10 Questions with Sinéad O'Connor

The singer on the power of music, mental illness and why she told Miley Cyrus to not let herself be pimped

Peter Hapak for TIME

You're currently playing shows on your American Kindness tour. What led to that name?
I've always experienced American people as very kind. And I guess you all get a bad rap as well--unfairly, I suppose.

Many reviews of your latest work emphasize that you sound joyous for a change. Is it weird that people are surprised to hear you happy?
I think it's natural. My records are [about] the journey of someone in recovery. The idea is that you would get to happiness. Otherwise what's the point of taking the journey?

Does music still serve that healing...

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