asked to remove viewers from the film, keeping only Christina Aguilera, Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, and Aubin Crowell.

> Please just get rid of those people. Keep Christina [Aguilera], Dolly [Parton], and Brandi [Carlile]. That’s all we need.
## Musical Process
Perry worked on music, hard on herself, losing emotion until she started the film.

> I’m like, ‘This is not good enough, or blah, blah, blah.’ And then I lose total emotion, because I can’t connect to myself.
## Album Creation
Perry wrote the album alone, finishing in four hours after a jam session with her band.

> I automatically have this whole arrangement in my head. I could hear it clearly… I’m writing things down, but I’m just on the fly.
## Song About Mother
Perry wrote 'What Lives With You' about her abusive mother, a song that surprised her with its beauty.

> Once I understood that song I knew I was not going to come from anger. I was surprised by that song, because I was angry… I love her, but I was angry.
## Album Completion
Perry completed the album alone, using all her skills as producer, engineer, and artist.

> I got through it. I was so proud of myself, because it was a lot, because I have everything and the kitchen sink in that frigging record.
## Key takeaway

Linda Perry created a documentary and album about her abusive mother after her death, channeling raw emotions into music.