Tori Amos - Interviews Archive

MP3.com (US, www)
live online chat
September 20, 1999

live online chat with Tori Amos & Alanis Morissette

Moderator: Hello everyone and thanks for joining the event, they're on their way right now. We'll be starting in about 5 minutes... Sorry for the short delay.

Moderator: Questions that were previously sent in will be asked during the event.

Moderator: Mp3.com is pleased to have Alanis and Tori as they take a break from the 5 1/2 Weeks Tour. Welcome Alanis and Tori.

Alanis: Hello.

Alanis: (laugh) Hi everybody.

Tori: Hi.

Alanis: Hi! We're psyched to be here. I'm open to answering any questions or chatting about whatever questions you might want to throw our way.

Tori: Horns.

Moderator: Tori: Did you have any formal music education in composition or musicianship as a child?

Tori: I went to the Peabody when I was 5.

Tori: Then I just started to, more than anything, watch other musicians -- and listen.

Tori: The formal training wasn't teaching me how to be a composer, so how I had to learn how to go do that by myself.

Moderator: I had a question for both of you, at any time during your performances, are you onstage together> I am going to be at the Irvine Meadows performance on September 26th.

Alanis: Not yet. We haven't yet.

Tori: We've been busy making sure our bands make it onstage on time.

Moderator: Alanis, when are you gonna to come to Argentina?????????????

Alanis: Late November.

Alanis: I can't wait.

Moderator: Hey Alanis, you're doing great!! Loved all the shows, Tori you rock too. . Alanis did you play with the Tamagotchi yet??

Alanis: No, not yet.

Moderator: Alanis are you planning on doing a French Album?

Alanis: Probably won't, but I do see myself singing in French more often. I did it last year, and it was pretty amazing. I don't know what the response was, but I personally enjoyed it.

Moderator: Tori, are there any plans for a longer solo tour in the winter or spring?

Tori: I'm doing a few shows after the Irvine Meadows shows.

Tori: 7 shows, I think.

Moderator: Tori, are you coming to KC?

Moderator: KC = Kansas City

Tori: Nope.

Moderator: Hey alanis do you ever play any of your music from your first two albums?? the old school fun ones I mean

Alanis: I don't because I don't think I'd be able to sing them with any conviction.

Alanis: I know that at some point my band members are very bent on doing a song from that record.

Alanis: So I probably will at some point.

Moderator: Tori: do you have any plans to tour europe or australia again? or are you just going to "lay low" for a while after these tours?

Tori: We're going to do a promotion in Europe, some little things alone at a piano at a radio station somewhere

Tori: Just stuff like that -- things I used to do in ‘92 after Little Earthquakes.

Tori: I just want to revisit the territory, more one on one.

Moderator: Alanis: Do think you'll be playing guitar or bass perhaps on your next record?

Alanis: Yeah, next record I'll probably guitar and maybe a little bit of bass.

Alanis: I'll probably pick up some crazy instrument somewhere.

Alanis: I don't know what it is yet, but I'll find it.

Moderator: Tori, how do you kick so much ass? How is it possible that you are incapable of writing bad music?

Tori: I burn many tapes that many people don't hear.

Tori: I do have a Like A Virgin cover that's locked up somewhere.

Moderator: Hi Alanis . I use to live in Ottawa and I met you once. I live in Montreal ,when will you play here?

Alanis: We played there a few months ago and probably won't be back for a little while, maybe after another record.

Moderator: Tori: Can you give us any insight into the "Pretty Good Years: A Tribute To Tori Amos" Album that is coming out soon??

Tori: I'm sure it'll do well. Probably came off of somebody's crappy tape recorder.

Moderator: Tori, what is the song ‘Spark' about? It is a masterpiece of music.

Alanis: It's about finding the thing that makes you appreciate the life force.

Tori: Sometimes it takes that.

Moderator: Alanis: I love the new video. Were your dance moves computer animated or can you really swing like that?

Alanis: I danced a little bit when I was younger, and I hadn't done it in so long.

Alanis: My boyfriend inspired me to do it again.

Alanis: And when it came time to create the video for that song, it was begging for us to be dancing.

Moderator: Tori -- whatever happened to that alloy.com poetry contest? Did you pick a winner yet?

