Tori (stylized as TORI.) is the fifth studio album by American singer and songwriter 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).

Tori
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
Genre
Length40:37
Label
Producer
Tori Kelly chronology
Tori
(2023)
Tori
(2024)
Singles from Tori
  1. "Missin U"
    Released: March 17, 2023
  2. "Cut"
    Released: July 28, 2023
  3. "Young Gun"
    Released: September 16, 2023
  4. "High Water"
    Released: February 9, 2024
  5. "Thing U Do"
    Released: April 5, 2024

The album features guest vocal performances from Ayra Starr, Kim Chae-won,[1] and Jon Bellion.[2]

Background

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In March 2023, it was announced that Kelly had signed a recording contract with Epic Records.[3] 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).[4][5] In the fall of 2023, she embarked on the Take Control Tour in support of the EP.[2][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, with the first leg starting on April 12, 2024, in Ventura and concluding on May 3, 2024, in Kansas City.[13] She started the second part of the tour on August 17, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan and will conclude on December 9, 2024 in London, England.[14]

Genres and composition

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Tori. is an R&B and pop album which heavily borrows from Y2K-inspired sounds.[4] 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.[15]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Tori Kelly, Jason Cornet and Jonathan Bellion, and produced by TenRoc and Bellion, with additional contributors noted.

Tori track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Thing U Do"
4:05
2."Missin U"
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
2:57
3."Diamonds" 
3:00
4."Cut"
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
2:56
5."Spruce" (featuring Kim Chae-won of Le Sserafim)
  • Lawrence
  • Cohen
  • Casey Smith
  • Cohen
  • Jonny Koh
2:43
6."Shelter"
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
2:51
7."Oceans"
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
2:38
8."Purple Skies (Interlude)"
  • Lawrence
  • Cohen
  • Isong
The Diner0:26
9."Unbelievable" (featuring Ayra Starr)
  • Kelly
  • P2J
  • The Diner
2:38
10."Shine On"2:57
11."High Water"  2:48
12."Young Gun" (featuring Jon Bellion)
  • Lawrence
  • Cohen
  • Jonathan Simpson
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
  • Johnny Simpson
2:53
13."Alive If I Die"
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
2:34
14."Missin U" (R&B edit)
  • Lawrence
  • Cohen
  • David[a]
  • Hill[a]
  • Kelly
  • The Diner
2:52
15."Same Girl" Kelly2:28
Total length:40:37
Tori (+ a lil more) track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Distance"
  • Kelly
  • Bellion
  • Cornet
  • Elijah Noll
  • Grace Youn
  • Kelly
  • TenRoc
3:11
2."Bottomline" (featuring JoJo)
  • Kelly
  • Bellion
  • The Monsters & Strangerz
3:22
3."U"
2:50
4."Beautiful War" (featuring Pink Sweats)
  • Dante Bowden
  • Ruffin
2:02
Total length:51:32

Notes

  • ^[c] signifies a co-producer
  • All tracks are stylized in all lowercase letters.

Sample credits

Personnel

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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)
  • Grace Youn – violin (track 1)
  • Jeanine Cornet – trumpet (track 9)

Technical

  • Chris Gehringermastering
  • Serban Gheneamixing
  • 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)

References

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