 SOAPBOX - TORI AMOS gets the last word
The singer/songwriter looks forward to a year of growth—and change
This new year will depend a lot on if we are able to open ourselves up to who we are and our possibilities—maybe we can open ourselves up to a different kind of leader. I think that’s what a lot of artists and writers are up to right now, getting people to be more open to the possibilities for themselves. It’s time to break these images we wake up with and use because it’s comfortable for you or your family. Maybe there’s a side of you that you haven’t explored and should explore to become better for yourself. With all of this work being done, we will set the stage for political change. We can just be hopeful.
I have always tried to open myself up to different writers and different poets who see things differently and have a very different personal life than I do. I have been inspired by several writers who are gay. As far as one of my American Doll Posse characters, I think Isabel had relationships with other women. She holds to Artemis. And as you know, the archetype of Artemis, the Moon Goddess and being surrounded by all those women, there’s probably going to be some sort of relationship in there. But she also has relationships with men too, I think.
Sexuality can be fluid, but I do think that some people are just not into red meat. People are just turned off to certain things. Even though I could have a deep love for a woman, I haven’t been compelled to be sexual with one, although I’ve desired their thoughts and I appreciate them. I have gay friends that have said to me, “I don’t desire pussy at all. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.” So I think if people understand that deep connections and relationships aren’t always about sex, we’re good. And we should all be open-minded about other people’s choices.
My American Doll Posse characters all started with my reaction to the last election. I didn’t understand where the women were. Because if the women were active and aware, they would have seen this particular administration is not supportive of the ideology of women. On whatever side you stand, you have to be honest and care about the generations of women past, present and future. It bothered me that so many questions weren’t being answered by the masses, so I started to think maybe women are being distracted. Maybe we are stepping into these definitions and stereotypes of ourselves that have been set up, but set up by whom? We don’t know! So, I started to analyze clichés of women. I decided to broaden the stereotypes and went pre-Christian. I thought, Let’s find women with complexity. I looked to the Greek pantheon where women were their own authority. This is what really drove me.
My new tour will be different every night, so it’s hard to tell who is going to come out. After you see the first girl, then Tori comes out to perform. The show is going to be a little over two hours and bootlegs of many of the shows will be available to download that night. I think they will be called “Legs and Boots.” My goal is to make each show unique. I don’t like it when each show is not its own experience. If you see one, the next one will be different.
Before I perform, I have to prepare myself mentally and physically because I have to shift the energy of the person whose words you are reading now, to the entertainer. As a performer, you have to become a container, a container of energy from the deepest part of the galaxy. In order to hold it and work with it for two hours, your chakras have to be aligned and you have to be pretty grounded in order to hold that energy, especially to take people on the journey.
I usually write a lot of the work when I’m touring. As I travel, my perception is being shaken and shocked. I’m able to get inspired. And that’s usually how the songs begin developing. When we record, so much energy is put into post-production of the record so every nuance is expressed. And, yes, the goal has always been to create these sonic worlds so that if you are trapped somewhere and you can’t get out, you can put your headphones on and listen and be transported someplace else without leaving your chair.
Artists have to remember the business is changing every week. Right now, yes, there are some record companies who are doing okay and some artists are able to get their music out through the label, but some can do it without the label. You have to be open to the possibility that in the next few years, the role of record companies could change.
Artists have to be open to new ways of marketing and getting their music out to fans. I think it’s good! The record industry has controlled things for so long, and as things change, record companies, as we know them, could become obsolete. In the digital age, the needs will change for everyone. Again, it’s all about us staying open to different avenues for everything.
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Visit toriamos.com for everything Amos.
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Instinct Online 
written by Jessie on January 02, 2008
She was simply amazing this tour, so glad I was able to catch her...twice.
written by sablemouvant on January 04, 2008
I went to see her one time this tour and I got Isabel... I'd have taken advantage of it
Great article!
written by societystrange on January 04, 2008
YAY! ROCK OUT!
I can't wait to see what the future holds for Tori.
