Ani DiFranco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ani DiFranco
DiFranco performing in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Angela Maria DiFranco
Born	(1970-09-23) September 23, 1970 (age 54) Buffalo, New York, US
Genres	Folk rock alternative rock punk rock indie folk
Occupation(s)	Musician singer-songwriter poet
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Righteous Babe

Angela Maria "Ani" DiFranco (born September 23, 1970) is a talented American-Canadian singer and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums throughout her career. Ani's music mixes different styles like folk rock, alternative rock, punk rock, funk, hip hop, and jazz. What's really cool is that she releases all her music on her own record label, called Righteous Babe.

Ani DiFranco also uses her voice to support important social and political causes. She performs at special concerts, appears on charity albums, and speaks at rallies. Through her Righteous Babe Foundation, she helps groups that support causes like LGBT rights. She looks up to famous folk singer Pete Seeger as one of her guides.

In 2019, Ani released a book about her life called No Walls and the Recurring Dream. It even made it onto The New York Times Best Seller list! More recently, in February 2024, Ani made her debut on Broadway in the musical Hadestown. She played the role of Persephone, a character she had also played on the musical's concept album.

Early Life and Learning

Ani DiFranco was born in Buffalo, New York, on September 23, 1970. Her parents, Elizabeth and Dante, met while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her father was from Italy, and her mother was from Montreal, Canada.

Ani started playing Beatles songs in local bars when she was just nine years old. She also played her guitar on the streets, a practice called busking, with her guitar teacher. By the time she was 14, she was writing her own songs. She performed these songs in bars and coffee houses all through her teenage years.

Ani finished high school at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts when she was 16. She then started taking classes at Buffalo State College. She had already moved out of her mother's home and was living on her own since she was 15.

Music Career

Ani DiFranco started her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, in 1989 when she was 19. She released her first album, Ani DiFranco, in 1990 after moving to New York City. There, she took poetry classes and met poet Sekou Sundiata, who became a good friend and mentor.

For the next 15 years, Ani toured constantly, only taking breaks to record new albums. She became very popular in the folk and roots music scene in North America. In the early and mid-1990s, Ani toured by herself and also with Canadian drummer Andy Stochansky.

In 1995, Ani performed at a concert at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. This event celebrated the opening of the Woody Guthrie Archives in New York City. Later, she released a CD from this concert called Til We Outnumber Em. It featured artists like Billy Bragg and Bruce Springsteen. All the money from the CD went to the Woody Guthrie Foundation and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

In 1996, bassist Sara Lee joined Ani's touring band. Their live performances are featured on the 1997 album Living in Clip. In 1998, Andy Stochansky left to start his own music career. A new band joined Ani, including Jason Mercer on bass, Julie Wolf on keyboards, and Daren Hahn on drums. Sometimes, a horn section also played with them.

The 1990s were a big time for Ani. She played in larger venues around the world and gained international attention. She was featured in magazines and appeared on MTV and VH1. Her fun cover of the song "Wishin' and Hopin'" was used in the movie My Best Friend's Wedding. In 1998, she was a guest voice on the TV show King of the Hill, playing Peggy's feminist guitar teacher.

Starting in 1999, Righteous Babe Records began releasing albums by other artists. These included Sara Lee, Sekou Sundiata, Andrew Bird, and Anaïs Mitchell.

After the events of September 11, 2001, Ani wrote a poem called "Self Evident" about her experience in Manhattan. This poem was later included in a book of her poetry called Verses. Ani has written and performed many spoken-word pieces. She was even featured as a poet on the HBO series Def Poetry in 2005.

Since her 2005 album Knuckle Down, Ani's band has included bass player Todd Sickafoose. Other musicians like Allison Miller and Andy Borger have also played drums.

In 2007, she released Canon, a collection of her best songs. In 2008, she released Red Letter Year.

DiFranco performing in 2008

In 2009, Ani performed at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebration. She sang a new version of the old song "Which Side Are You On?" with Bruce Cockburn. She also sang with Kris Kristofferson.

Ani released the album ¿Which Side Are You On? in 2012. It featured collaborations with Pete Seeger and many New Orleans musicians. In 2014, she released Allergic to Water, and in 2017, Binary.