Tori: We just picked a winner.

Moderator: Alanis, please go to Brazil! Tori, u too.

Alanis: I'll be going down there in November.

Moderator: Tori, I don't know if you remember, but I gave you a book called The Tomorrow Tragedy and I never got to know what you thought about it. Remember, it's the book with the picture of the boy covered in blood?

Tori: Of course I remember it. I read it and I keep it by my bed. It was fantastic.

Moderator: Tori, could you explain some of the meaning behind Suede?

Tori: When the other person thinks you are the evil one.

Tori: They have no idea why they are part of the seduction.

Tori: Of course, it's all your fault.

Tori: Meaning me.

Moderator: Alanis, what inspires you to write music? Does the music precede the lyrics, vice-versa, or does it all happen together?

Alanis: It kind of happens at the same time.

Alanis: If it is ever a belabored process, I stop writing the song.

Alanis: If it doesn't write itself, I usually don't finish it.

Alanis: It should take an hour to write.

Moderator: Alanis do you have anything special plan for the last dates of your tour in LA??

Alanis: Yes, I do. And I'm formulating them right now and I don't know what they are yet.

Moderator: Alanis- is there any date you could give on your next album? Oh, and also- "I love you muchly!" Thank you Alanis for all the inspiration and influence, your music and art makes me feel understood!

Alanis: I'll write it next year.

Moderator: Tori when can I find your Cornflake girl single because there all sold out even at bestbuy

Tori: My father's got a bunch of them. He'll give you a really good deal.

Tori: Well, Alanis do you want to go first?

Moderator: Tori I look forward to seeing you at the Leno show tomorrow and both of you ladies on Sunday in Irvine. What kind of wine will you be enjoying after the show?

Alanis: I haven't been drinking wine.

Tori: Spanish reserve.

Tori: I'm giving my assistant a bit of a taste.

Tori: We've got some good Pomereux.

Tori: Some great Sasficca(?)

Tori: Like a ‘92 would be brilliant.

Tori: I've been drinking some gorgeous white burgundys.

Moderator: How was your experience with the MP3.com opening artists?

Alanis: It was amazing and I was psyched. They were beautiful.

Tori: I remember having to open for people, it was quite a challenge.

Tori: A lot of respect goes their way. It takes a lot of inner strength to walk out there.

Alanis: Greta and I are going to go snowboarding at some point.

Moderator: Alanis, you were influenced by India on SFIJ, any hints as to influences on your new material?

Alanis: Whatever I'm experiencing right now. I don't write for a while and I consider that to be the input time.

Alanis: When it does come time to write the record, the proverbial dam breaks.

Alanis: Everything I've been through in the past year.

Moderator: Tori, do you have any simple wisdom you live your life by?

Tori: Don't poop on your manolas.

Moderator: Alanis, can you explain what the song "No Pressure Over Capp. is about?

Alanis: It was inspired by my twin brother and a cousin of mine.

Alanis: Anyone who feels that they're isolated at some point in their life -- isolated and not connected.

Alanis: This song was my way of telling them that they are connected and they're not alone in their seemingly wise worlds.

Moderator: What kind of venues do both of you prefer? I've seen both of you at small and large venues.

Alanis: I love playing unplugged, acoustic small intimate. I love playing outdoors.

Tori: It's not about the size for me.

Moderator: Alanis, what does your logo stand for? I see it on hats and t-shirts.

Alanis: It means thank you in Sanskrit.

Alanis: It's a gratitude symbol.

Moderator: Tori in all honesty what is your favorite album you released?

Tori: That's like asking me to pick a favorite child.

Moderator: Alanis's lyrics have such a great flow to them, they seem to pour right out... do you ever get writer's block?

Alanis: The only time I get writer's block is when I'm forcing myself to write something.

Alanis: To me, writers' block is synonymous with fear and pressure.

Alanis: Once those two are gone, I can write about anything.

Moderator: Tori...what's Glory of the 80s about?

Tori: Decadence of the 80s. Which I miss, actually.

Tori: Toodles, I have to go.

Alanis: It was nice speaking with you guys.

Alanis: It's been an amazing experience, and I'm thankful to MP3.com and Best Buy, of course.

Alanis: Thank you.

Tori: Thank you.

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