Tori (album) explained

Tori
Type:	studio
Artist:	Tori Kelly
Cover:	Tori.album.jpg
Genre:	R&B pop
Length:	40:37
Label:	Epic Beautiful Mind
Producer:	Tori Kelly TenRoc Jon Bellion The Diner Jason Cornet Jonny Koh The Monsters & Strangerz P2J Johnny Simpson
Prev Title:	Tori
Prev Year:	2023
Year:	2024

Tori (stylized as TORI.) is the fifth studio album by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on April 5, 2024, through Epic and Beautiful Mind Records. It is her first studio album in four years, following A Tori Kelly Christmas (2020).

The album features guest vocal performances from Ayra Starr, Kim Chae-won,^[1] and Jon Bellion.

Background

In March 2023, it was announced that Kelly had signed a recording contract with Epic Records.^[2] She began releasing tracks from her upcoming fifth album (including the singles "Missin U", "Cut", and "Young Gun") before compiling them on an extended play of the same title, Tori (2023).^{[3] [4]} In the fall of 2023, she embarked on the Take Control Tour in support of the EP.^{[5] [6]}

Kelly felt she had finished work on the album in early 2023 after several sessions with singer-songwriter Jon Bellion. However, she was inspired to write the lead single "High Water", after suffering a health emergency due to blood clots in her legs and lungs that July.^{[7] [8]} The track was released on February 9, 2024.^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

She embarked on the Purple Skies Tour in support of the album, starting on April 12, 2024, in Ventura and concluding on May 3, 2024, in Kansas City.^[13]

Artistry

Tori. is an R&B and pop album which heavily borrows from Y2K-inspired sounds. It features powerful vocals and upbeat production as a result of Kelly being in a "happy place" during the record's conception. She cited Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Aaliyah, and Destiny's Child as influences.^[14]

Track listing

Notes

• signifies a co-producer
• All tracks are stylized in all lowercase letters.

Sample credits

• "Missin U" contains samples of "Fill Me In", written by Craig David and Mark Hill, performed by David.^[15]

Personnel

Musicians

• Tori Kelly – lead vocals, background vocals
• Jason Cornet – programming, synthesizer (tracks 1–6, 9, 11–15); guitar (1–5, 7, 11–13, 15), bass (1, 5, 11, 15), background vocals (1, 2, 13, 14), drums (3, 11, 15)
• Jon Bellion – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–7, 9, 13), programming (1, 2, 4–6, 9, 12–14)
• Clyde Lawrence – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 12, 14), synthesizer (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12–14), guitar (13), bass (1)
• Jordan Cohen – programming, synthesizer (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9, 12–14); background vocals (1, 2), horns (1), saxophone (5)
• Jonny Koh – programming (track 1), guitar (5, 12, 13), synthesizer (5, 12)
• Jon Batiste – background vocals (track 1)
• Jon Lampley – horns (track 1)
• Johnny Simpson – background vocals (track 2)
• Timbaland – background vocals (track 4)
• Mateus Asato – guitar (tracks 6, 7)
• Laura Metcalf – cello (track 8)
• The Resonance Collective – strings (track 8)
• Tomoko Akaboshi – violin (track 8)
• Jeanine Cornet – trumpet (track 9)

Technical

• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• TenRoc – engineering (tracks 1–9, 11–15)
• Jordan Cohen – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12–14)
• Jonny Koh – engineering (tracks 1, 5, 7, 8, 12), engineering assistance (2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 14)
• John Arbuckle – engineering (tracks 1, 7, 10, 13)
• Peter Enriquez – engineering (track 8)
• Bryce Bordone – engineering (tracks 10, 11, 15), engineering assistance (2, 4, 6, 9, 12–14)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ziwei . Puah . 2024-03-19 . Tori Kelly teases new song 'Spruce' with Le Sserafim's Kim Chaewon . 2024-03-27 . NME . en-GB.
2. Eggertsen . Chris . March 14, 2023 . Signed: Tori Kelly to Epic Records; Dove Cameron & Nate Smith to WME . August 25, 2023 . Billboard.
3. Web site: Tori Kelly Feels Like a 'New Artist Again' with Y2K-Inspired Single 'missin u' . 2024-03-25 . Peoplemag . en.
4. Web site: How Tori Kelly Used Hair Dye, Y2K & Collaborators To Create Her Most Authentic Project To Date . 2024-03-27 . grammy.com.
5. Web site: Rasp . Alyssa . 2024-03-20 . Oh, How We Have Missed the Beauty of a Tori Kelly Show . 2024-03-27 . The Aquarian . en-US.
6. Paul . Larisha . 2023-08-15 . Tori Kelly Gets Back in the Game With 'Take Control' Tour After Health Emergency . 2024-03-27 . . en-US.
7. Mier . Tomás . 2024-02-09 . Tori Kelly Announces Self-Titled Album, Drops New Single 'High Water' . 2024-03-19 . . en-US.
8. Web site: Inman . DeMicia . 2023-08-11 . Tori Kelly Drops "cut" Music Video Shortly After Hospitalization . 2024-03-25 . VIBE.com.
9. Web site: Tori Kelly Details Writing an 'Inspirational Song' for New Album After 2023 Hospitalization (Exclusive) . 2024-03-25 . Peoplemag . en.
10. Web site: Stickler . Jon . Tori Kelly Announces Fifth Album Tori With New Single High Water . 2024-03-25 . Stereoboard.com . en.
11. Web site: Two-Time Grammy® Award-Winner Tori Kelly Announces New Album Tori. Releases New Single "High Water" – Sony Music Canada . 2024-03-27 . www.sonymusic.ca.
12. Web site: White . Logan . 2024-02-09 . Tori Kelly announces new album + shares lead single "High Water" . 2024-03-29 . Substream Magazine . en-US.
13. Web site: Major . Michael . February 12, 2024 . Tori Kelly Announces New Spring Tour Dates & Shares 'high water' Single . 2024-03-19 . . en.
14. Web site: Horowitz . Steven J. . 2024-04-04 . Tori Kelly on How Her Love of Destiny's Child and Timbaland Inspired Her Y2K-Inspired, Self-Titled New Album . 2024-04-04 . Variety . en-US.
15. Rowley . Glenn . 2023-03-17 . Tori Kelly Serves Up Y2K Fantasia in Colorful 'Missin U' Music Video . 2024-03-19 . . en-US.