For purely
selfish and superficial reasons, we took Alanis
Morissette’s split last year from longtime
fiancé Ryan Reynolds especially hard—that
is, until we remembered how well she’s been turning
personal pain into bittersweet beauty since her
seminal 1995 breakthrough album, Jagged Little Pill.
Sweeping that former infatuation under the rug with her
eclectic new Flavors of Entanglement, the seven-time Grammy
winner detailed what you oughta know about her
life’s many lesbian twists—including an
“awkward” kiss with Sarah Jessica
Parker—and exposed the naked truth behind her
“Humps.”
Looking back, Alanis, you’ve had quite a
gay-friendly career.
Really? That’s true, actually. I
don’t even think about it, but yeah.
When did you first feel a connection with the gay community?
I’ve felt love from the gay community
since I was really young because all my friends were
gay. My first manager was gay, and I used to go to
nightclubs with him in New York when I was 14.
There’s a passion, a presence, and a curiosity
with a lot of gay people that I meet, and that
aliveness is such a special quality to me.
Flavors of Entanglementwas produced by Guy Sigsworth, known for his work
with Björk, Britney, and Madonna. Were you catering
to your gay fan base on this record?
To be honest, my goal was catering to my own
artists within. I wrote the record for myself, and the
act of sharing it publicly turns it into an
invitation, really, for the gay community or any community
to make it their own.
Which theme on the album may resonate deepest with gay fans?
A couple of my gay friends have a habit of
jumping from relationship to relationship—not
unlike myself. I’ve been known to be somewhat of a
serial monogamist, without taking much breaks between
relationships, so I very much married my own self for
a full year, and promised myself not to commit to
anything. I not only declare it but celebrate it as
well.
Are you afraid of being alone?
I’m a recovering codependent and a
recovering love addict, so that explains
everything.
When I heard about your and Ryan’s breakup, I
said, “Well, that sucks, but at least some
incredible music will come out of it.” Did you
have a similar realization?
Wow. Once the record was finished, it dawned on
me that so much beautiful art comes from transmuting
pain. It’s always been the case. But there are
two great life forces that have the power to move worlds:
anger and love. For me to become empowered
postdepression, I have to move through anger. So [the
new track] “Straitjacket”? Angry.
Is that your “You Oughta Know” for Ryan?
I don’t speak about him or anybody specifically,
but I do speak about my own personal experience. I
wouldn’t say it’s a “You Oughta
Know” per se because I don’t compare
songs, but there’s similar emotion.
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Voss is editor in chief of HX magazine.