Music review: Tori Kelly – 鈥業nspired by True Events鈥�
After singing the praises of a more heavenly nature on her last release, Tori Kelly follows 2018鈥檚 鈥淗iding Place鈥� with a third album that possesses far-reaching emotions from a very personal level.
鈥淚nspired by True Events鈥� is the 26-year-old singer-songwriter鈥檚 latest effort featuring impassioned tracks that deliver vivid musical landscapes about the things that have been happening in the California native鈥檚 life over the last few years. As a result, Kelly wears her emotions on her sleeve as she sings about love, loss, struggles and triumph through the blending of infectious pop, smooth R&B and vibrant blues elements to produce an engaging look into Kelly鈥檚 heart and soul.
鈥淚 envy the cup of coffee that kisses you every morning/That pillow caressing your cheek when you are tired and yawning,鈥� sings Kelly on the opening track. 鈥淐offee鈥� speaks of a long-distance relationship that has Kelly wishing she could be next to the one she loves on a permanent basis.
Parental approval to marry is sought by Kelly on 鈥淐hange Your Mind.鈥� Kelly professes her love for her beau and tries wholeheartedly to convince her father that she鈥檚 found Mr. Right as she proclaims, 鈥淗e came to me like a song/Like one I knew all along/And daddy, he got a hold on me.鈥�
The bluesy vibe to 鈥淟anguage鈥� adds a soulful stream to the message of working on a relationship for the long run by building a foundation of trust through the slow process of truly understanding each other鈥檚 needs.
鈥淪orry Would Go a Long Way鈥� examines the pain and heartache experienced when parents decide to call it quits. Kelly has some strong words directed at her father when she sings, 鈥淚 feel the times are changing, and maybe you are too/I鈥檓 the same old me, but you鈥檙e a different you/So be a man about it, and admit you鈥檝e done me wrong.鈥�
Other highlights include the search for inner beauty and things that last on 鈥淧retty Fades,鈥� the struggle of being pulled in different directions on 鈥�2 Places鈥� and the desire to escape from adulthood and return to the simpler days of youth with 鈥淜id I Used to Know.鈥�
The final two tracks bring the set to a touching close. 鈥淵our Words鈥� tugs at the heartstrings as Kelly sings about the passing of her grandfather as she confesses, 鈥淓very part of me misses every part of you/And with all the chaos in my world/I could really use your words.鈥�
鈥淏efore the Dawn鈥� serves as a touching voice of encouragement to a friend going through a difficult time. Kelly speaks from experience as she sings about it always being darkest before the dawn.
Kelly continues to make a big splash with her strong songwriting and lush voice by continuing to grow and push herself as both an artist and individual.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.