Her memoir, No Walls and the Recurring Dream, came out in 2019. In 2021, she released the album Revolutionary Love. In October 2023, Ani signed a letter with other artists asking for a ceasefire during the conflict in Gaza.

Ani DiFranco, RZA, and Steve Albini at The New Yorker festival in September 2005.

Personal Life

In 1998, Ani married her sound engineer, Andrew Gilchrist. They later divorced in 2003.

In 2007, Ani had her first child, a daughter. She married the child's father, Mike Napolitano, in 2009. Mike is also her music producer. In 2013, she had her second child, a son. Since 2008, Ani has lived in Bywater, New Orleans.

Ani has said she is an atheist, meaning she doesn't believe in a god. She believes religion can offer community and a place to discuss morals, but she finds problems with organized religions.

Ani has also spoken about "cancel culture", saying it doesn't help people grow. She faced criticism herself in 2013 for planning a songwriting retreat at Nottoway, a former slave plantation. She canceled the event quickly, saying she needed a "wake-up call." She later said she should have been more humble and accountable.

Music Style and Collaborations

Her Unique Style

Ani DiFranco's guitar playing is very special. She often uses a quick, choppy style and plays with her fingers. She also uses many different guitar tunings. Her lyrics are known for being clever, using alliteration (words starting with the same sound), metaphor (comparing things), and word play.

Even though her music is often called folk rock or alternative rock, she mixes in many other styles. She has added punk, funk, hip hop, and jazz sounds to her songs. While she mainly plays acoustic guitar, she has used other instruments too. Her albums have featured brass instruments, walking bass lines, strings, and even electronics and synthesizers.

Ani believes that "folk music" is more than just playing an acoustic guitar. She says it's about an attitude, knowing your background, and building a community. For her, it's music that helps different communities share their stories and struggles.

Working with Other Artists

Ani DiFranco has worked with many different musicians. In 1997, she was on Canadian songwriter Bruce Cockburn's album. In 1998, she produced an album for folk singer Dan Bern.

She also worked closely with folk singer and activist Utah Phillips. They shared the stage and made two albums together: The Past Didn't Go Anywhere (1996) and Fellow Workers (1999). These albums featured Utah Phillips's storytelling with Ani's music.

Prince recorded two songs with Ani in 1999. Funk musician Maceo Parker and rapper Corey Parker have also appeared on Ani's albums. Ani has also performed on albums by other artists like Brazilian musician Lenine and Dar Williams. She even sang a duet with Jackie Chan for a special album!

In 2010, Ani played the character Persephone on Anaïs Mitchell's album Hadestown. She also helped produce the Prison Music Project album, which featured songs by writers who were or had been in prison.

Other artists have covered Ani's songs. For example, Alana Davis had a hit song with Ani's "32 Flavors".

Meaning in Her Songs

Many of Ani's songs are about her own life, but they often have strong political messages too. She sings about important social issues like racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, and war. In 2008, she gave a song to a CD that helped people affected by the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Her mix of personal and political topics made her very popular with college students who were interested in social change. Her popularity grew mostly through word of mouth and personal connections, rather than through big media companies.

Being Independent

Ani decided to start her own record label because she wanted to be independent from big corporations. This allowed her to have complete creative freedom. For example, on her 2004 album Educated Guess, she played all the instruments and sang all the vocals herself. She even recorded the album at home and designed much of the artwork.

She has sung about this independence in her songs. "The Million You Never Made" talks about turning down a big record deal. "The Next Big Thing" describes a meeting with a record company boss who judges her by her looks.

Her business, Righteous Babe Records, grew naturally. Women in colleges started sharing her music, and she began getting offers to play concerts. Her music was sold in independent music stores and women's bookstores. In 1995, Righteous Babe Records partnered with Koch International, allowing her music to be sold in larger stores too.

Ani has often spoken with Prince about the problems with major record companies. Righteous Babe Records employs many people in her hometown of Buffalo. In a letter to Ms. magazine, she explained that her independence was about artistic freedom, not just money.

Activism and Community Work

From the very beginning of her career, Ani DiFranco has used her platform to support many social causes. She performs benefit concerts, appears on charity albums, and speaks at rallies. She also provides space at her concerts and on her website for organizations to share information. In 1999, she started her own non-profit organization.

