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BAND INTERROGATION: Q&A WITH TORI SPARKS

-by Michael Staton, statonfacts@live.com

You should probably listen to Tori Sparks’ music simply because she asked this writer to call the story you’re reading “Tom Waits Tangents.” Sparks went over the merits of the legendary, gravel-voiced musician for well over 10 minutes, so a good chunk of the interview time we spent with her was devoted to him and not her own music.

At least we know she has good tastes, but it seems more and more likely that soon other musicians will be going off on tangents about how great Sparks’ music is. The singer/songwriter is just coming off of a nationwide tour and is gearing up for international and domestic dates next year. We caught up with her during the last leg of her December tour.

Michael Staton: Your songwriting process for your new album, “The Scorpion in the Story,” is unique. Is it true you base songs on people you meet?

Tori Sparks: As a writer of any kind people want to know where you get your ideas. You can’t pick inspiration. Sometimes I write about stories that affect me in a particular way. Initially the songs for the album were written by accident. In 2008 I ended up writing songs about people I met on the road and I thought it would be cool to do a concept album based on that theme. As much as I love music you get tired of hearing about a girl and her new record; you have to get people’s attention somehow because you’re not competing with other artists anymore. You’re competing with Wii games.

MS: Will you try to utilize this concept approach again?

TS: I’ll always look out for inspiration but I don’t think I will make a concept album like this again. I write a lot in the first-person, so even if it’s a story about someone else usually people can’t tell unless I specify it’s about a certain person. Many people thought the songs on this album were about my ex-boyfriend and some still don’t believe the songs are about other people. I guess that’s allowed when you’re putting something artistic out there.

MS: Are you ready for a break from touring?

TS: I’ve been booking, touring and launching a new album and website in the past year so I need a little bit of time in one place to catch up. After a while you start to feel schizophrenic. I’ll be in Europe in June and that seems like a good time because I like to be in the States in the fall.

MS: Nashville has been your home for the last five years. Are you ever tempted to just stay in the Nashville scene instead of touring the country?

TS: On one hand it’s beneficial to be here because you get to know great people, but unless your dad is Billy Ray Cyrus and you’re trying to become a pop country singer it doesn’t make sense to hang here. I also get tired of songs about pickup trucks and mamas dying. The goal here for several people is to write with a lot of people and spread your seed all over in hopes of getting a hit. I don’t like that linear approach, but some people truly love that songwriting formula. It’s not selling out if you’re just able to sell your music but it is selling out if hate the music you write and you’re just making money selling it.

MS: But at least you’d have the money.

TS: I guess. [laughing] For me I cannot sit down and write a song and hate it and then play it just to make a dollar. I think you should make the music you want to listen to and then find every way to market it. 

MS: You predominantly play solo. Do you prefer having a band or being alone?

TS: I’m still figuring out working with bands; they’re good because you can rely on other people. As far as soloing goes I feel that only within the past year I have gotten to the point that I would be comfortable opening for anyone and doing a good job. It took five years, but now I’m comfortable presenting myself. Plus, playing solo is the only way to do it unless you have lots of funding or people who are willing to sleep on floors at strangers’ houses. You end up spending so much time with people even when you’re going solo so it is nice to be alone when you’re traveling and not dealing with a band.

MS: The influences in your music are hard to pinpoint. Who are some big influences for you?

TS: Tom Waits is my favorite. I think I dated a guy in college just because he liked Tom Waits.

MS: There are worse reasons to date people.

TS: I know. I think it’s my mission in life to make people listen to Tom Waits. He’s so important and people should listen even if they don’t like him. I want him to call me so we can hang out. I saw him live with a friend of mine who was having a text message fight with his girlfriend and he kept getting up to leave so I had to grab him by the ear and tell him to sit down or I would kill him. 

MS: I read on your website that you like black jelly beans. That’s disgusting.

TS: They’re amazing. Don’t throw them away! Please save them for me. I put it on the website just to show people I’m a quirky human.

Michael Staton

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