And the Hello there and welcome to So Dijaker on songwriting. This is Brian, joined as ever by Simon and with us for

episode 216 is a prolific, uniquely talented and hugely influential American singer-songwriter

and pianist. She recently released her 16 studio album Ocean to Ocean

written and recorded at home in Cornwall England during the third UK lockdown and

it was from Cornwall that she recently joined us to discuss the new record and offer us a

a peak into her songwriting process. We are delighted to welcome the

excellent Tory Amos to the show. Our guest was born Myra Ellen Amos in

Newton North Carolina in 1963 and raised in Maryland.

A self-taught child piano prodigy.

She won a full scholarship to the prestigious Peabody Institute in Baltimore when she was just

five years old, by which time she was already making

up her own songs too. At the grand old age of 11 she was asked to leave due to her disinterest in

reading music and her burgeoning love of pop and rock especially Led Zeppelin.

The young Myra continued writing songs and at 13 began performing a piano bars,

hotels and gay bars in Maryland chaperoned by father, who around the same time was sending a

demos to various record companies, although to little avail. She changed their name to

Tory at 17 and moved to LA at 21, where she stepped out from behind the ivries to front the pop rock band,

Why Can't Tori Reed, who was signed to Atlantic and recorded one self-titled album released in 1988.

Though the album wasn't a success, Tori remained on the label, returned to her beloved piano,

and developed the singular styles she would introduce to the world in 1992 with the release of the

instant classic Little Earthquakes. His solo debut sold well in the US and also found favour in the UK

where she began to attract quite a following through her compelling live performances.

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