Her music is something everyone can benefit from.
written by joseph reingold on January 04, 2008
i have a great tori amos website! its called: magicmonkeyfla.livejournal.com. its all about tori, this tour and her bestest fans! yay!!
written by Pedro on January 06, 2008
don't listen to joseph...that site is from a disgusting psychopath! I love this woman btw
written by Matthew on January 07, 2008
Monkey, why must you invade EVERY board that simply mentions her name. Just because you're an ex fan doesn't mean you should go around telling everyone to go to your page where all you do is insult her. Get a life.
As for Tori herself, great album and even better tour. I'm so glad I got a chance to see her since I missed the last tour. She never ceases to amaze me. I was SO happy when I opened up my issue of Instinct on saw her face in the table of contents. :-)
written by January on January 13, 2008
Thanks for the article, Instinct! Tori's music and live shows are wonderful, and I always enjoy reading her take on politics, society, and what roles women have played and could be playing in both. Her work inspires me over and over again.
On another note, this magicmonkey creature has been posting under different names for a solid week in order to advertise the same pitiful website. How about a little housecleaning here?
written by davidson on January 16, 2008
YEA, CLEAN YOU OUT! AND IVE BEEN USING THE SAME NAME ON HERE. GET OUT IF YOU DONT LIKE THE TRUTH. BEAT IT SCUMBAG
written by brandonlee on January 16, 2008
tori is history now, get a life 'people'. her cd tanked, only selling 139,000 copies. its over. deal with it.
written by brandonleedavidson on January 16, 2008
and my site is far from 'pitiful' it outs tori as a liar and man hater and her profiles her worst stalking fans. i had 29,000 unique hits on magicmonkeyfla.livejournal.com in 2007
written by amos young on January 18, 2008
tori is a goddess. kiki said so the day the world was born and the lion rock was formed and the beach glittered with life that glowed ..i know its true. so if anyone ...could would...can.. tori can.. bring some sort of meaning to this mess ..of wondering lost souls ..and hold a reunion to embrace what is really important here on earth .like love ..in memory of anyone whose never felt it ..love in its purest form.beyond the flesh ..so no strings of lust attached by .our social conditionings shallow lazy attributes that keep many locked up in the prison of mind////severing the memory ...but she is the reminder not... not to let go of the ones we love..until you know in your heart......that its just time to say goodbye.. expressed through her music what a beautiful gift to share with so many..so everyone has aright to their opinion....but to the person whom wrote that her career is done or to anyone else who has any unkind things to say . here .save it cause ill come through these pages of cyber space crawl right threw your screen and and kick your cyber world ass or in real time and thats even worse ..i aint nice but im learning....so..DUDE.....theres no room for ya on this ride and thats really sad for you ..that your not open with or what shes trying to convey.. but for those whom are fortunate enough to understand ..right on..smile .. its always nice to be among like minded persons . this is a sacred journey and im very grateful to have opened my eyes to life again ...not so much misery.or abandonment haunting my exists . by means of her willingness to share her experience and absolute wisdom by the artful skill of remembering.how to love and remain loyal to those she holds dear.. in this other wise not so loyal world.where they try to tear anyone or anything good apart..she held on for being true to her talents..not a sell out and i love her for that...cause shes not stupid.. shes happy to be here and what a great energy to embrace life with such a loving open heart..even if its painful .. she illuminates so much beauty ..eyes focused in on her lip shape cause her smile is an contagious inspiration that no one in this world has like she does ..i lova her!!!!!!! a whole lotta ..thank you ...for everything ......amos
written by brandonleedavidson2007@yahoo.com on January 18, 2008
dummy, ive been to over 34 tori concerts!anyway, i have to thank undented for all the success of my journal and myspace page! i have left numerous comments and advertised my blogs on tori's blogs! and..they have been nice enough to advertise tori's now defunct blogs on their front page on undented! thank you mikey!.....and tori is no 'goddess' shes simpley a man hater with an agenda and lied about her own fake 'rape!( and her ''molestation'' charges also, so, no 'goddess' there. read alllla bout it on" magicmonkeyfla.livejournal.com. and thanks again to mikewhy for the free ads!!
written by brandonlee on January 18, 2008
oh yeah i almost forgot! adp sold 139,000 units. when you are outsold by larry the cable guy's x-mas album, yea, your career is over.