Tori Amos Issue #40

Call & Response

By Venuszine Administrator
Published: September 1st, 2009 | 12:00am

From navigating the collaborative process to the secret dangers of text messages, music legend Tori Amos will now take your questions.

Where do you currently receive your inspiration to create? — Li Bruno, Hawaii
“You have to be a good observer of life. Sometimes you have to travel in order to get stimulated. I find that when I’m traveling around the world I’m exposed to so many sensory influences that I start taking notes … if you are totally self-absorbed with texting and your phone, then you are missing all kinds of stories.”

In Piece by Piece, you talk about the sacred space you share with your band members. What advice do you have for people who might struggle with the boundaries, knowing that collaborative relationships aren’t always meant to be romances? — Sarah Marie, Texas
“We are not really taught about creative marriages. We usually bring things to the sexual in our culture, and I don’t just mean Americans, I mean earthlings … when you are collaborating, in that instance you are involved in a sacred marriage that for that moment takes precedent over the other relationships you may be involved in your life ... you feel the next natural progression is to take it to the physical. What could be natural as well is to say, ‘I can’t wait to collaborate with you again tomorrow.’”

What have been the most challenging aspects of writing music for The Light Princess so far? — Mindy Johnson, Wisconsin
“What has been a learning curve for me is understanding the context of a musical. In some cases a song has been moved from where I originally had composed it to somewhere else in the show. The trick is knowing who needs to be singing what and when in a musical theatre piece.”

What advice do you have for truly independent artists in terms of finding representation, getting ahead, and weathering this turbulent economic storm? — Melissa Cox, Delaware
“If you are not interested in getting a traditional record deal there are other kinds of deals out there. If you are willing to finance the making of your record then a good idea would be to investigate a distribution deal. There is a distribution side to every major label. Make contact with their development team and get them your music. Also remember the producers and engineers on the back of every record are always looking for good talent. Just make sure you have a good lawyer before you sign anything.”