NASHVILLE |ALANIS MORISSETTE: UNDER RUG SWEPT
Alanis Morissette’s new record under rug swept will be released on February 26 with her having decided on 11 tracks out of a written-30-and-recorded-25 selection. (A subsequent release of some of the tracks that weren’t included on this record will follow the release of under rug swept.) Written and produced by her in both Canada (writing and demoing) and Los Angeles (subsequent tracking, layering and mixing), the songs were created with her playing both acoustic and electric guitar and keyboards and were written in a very stream-of-consciousness accelerated way…
Invited to join her to play on this record–a mix of guitars and keyboards with subtle atmospheric guitar and pedal sounds and percussion/loops–were many gifted musicians, some of whom include Meshell Ndegeocello, Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) and Eric Avery (formerly of Jane’s Addiction), along with Alanis’ previous bandmates Nick Lashley, Joel Shearer, Chris Chaney and Gary Novak.
UNDER RUG SWEPT ranges from the guitar-heavy “21 Things I Want In A Lover” and “Narcissus,” to the subtle rhythmic grooves of “So Unsexy” and “You Owe Me Nothing In Return,” to the expansive balladry of “Flinch” and “That Particular Time.”
The album’s first single “Hands Clean” examines a past relationship and how its effects linger. Employing a haunting lyrical approach, the verses are written from the presumed viewpoint of the person whom the song is about, while the chorus and bridge represent her own feelings. “I like the idea of him ‘speaking’ to me from the past and my responding from the present,” explains Alanis. “It was really healing and empowering for me to be able to have that virtual dialogue. My songs often inspire me to be more courageous and authentic in my day to day life as the process of writing a song leads to a clarity and courage that I have, at times, a more challenging time accessing outside of the songwriting and artistic process.”
Before embarking upon writing this record, Alanis knew that she would have to “put on her conceptual seatbelt,” realizing the songwriting process would result in changes in her life–on many levels, not the least of which were certain relationships changing and ending and new ones beginning, and the inevitable outcomes of having faced certain truths and defined herself as she was writing. Her songwriting remains a great source of healing and understanding of her self in a way that ultimately, she says, “lets me, from this place of understanding and offering compassion to myself, offer it to others more fully.”
Digging deep below surfaces, Alanis arrives at a place on UNDER RUG SWEPT where raw truths are explored with the kind of fearless honesty and lack of censorship that has become a thread throughout all her songs. With declarations of self-affirmation such as “So Unsexy” and “Precious Illusions,” these songs mingle well with songs like “Narcissus,” and “A Man,” in which she finds herself allowing her frustration, humanness and humor to be expressed un-self-consciously and unapologetically. These songs complement “That Particular Time” and “Surrendering,” on which Alanis strides the mysterious divide between men and women in the hope of establishing and sustaining a genuine connectedness–all the while “nudging myself toward an even more unconditional version of what love can look like.” These kinds of unions are achieved in the album’s closer, the free-flowing “Utopia.” “I find that without a map of sorts, or a vision of what it is that I’m striving toward–whether it be on a personal, global or social level–I wind up being somewhat aimless, and my relationships reflect that. This is true of both ‘Utopia’ and ’21 Things I Want In A Lover’ in particular. The process of defining what it is that I would like creates its possibility, based on how powerful I believe our thoughts and clarity of intention to be. Of course, once I have a map, I throw it away, let go and see what life has to offer!”
“I think there’s an amazing opportunity and challenge presented by our differences,” says Alanis. “I feel men and women offer each other the chance to be more integrated and healed in the embracing of each other. So, too, do I believe this to be the case when it comes to different cultures (as in the East and the West, etc) and religions and races…I feel like these relationships hold an amazing, blessed spiritual opportunity to define ourselves in accordance to each other, and to tangibly feel our having been cut from the same spiritual cloth, and to feel more whole.”
“On a more personal level I believe that relationships of all kinds, but particularly romantic relationships, are one of the best and surest ways for our souls to evolve,” she says.
Alanis’ favorite (although not her only) way to express her desire to contribute is in the form of music. “I have always believed that the personal is the political, is the global, is the social…as the issues that underlie what can be viewed as microcosmic versions (i.e.: a relationship between two people) are the same kinds of conflicts and issues that underlie the global wars and social unrest we see in our world. While I believe great changes can be made on a global level through collective efforts, I also see putting our efforts into understanding and resolving conflict in our most immediate relationships as being the hugest and most pivotal of first steps to understanding the rest of the world, and doing so.”
Alanis finds herself not being precious about the songs themselves, while seeing the beauty in the process of self-expression and in her own evolution. “Once I feel a record truly reflects that time period of my life, in the form of a musical snapshot, I consider it a success and feel peaceful about it, ready to share it with whomever chooses to listen.”
