Tori Amos being relatable

My parents have to respect that I had my own thoughts on things. But I had to respect they have theirs. My father believes that Magdalene is whore... and once I began to let go of that, he opened up to the fact that the role for women in Christianity has been a bit misogynist.

I was always coming up with my own stuff, because it was hymns, and records that my mother had. And when I got into the hymns I had to come up with something a bit more exciting. It's the same song over and over again, the hymns.

I'm a minister's daughter and I couldn't move my hips anywhere, it wasn't allowed in the house except on the piano stool.

tori amos photographed by derrick santini, 1999

I don't get my fix unless I sit at the piano stool. So you know I'm gonna be at the piano.

tori amos, 90s

I try to write so I know what I'm really thinking. So, if I want to strangle you, I know why I want to strangle you instead of just "What is it you've said that could be affecting me so much?" I have to go deal with me instead of strangling you.

We're all trying to find enough self-worth to come to the table, me included. But what happens, everytime you have dinner with somebody, you think you're having a date and there are many things going on at that table.

tori amos for spin magazine, october 1994

I get letters from kids who are just so exhausted from trying so hard that they don't even know what they're trying for anymore. They don't know where to find their essence - they're not getting anything from drugs or parties. And they realize where I go with my music.

tori amos photographed by andrew catlin, 1992

You can't talk about the things I'm talking about and just be given these things to say by the press. You don't write the things I'm writing about because of a corporate makeover. The fact is that I get up in the morning and wash my hair and walk out and this is what you get.

I have as much control in that I'm the one that decides what comes out of my mouth. I don't decide what the press writes, because you know, what people read is only half me and the other half is you!

happy birthday to tori amos ♡ by michael birt for Q magazine, 1994

There’s so much guilt and shame and repression and restriction in the church. Because if you don't have that, they're afraid you won't need the church. That's the underlying message that isn't talked about and, being a minister's daughter, you see the underlying messages.

I’m into digging into people’s minds. My message is: Be your own master, and you can get a grip.

Until a few years ago, music was the only ground for me where love and lust happened.

I make audience-participation records; you have to crawl inside the painting and like, be blue.