Alanis Morissette has always spoken her mind but its a voice as likely to erupt into a self-effacing laugh as segue into cerebral musing about socio-economic issues or the search for emotional and physical well-being.

The Grammy winners introspective approach to life has long fueled her music, from the powerhouse 1990s arena blaster You Oughta Know, a raw rant against a former lover, to the more recent Guardian, with its buoyant overtones of motherhood.

Her Intimate and Acoustic tour, which includes a stop at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Aug. 22, offers a glimpse into that musical evolution. The unplugged format highlights both a sense of vulnerability and humor as Morissette, who grew up in Ottawa but has been based in Los Angeles for the past 20 years, shares stories about the experiences that have helped shape her life and art. Before heading out on the road, she chatted with NH Weekend about the many sides of her work on and off the stage, from raging rocker and emotive balladeer to activist and author.

NH Weekend: I wanted to start with the format of your current tour. I wonder what youve found in translating full-band, electric versions of tunes to an acoustic, more intimate format. Does the vibe change? Do lyrics take on new meaning?

Alanis: Yeah, it becomes much more vulnerable. Theres so much more pressure, in a fun, yet daunting way on the vocals. Theres not this big wall of sound to hide behind. And then the storytelling the narrative takes on an extra amount of intensity, I think. Theres more focus on it. Theres more onus on it. Yeah, I feel like the hair on my arms stands up way more ...

NHW: I caught one of your acoustic shows this past winter on TV and I was struck by the palpable camaraderie between you and the audience. Though a lot of performers pare down their shows to get that interaction with fans, sometimes it still feels like a rock star squinting into the spotlight and jamming to an enthusiastic, yet, faceless crowd. But you seem to connect with fans. How do you find that balance, a place where it isnt scary to be so exposed?

Alanis: I think having done it for many years now ... You know, at first it was nervewracking. (With touring for) Jagged Little Pill ... I couldnt hear my own vocals in my in-ear monitors because of how loud the audience was, so this is almost more functional, and theres more room for actual dialogical intimacy. I get to feel like Im having a conversation of some kind. Theres more of an exchange. Its less of a monologue in a way.

NHW: Do you find that even when you have a set list, the show many change depending on that interaction, and questions or requests from the crowd?

Alanis: With the more acoustic shows, particularly if a whole set of Q&A opens up and theres a whole philosophical discussion, sometimes thatll dictate a song that is begged to be sung. But in these particular shows, were a little bit more prepared ... so we have a general sense of the set list. And we have a handful of other songs in our back pocket if something were to change or if people in the audience were yelling out the same request all night long, wed have to do it.

NHW: Speaking of philosophical discussions, I saw your recent Facebook posting in which you offered to answer fans questions, and it looks like you got thousands of queries about everything from lines in your songs what does transparent dangling carrots in the tune Thank U mean? and whether you play the Candy Crush game app to serious socio-economic issues. Is it surreal to know that you have so many followers who value your opinion on a host of subjects?

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Alanis Morissette speaks her mind on and off stage