# # #
ALANIS MORISSETTE SOME BACKGROUND
Since emerging in 1995, ALANIS MORISSETTE has become one of the premiere singer/songwriters in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned the seven-time Grammy Award winner vast critical praise and a dedicated fanbase that extends throughout the world. She wrote and produced her new album UNDER RUG SWEPT (February 2002).
ALANIS‘ groundbreaking 1995 debut jagged little pill created a heavy impact on listeners, revealing a talented young artist with a powerful voice and challenging vision. The monumental success of jagged little pill–which featured hits “You Oughta Know,” “Hand In My Pocket,” “Ironic” and “You Learn”–kept ALANIS on the road for an 18-month world tour between 1995 and 1996 that started in clubs and ended in arenas. “The songs on Jagged Little Pill are tales of a young woman determined to make her own way, inventing herself as she leaves behind childhood indoctrination, manipulative lovers, sleazy business associates and, finally, her own self-doubt.”
–Jon Pareles, New York Times, August 1995
In 1998, ALANIS returned with the release of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, which featured the hits “Thank U,” “Unsent” and “So Pure.” Upon the album’s completion, ALANIS said: “I see every recording I’ve done as a snapshot of that time in my life. I feel fulfilled when I feel the songs were inspired and representative of myself in the moment.” Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie was a worldwide success, reflecting ALANIS‘ expanded musical artistry. “Artistically, Alanis Morissette exceeds our highest hopes on her can’t-lose new album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. The ambitious collection is her probing, shrewd, sensual and fearlessly autobiographical exploration of being young and female in the 90’s.”
–Edna Gundersen, USA Today, October 30, 1998
In 1999, ALANIS produced her MTV Unplugged album, intimately re-working her material and introducing some unreleased work before a live audience at New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music. The album, which featured the single “That I Would Be Good,” focused on her penetrating vocals and creative arrangements, becoming a fan favorite. “Just when it seemed that this mostly acoustic series had run dry, Morissette jump-starts it with a marvelous performance that finds her rethinking her songs rather than just replaying them.”
–Robert Hilburn, LOS ANGELES TIMES, November 21, 1999
In addition to her musical accomplishments, ALANIS has also expanded her career by directing videos (her own “So Pure” and “Unsent”) and acting (the film “Dogma,” HBO’s “Sex In The City” and the off-Broadway “Vagina Monologues”). At the same time, ALANIS has remained at the forefront of humanitarian issues, Internet technology, and music artists’ rights.
Beyond working on her album UNDER RUG SWEPT, ALANIS has kept busy in 2001 playing various benefits, including the televised John Lennon tribute from New York City (raising funds to support gun control and assist victims of the September 11 attacks); Toronto’s Music Without Borders event (generating money for the United Nations Donor Alert Appeal, aiding refugees of the conflict in Afghanistan); and Seattle’s Groundworks (benefiting the organization Act To Reduce Hunger). ALANIS‘ outreach included a major contribution to the performing arts when she helped the Broadway show “Jane Eyre” extend its run by purchasing $150,000 worth of tickets which she donated to inner city youth organizations.
In December 2001, ALANIS was honored by the Friends of The United Nations with a Global Tolerance Award in New York City for making outstanding contributions to promote tolerance through the arts in addition to her work on behalf of tolerance in her personal life and activities. The presentation, which coincided with the U.N.’s Human Rights Day, took place at the United Nations and was attended by senior U.N. personnel, members of the diplomatic community and key representatives of the private and civil society sectors.
With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, ALANIS‘ universal appeal has led to a unique connection with fans and extensive overseas touring. During her precedent-setting summer 2000 trek through the Middle East and Eastern Europe,ALANIS documented visits and performances in 15 countries (including Lebanon, Croatia and Turkey) over the Internet. In most regions, a young ambassador escorted ALANIS beyond the usual tourist attractions to see historical, cultural and political sites while sharing native customs and beliefs. ALANIS wrapped up the tour with a special acoustic performance and question-and-answer session at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, which is dedicated to teaching youth the importance of accepting diversity and sharing cultures. Earlier that same year, ALANIS performed in Rome for Pope John Paul II and 300,000 youth at The Great Jubilee Concert For A Debt-Free World (to bring attention to the world’s poorest nations and the need for social justice). ALANIS‘ worldwide travels also brought her to Cuba in 1998 on a cultural exchange journey whereby North American artists had the chance to meet the people, including students, of that country.
ALANIS recently expressed her hope for a better world when she shared her song “Utopia” (written in early January 2001)–from Under Rug Swept–on her website in the wake of the September 11 attacks. In her own words, ALANIS “just wanted to share as much comfort as I possibly could through the context of music.” Entertainment Weekly’s Beth Johnson described “Utopia,” noting: “Atop a gentle mandolin, calming strings, and angelic harmonies, she softly croons her wish list for a perfect world, a place ‘without guilt, without fear…with room for every emotion.'”
# # #
