Artist Playlists
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A preacher's daughter and childhood piano prodigy, Tori Amos burst onto the early ‘90s alternative scene with one of the most singular voices in rock. From chilling confessionals about sexual violence to prodding takedowns of the Almighty, her passionate compositions struck a deep emotional chord with her fervent, devoted fan base—regardless of whether they could define what a “cornflake girl” was, or what it meant to catch a lite sneeze. While the ‘00s found Amos embracing epic concept albums and modern classical music, the core of her appeal will always boil down to the purest, truest form of her persona: a woman sitting at a piano, breathing life into the world. - In Tori Amos' deepest cuts, her technical wizardry and compositional mastery come into clear focus—so much so that she can make such archetypal songs as the Boomtown Rats' “I Don't Like Mondays” and Bon Jovi's “Livin' On a Prayer” sound like originals. And only Amos would think to add Trent Reznor's backing vocals to “Past the Mission,” a fiercely feminist ode to self-healing.
- Tori Amos' devastatingly honest poetry and relentlessly innovative spirit inspired singers and songwriters to push past pop's boundaries while exploring their inner lives. Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor followed Amos to the piano bench, where they continue to craft intricate compositions to go along with their introspective lyrics. Lorde and Florence + The Machine pair playful observations with left-field yet sticky choruses.
- Tori Amos' precocious childhood might have set her in good stead for for her decades-spanning career, but it's her emotional candor that has singled her out as a star. She blends the frank lyricism of Leonard Cohen with the theatricality of Barbra Streisand, while mining the feminist ferocity of Stevie Nicks and the storytelling nous of Joni Mitchell.