Tori Kelly - Inspired by True Events 2019

Friday, August 9 Midnight ET - Tori Kelly has released her third studio album "Inspired By True Events." This third album is very personal for Tori Kelly, as she pulls from different moments in her life that played vital roles to who she is today. "Inspired By True Events" comes less than a year after her Grammy Award-winning gospel-influenced sophomore album, "Hiding Place." Tori is sticking to what makes her an influential artist, staying genuine to who she is and where she comes. The inspiration came to Tori after visiting home in LA and watching old home videos.

Tori Kelly takes us along for a journey with the first record "Coffee." This record is co-written with the help of Tayla Parx and Nate Campany. The song is about her long-distance relationship with her then-boyfriend. Tackle the issues of longing and need that comes with not having your significant other right there next to you.

““I envy the cup of coffee that kisses you every morning ... That pillow caressing your cheek when you are tired and yawning ...””

— Tori Kelly, Coffee, Inspired By True Events 2019

The journey continues with interludes of the home-videos mentioned above. Entitled by their recording dates like track two, "12/16/1992." This clip features her dad and the dynamics of their relationship and her parents being protective of their daughter. Leading flawlessly into "Change Your Mind," a song that was written after Tori's husband, André Murillo, proposed to her. Her parents weren't "super thrilled" about the pending nuptials. Though Tori understood she was hurt by the lack of support and faith that she was doing what was best for her — what she wanted to do. Since then, there's been a healing phase.

When seeking out a new journey through music, Tori's pen stumbled upon the paper creating track three, "Language." The song is about getting on the same page as your significant other, speaking the same language. Understanding that relationships aren't perfect, and arguments happen, but growth occurs when it's all said and done.

Up next, the emotional ballad "2 Places" takes center stage. The record is relatable, as it addresses being in a low-emotional place despite life seeming "perfect" on the surface. For Tori, she was in a relationship and growing closer to the person, but also dealing with her parents ending their relationship. She had her highs and lows, dealings with the push and pull of what she should be feeling versus what she was feeling. Tori coins this track as her "emo song"; it's for people who get overwhelmed with their feelings sometimes.

The interlude of another home movie, "8/28/1997," leads into "Kid I Use to Know." Addressing the simple, carefree life, she used to have as a kid; Tori sings, "I know that I can't ever go back to the world when life was only — Playing, dreaming, dancing on my own … I keep trying to find that fearless heart that's running wild with ... Nothing weighing heavy on my soul ... Looking for the kid I used to know..."

What happens when we grow old and don't look like the person someone fell in love with after time takes its toll. This conversation Tori had with her then-boyfriend and led to the song "Pretty Fades." The pretty fades but what's inside will last, and that's what matters.

Though the track was not her own story, she wrote "Sorry Would Go a Long Way" from her perspective of her dad leaving her mom. She recorded this song live along with Bruno Major playing guitar in the studio.

"Actress" hits home for me, the record deals with putting up a facade of life being perfect and hiding your pain. The idea for the song came to Tori after having dinner with a mutual friend and meeting aspiring actresses. She asked them what was harder, playing a character that was like them or the opposite. The actresses confirmed the latter that it's so much easier to play someone opposite of yourself. I've dealt with Imposter syndrome since I started graduate school and moving across the country to Los Angeles, so this song is compelling for me.

““... I can choose who I wanna be ... Yeah, it’s easier to be an actress. Fresh tear stains are found on the mattress ... Hide my pain, I can never admit ... That I’m sick of all this ...””

— Tori Kelly, Actress, Inspired By True Events 2019

The placement of the next song, "The Lie," is ironic following up "Actress." This record is about falling for the lie that money can buy happiness. Tori uses this song to show that it's not the solution to fixing your emotional problems. What matters is having someone to turn that is your tangible, living breathing hope. That's what "Until I Think of You" is about.

The interlude "3/26/1996" features Tori's late grandfather praying over her at her baby dedication, leading to a beautiful ballad, "Your Words," about her grandfather, his life and his impact on her. A choir joins in singing with Kelly as she sings the reprise.

Taking the center stage to leave listeners with a hopeful outlook, Tori delivers "Before the Dawn." The record came to be from lines she had in her phone, 'what's a rose without a thorn?', and decided to compose a song along the lines of you can't have one thing without another. Tori opens up in a way that I didn't think was possible because she has been transparent since he first EP. However, "Inspired By True Events" dives more in-depth, and allows fans to connect with Tori Kelly in a way they have never done before.

"Inspired By True Events" is available now everywhere. Let me know your thoughts on Tori Kelly's third studio album.