During the first Gulf War, Ani was part of the anti-war movement. She has also been a strong supporter of groups that fight against the death penalty.

In the 2000 U.S. presidential election, she supported Green Party candidate Ralph Nader. However, she said that if she lived in a state where the vote was close, she would vote for Al Gore to prevent George W. Bush from winning.

In 2004, Ani visited Burma to learn about the country's fight for democracy. She met with the resistance leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Her song "In The Way" was later featured on a charity CD that helped the United States Campaign for Burma.

During the 2004 presidential elections, she supported Dennis Kucinich. After John Kerry became the Democratic candidate, Ani toured states where the vote was close, encouraging people to vote. In 2005, she spoke to Congress about preventing nuclear power plants and waste dumps on Native American land.

In 2002, Righteous Babe Records started the "Aiding Buffalo's Children" program. This program raised money for Buffalo's public schools. Ani donated her performance fee from a concert to start the program. This program is now part of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, supporting various charities.

In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Ani's new home, she collected donations from fans for the Katrina Piano Fund. This fund helped musicians replace instruments they lost in the hurricane.

After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, she performed at benefit concerts to raise money for cleaning up the coast and helping fishermen affected by the spill.

Ani also serves on the board of The Roots of Music. This organization provides free marching band lessons, tutoring, and mentoring to children in New Orleans.

In April 2004, Ani joined about 500,000 people at the March for Women's Lives in Washington D.C. She marched in the front row with other famous women like Margaret Cho and Gloria Steinem. Later, she performed songs on the main stage.

Scot Fisher, Ani's former manager, has worked to preserve historic buildings in Buffalo. In 1999, he and Ani bought an old church that was about to be torn down. They spent years restoring it. In 2006, the building reopened as "Babeville," which now has two concert venues, the record label's office, and an arts center.

Ani is also a member of Artists Against Racism, a charity in Toronto. In October 2023, she signed an open letter with other artists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Studio Albums

• Ani DiFranco (1990)
• Not So Soft (1991)
• Imperfectly (1992)
• Puddle Dive (1993)
• Out of Range (1994)
• Not a Pretty Girl (1995)
• Dilate (1996)
• Little Plastic Castle (1998)
• Up Up Up Up Up Up (1999)
• To the Teeth (1999)
• Revelling/Reckoning (2001)
• Evolve (2003)
• Educated Guess (2004)
• Knuckle Down (2005)
• Reprieve (2006)
• Red Letter Year (2008)
• ¿Which Side Are You On? (2012)
• Allergic to Water (2014)
• Binary (2017)
• Revolutionary Love (2021)
• Unprecedented Sh!t (2024)

with Utah Phillips

• The Past Didn't Go Anywhere (1996)
• Fellow Workers (1999)

Live Albums

• 1994 – An Acoustic Evening With
• 1994 – Women in (E)motion (German Release)
• 1997 – Living in Clip
• 2002 – So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter
• 2004 – Atlanta – 10.9.03 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2004 – Sacramento – 10.25.03 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2004 – Portland – 4.7.04 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2005 – Boston – 11.16.03 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2005 – Chicago – 1.17.04 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2005 – Madison – 1.25.04 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2005 – Rome – 11.15.04 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2006 – Carnegie Hall – 4.6.02 (Official Bootleg series No. 1 – available in stores)
• 2007 – Boston – 11.10.06 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2008 – Hamburg – 10.18.07 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2009 – Saratoga, CA – 9.18.06 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2009 – Chicago – 9.22.07 (Official Bootleg series #1)
• 2010 – Live at Bull Moose Music (Limited edition)
• 2012 – Buffalo – April 22, 2012 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2013 – London – October 29, 2008 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2014 – Ridgefield, CT – November 18, 2009 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2014 – Harrisburg, PA – January 23, 2008 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2015 – New York, NY – March 30, 1995 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2016 – Glenside, PA – November 11, 2012 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2016 – Melbourne, FL – January 19, 2016 (Official Bootleg series #2)
• 2018 – Charlottesville, VA 5.12.18 (Official Bootleg series #3)
• 2019 – Woodstock, NY Jun 16, 2019 (Official Bootleg series #3)
• 2020 – Keene, NH Nov 16, 2019 (Official Bootleg series #3)
• 2021 – Revolutionary Love: Live at Big Blue

