Voices to Hear

Written by John from altjiranga mitjina




This week’s voice to hear is Ani Difranco.Ani defies characterization; she is a punk folk jazz singer/songwriter. She was born in Buffalo New York and grew up on the same typical radio pop bubblegum that we all do. Somewhere along the way she turned towards folk music.

Ani developed a very loyal fan base with her touring and the records she put out. Not willing to sign to a major label and have to design her sound to fit their needs she established her own label, Righteous Babe Records. All her music and some personally chosen others appear on her label. She has put out over 18 studio albums and 8 live albums.

As she grows as a musician and a person her sound has evolved. Her early sound was folk/punk/rock with a lot of times just her and her guitar. Now she is not above using complete bands and strings and whatever she feels will best suit the song.

She shines on her live material. Her live In Clip and Carnegie Hall albums are two of the best live albums by anyone. She still lives in Buffalo but recently has also taken a home in New Orleans. In fact she was in the crescent city just days before Katrina struck.

Ani’s lyrics are some of the most amazing song writing you’ll hear. A lot of her songs are told from a female point of view, about why she should have to conform to what others thinks she should be. Her newest album Reprise is more low key to some of more recent efforts and on first listen I was somewhat put off. But after few listens this album has become one of my favorites.

Ani has such a wide range of selection that there is definitely something there for you to like. Like the song says, she has “32 flavors.”


John of altjiranga mitjina apologizes upfront that this was a short column, but he just got word that his Dad is not doing very well and he’s on his way to Tennessee now. He’s just waiting for his brother to come meet him so he’s trying to keep himself occupied.