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V magazine (US)
vmagazine.com
Winter 2017/2018

CULT ICONS

These exceptional female artists have amassed devoted fans throughout their decades-long careers thanks to distinctive sounds that continue to captivate.

Photography Terry Richardson



TORI AMOS

by Alexandra Ilyashov

Amos's 15th album, Native Invader, which came out in September, percolated on a 2016 roadtrip to the Smoky Mountains. It's a simmering rumination on the perilous current political state (namely, President Trump's contentious EPA appointments) and her mother's struggles. Working on it paralleled 2002's Scarlet's Walk, written by Amos on the road post-9/11 as people personally approached her after the national tragedy. Now, that discourse is on social media. The new album's title also addresses Amos's mother losing her voice and enduring a severe, paralyzing stroke. "Both Mother Earth and my mother, Mary, are trapped," Amos says. "Earth because of plutocrats, American oligarchs' agendas, people talking about 'real' Americans; Mary is trapped because of native invaders within herself." She explores personal and political turmoil with her distinctive vocals, but don't call it cathartic. "I don't like the word, it belittles the craft," she explains. "It's a bit condescending. I'm a sonic builder, and yes, I trade in emotions. If I need a therapy session, I'll call a therapist." Amos has exchanged ideas with fans on tours for 25 years, and those discourses were especially important on this jaunt: "People now feel helpess in this political and emotional climate, so it's about activating each other together."


original article



[scan by Mimi Wonka]


Tori's facebook post about the photo session

t o r i p h o r i a
tori amos digital archive
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