EPs

• 1996 – More Joy, Less Shame
• 1999 – Little Plastic Remixes (limited distribution)
• 2000 – Swing Set
• 2016 – Play God

Videos

• 2002 – Render: Spanning Time with Ani DiFranco
• 2004 – Trust
• 2008 – Live at Babeville

Compilations

• 1993 – Like I Said: Songs 1990–91
• 1995 – Live from Mountain Stage, Vol. 8 – "Buildings & Bridges (live)"
• 1996 – Women's Work – "Cradle and All (live)"
• 1996 – Women: Live from Mountain Stage – "Egos Like Hairdos (live)"
• 1997 – Divine Divas: A World of Women's Voices – "Amazing Grace"
• 1998 – Live at World Café Vol. 6 – "Buildings & Bridges (live)"
• 1998 – Modern Day Storytellers – "Buildings & Bridges"
• 1998 – Rare on Air Vol. 4 (KCRW) – "Gravel (live)"
• 1998 – Where Have All the Flowers Gone: Songs of Pete Seeger – "My Name is Lisa Kalvelage"
• 1998 – Women of Spirit – "Done Wrong"
• 1999 – Respect: A Century of Women in Music – "32 Flavors"
• 2000 – Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska – "Used Cars"
• 2000 – Best of Hard Rock Café Live – "Little Plastic Castle (live)"
• 2000 – 'Til We Outnumber 'Em – Performed "Do Re Mi" solo and "Ramblin' Round" with Indigo Girls; Producer
• 2001 – Live @ The World Café Vol. 10 – "32 Flavors"
• 2001 – Best of Sessions at West 54th – "32 Flavors"
• 2002 – Gascd – "Your Next Bold Move"
• 2002 – Going Driftless: An Artist Tribute to Greg Brown – "The Poet Game"
• 2002 – When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You'd Hear – "Unforgettable" w/ Jackie Chan
• 2003 – Peace Not War – "Self Evident"
• 2004 – Peace Not War Vol. 2 – "Animal"
• 2004 – For the Lady – "In the Way"
• 2005 – Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004 (CD & DVD) – "Evolve (live)"
• 2006 – Music Is Hope – "Napoleon (remix)"
• 2006 – Dead Man Walking: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture – "Crime for Crime", "Fuel", "Up Up Up Up Up Up"
• 2007 – Canon
• 2007 – Sowing the Seed: The 10th Anniversary Appleseed Recordings – "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy"
• 2007 – Cool as Folk: Cambridge Folk Festival – "Cradle and All (live)"
• 2009 – Singing Through the Hard Times: A Utah Phillips Celebration – "The International"
• 2011 – Note of Hope: A Celebration of Woody Guthrie – "Voice"
• 2011 – Every Mother Counts – "Present/Infant" (Remix)
• 2012 – Occupy This Album – "Which Side Are You On? (a capella)"
• 2019 – No Walls Mixtape
• 2020 – Prison Music Project: Long Time Gone – "Nowhere but Barstow and Prison"

As Producer

• 1998 – Dan Bern – Fifty Eggs
• 2010 – Margaret Cho – Cho Dependent – co-producer on "Captain Cameltoe"
• 2017 – Peter Mulvey – Are You Listening?
• 2020 – Prison Music Project: Long Time Gone

Other Contributions

• 1989 – Demo tape (unreleased)
• 2001 – John Gorka – The Company You Keep – backing vocals on "Oh Abraham"
• 2006 – Jason Karaban – Doomed to Make Choices
• 2006 – Twilight Singers – Powder Burns – Featured on "Bonnie Brae," "Candy Cane Crawl," and "Powder Burns"
• 2008 – Dr. John – The City That Care Forgot – Contributed backing vocals to the title track.
• 2009 – Jason Karaban – Sobriety Kills
• 2010 – Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown
• 2010 – Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Preservation: An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program – Featured on "Freight Train"
• 2011 – Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps – Featured on "Blackbird and the Fox"
• 2016 – Ryan Harvey – Featured on "Old Man Trump"
• 2019 – Rising Appalachia – Leylines – Featured on "Speak Out"
• 2021 – Pieta Brown – Featured on "We Are Not Machines"

Poetry

• 2004 – Self-evident: poesie e disegni
• 2007 – Verses