Bold claim: Tori Amos is once again pushing boundaries with a bold new single that signals a timely, provocative album. But here’s where it gets controversial: the artist uses fantastical imagery to comment on real-world political peril, and that mix invites strong reactions. Here’s a fresh, fully unique take on the original message while preserving its meaning and details.
Tori Amos has released the lead single, “Stronger Together,” from her forthcoming album In Times of Dragons, which she announced in January. The track features backing vocals from Amos’s daughter, Tash. Listen to the song below.
In describing the album’s overarching story, Amos explains that In Times of Dragons “parables the dangerous times we live in—times when democracy itself feels endangered.” In the narrative, the narrator flees from a husband described as a sadistic billionaire Lizard Demon. As she escapes, she reconnects with people she had not seen in years, people who had refused contact because of the narrator’s entanglement with that dangerous figure. To avoid capture and a forced return to the Lizard Demon’s penthouse, she heads toward the deep South of the United States, hoping to throw him and his henchman off her trail. Along the journey, she encounters many characters, including a notable figure called The Daughter, with whom she shares time and music.
The album is slated for release on May 1, with more songs and stories to come.
Jazz Monroe, a music and culture writer based in London, contributes reporting on music and cultural affairs for Pitchfork, The Guardian, The Independent, and more.
