Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (Album)

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of her second album, the singer and songwriter spoke about being destabilized by sudden fame — and how she got her center back.If Alanis Morissette’s albums were children, “Jagged Little Pill” would be the spoiled one — universally beloved, lavishly celebrated, extravagantly fed. She has a soft spot for her second born, “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie,” which was reissued with new material last month for its 25th anniversary. (She plays from the album on her current tour, which has dates through September.)Morissette was only 25 when “Supposed” came out, in 1999, but “Jagged” had made her a battle-hardened veteran of the It Girl industrial complex. She had hoped success would bring communion with other stars of popular and alternative music; instead, she found herself isolated and creatively drained.“I felt like I was at odds with the credo of the ’90s,” she said. “I thought there would be more intimacy and vulnerability and kumbaya, but it was all about aloofness and ennui and I am not aloof.”Inspiration came from the unconditional love of her friends back home in Toronto, and a monthlong trip to India, the grounding influence of which can be heard on the album’s breakout single, “Thank You.” “My songs can be an invitation to three emotions American culture generally doesn’t allow: fear, anger and sadness,” she said. “I get excited to embody those things onstage, and to have people watch me and feel it in themselves.”In an interview from New York, Morissette discussed the parts of her life that give her strength and perspective. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.1Living Libations Essential OilsNadine Artemis had an essential oil spot called Osmosis in downtown Toronto. When I was a teenager, I walked in and I thought, “Wow, this woman is a master. She’s my guru.” So I basically — kind of jokingly, but semiformally — have been under her wing for decades.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More