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Alanis Morissette, now 40, still performing

2015 marks 20 yeas since release of 'Jagged Little Pill'

The Columbian
Published: August 2, 2014, 12:00am

NEW YORK — Most people have an impression of Alanis Morissette as a feisty twenty-something pouring her heart out in songs like “You Oughta Know.” Today she is on the other side of that image, a married 40-year-old mother of a 3-year-old son who has found her place in the world.

The singer-songwriter, in her “Intimate and Acoustic” show, shares stories and performs songs that have become anthems for a generation.

How is the energy of your current production different from a full band show?

It’s more vulnerable and intense. Certainly there’s more pressure on my vocals. I can’t hide behind a wall of sound. The onus is on the storytelling and the lyrical content because there’s less distraction. It’s a little more delicate and emotional in some ways.

How do you connect with the crowd?

I like to think they are my kismet peeps. These are the people that are sensitive, thoughtful, fragile and powerful like I am. I feel like they are my friends.

You recently turned 40. Was it very symbolic for you?

There have been two personas in my life — the slightly more careful, measured and fearful day-to-day woman and the part of me that’s writing art where I have no fear, I’m fully direct and autobiographical. For me those two parts of myself have been blending into one now.

I’m making decisions based on what I’m excited about and not what I think I should be doing.

Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of your 33 million-selling album, “Jagged Little Pill.” Are there any plans to celebrate?

We are in talks with different production companies of putting a couple of TV specials together. We are also doing a musical for Broadway about “Jagged Little Pill.”

At some point I’m going to do a one-woman show where I really get into the actual stories but for the musical there will be some fictional element using all the songs.

Additionally, I’m finishing a book that I’ve been writing for a long time, which will be out next fall. There are tons of transparent stories as well as insights and revelations in there.

What made “Pill” such a landmark?

There was a readiness in pop culture and the general consciousness to hear the kind of a narrative I was writing about — being transparent about emotions like anger and despair. It was a convergence of a bunch of stars aligning at the same time. I can only take a tiny bit of credit.

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