Ani DiFranco is one of the most accomplished folk singers of our time. She also has her own record label — Righteous Babe Records.
Angela Maria “Ani” DiFranco was born on September 23rd, 1970 in Buffalo, New York, and started her career at nine years old when her guitar teacher helped her land her first performance. DiFranco quickly became hooked and honed her craft for years before releasing her debut album in 1990.
Her songs have been tackling social, economic, and political issues for years. While many of her lyrics seek to bring about change and inclusivity, there are a few that have been widely recognized as parts of larger activist movements. “Trickle Down” has become a rallying cry against racism and gentrification, while “To The Teeth” speaks about the need for gun control. Her hit “In or Out” begs the listener to reevaluate traditional gender and sexual labels, and “Play God” has become an anthem for anyone who is fighting for reproductive rights.
DiFranco is an activist in person as well as in her lyrics, appearing at the March for Women’s Rights in 2004, and she’s often hosted “Vote, Dammit” tours in key cities during presidential election years, most recently in 2016.
Her record label also heads a foundation of the same name that openly advocates for the LGBTI community. She has won many awards and accolades, including The Gay/Lesbian American Music Award for Female Artist of the Year.
Ani first came out in her early 20’s, though she encountered a lot of pushback about her sexuality. She spoke with The Guardian in 2019.
“It’s so unfortunate that marginalised communities are in competition for the tiny allotment of space society gives them,” she says, empathising with the reasoning of her critics. “You have to be queer enough to qualify; people judge each other about who can claim an identity. Here we are listing our labels in order of importance and lining up in the hierarchy of whatever. We lose each other as people. I’m sorry if I’m not what you need me to be in a moment. I can only be me.”[1]