FLAME haired diva Tori Amos will be promoting her new album Scarlet's Walk when she comes to Wolverhampton Civic in January.

Scarlet's Walk has been described as a chronicle of Tori's love affair with America, its people, its history and its future.

"After September 11...there was an awakening on many levels for a lot of people," says Tori.

"The songs started coming fast and furiously. I was on my own quest for answers and to ask the right questions.

"Scarlet is me sometimes, she's a drop of blood sometimes, she's the land sometimes. Scarlet can be a thread, a thread that runs through us, a thread that ties us and binds us."

The album is also a chronicle of sins past, sins against America's people and land, and the stories come from Tori's childhood porch.

"Growing up in North Carolina where I spent my summers, it was these stories that became our way of feeling, our roots," says Tori.

"My grandfather made these memories come alive by telling me stories of his people, the Cherokee.

"I felt an amazing sense of compassion towards what had happened to them, and I'm convinced that before he died, my grandfather hid a 'remember the stories' chip underneath my skin."

Scarlet's Walk was self-produced and recorded in Cornwall, England.

Tori is no stranger to that studio, as it is where she created several of her albums.

The album again calls upon the talents of long-time collaborators Jon Evans, on bass, and Matt Chamberlain, on drums, amongst other musicians.

Tori, who sold over 12 million albums worldwide, has led the way as a pioneer in rejuvenating the era of the female singer/songwriter.

While the public responds by propelling her albums to gold and platinum status, the industry continually acknowledges her handywork.

Since 1994 she has been nominated for eight Grammy awards in categories such as Best Rock Female Vocal and Best Alternative Music.

Tori enjoys touring almost as much as recording, and takes every opportunity to bring her music to the people.

She has just began an extensive US tour and continues on through Europe, taking her Bosendorfer piano, accompanied by Matt Chamberlain and Jon Evans, to both new and familiar places.

Tori believes the songs in Scarlet have their own life and their own relationship with people.

"Clearly there's a story here," she says. "Part of it is extremely detailed, other parts however, are left for the listener to hear what he or she hears."

Tickets for her gig, at Wolverhampton Civic on Tuesday, January 14, are £25 from Midland Box Office on 01902 55 21 21.