{"id":34326,"date":"2022-11-03T19:59:14","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T23:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/?p=34326"},"modified":"2022-11-04T19:42:01","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T23:42:01","slug":"interview-ani-difranco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/2022\/11\/03\/interview-ani-difranco\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW: ANI DIFRANCO"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Eva Fournel\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I recently got to speak with revolutionary singer-songwriter, activist, and record label owner of Righteous Babe Records, Ani DiFranco, as she kicks off her Righteous Babes Revue tour alongside her fellow Babes. Ani openly discusses the realities and values of a small-business record label, what activism means to her, and shares honest, empathetic advice for young artists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ani (A): Hello!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eva (E): Hi, this is Eva!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: How are you, Eva?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: I\u2019m good, how are you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: I am good.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: It\u2019s so nice to meet you, even if it\u2019s just over the phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yeah, cool, totally, thanks for your time!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Well, thank you for agreeing to speak with me. I\u2019ll be at your concert on November 9th, so I guess I\u2019ll be seeing you there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Groovy! Tell me, where am I on November 9th, where are you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: I\u2019m in Boston, so I\u2019ll see you at the Royale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Ok, got you! Is that new for me in Boston? It doesn\u2019t sound familiar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: There\u2019s quite a few venues here in Boston\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: I mean I\u2019ve been at the Orpheum like 700 times, so I\u2019m excited for a different place. <\/span><\/p>\n

E: Yeah, it\u2019s a good venue and I\u2019ve been there quite a few times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Ok, ok cool!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: So, it\u2019s my first time going to a Righteous Babes Revue concert, so I just want to ask you a few questions about the record label, you- on the official website, Righteous Babe Records is defined as a \u201cpeople-friendly, sub-corporate, women-informed, queer-happy small business that <\/span>puts music before rock stardom and ideology before profit\u201d. Now that\u2019s a really inspiring message with really respectable values that I wish all major labels could aspire to. So, on a technical standpoint, what makes RBR different from all these major record labels? What\u2019s the artist experience like there?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Well, gee, I don\u2019t know, you\u2019d have to ask the Babes. But, I think that there is, you know the head of the label, you\u2019re talking to, you know, when the head of the label is touring with musicians who also work and operate through the label, that\u2019s a fundamentally different situation. And I think the level of empathy, you know, for the life of a touring musician and the needs of an independent artist in the world, I mean if I\u2019d say one thing about Righteous Babe is that artists come and go as they please. There\u2019s no, \u201cNo you can\u2019t get off the label, no you can\u2019t move on-\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Freedom?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: There\u2019s freedom- understanding, I hope, for what it takes. You know, we are not a major label. We don\u2019t have that level of funds or connections or marketing muscle. You can\u2019t build something out of nothing in a way that a major label could, but we can support working musicians and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve been doing for 30 years, starting with me. For artists that are already out there, that are going to make music no matter what, we have over the years built kind of an infrastructure to support that- manufacturing, distributing records, manufacturing with merch, fulfill merch orders, all those sorts of things, helping people promote their tours, shows, their records. These are the things we\u2019ve been up to since the beginning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of supporting indie artists, I think, that\u2019s our game. I feel like a label is more vibrant now than it\u2019s ever been. We have a lot of really hip, cool artists that are under our umbrella right now doing great work and when we came up with the idea for a Righteous Babe Revue, which is basically a super-group, a handful of the artists that we\u2019re working with right now, it was really cool to watch them say, \u201cYeah, ok I\u2019m down!\u201d They\u2019ve been getting together, rehearsing, and learning each other\u2019s songs and becoming a band for the occasion of this tour and it\u2019s really beautiful seeing these various women get behind each other\u2019s music and become a unit, a unique musical being, and take that being out on the road and try something totally new together and sort of build that community even bigger, even deeper with each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Yeah, I think that\u2019s the appeal of RBR, that it\u2019s this big community, there\u2019s real freedom, real support, and I think that\u2019s what makes it different from all other major record companies. As you were talking about all these hip artists that you represent, it\u2019s actually how I found out about Righteous Babes Revue. I was on Instagram and I discovered Gracie and Rachel and I was just stalking their social media, stalking their Spotify, and I was like \u201cWow, I really like this! Are they playing anywhere?\u201d So I checked and saw that they were playing in Boston and also playing alongside a bunch of other awesome artists, yourself included. So, how do you select the artists that you represent?<\/span><\/p>\n

A: I mean it\u2019s a real organic process. It\u2019s not like, you know, people submit da-da-da-da and we blah review the blah, it\u2019s sort of like, I\u2019m out there in the world. I am intersecting other musicians in all sorts of wild and wooly ways and sometimes I come across people that I think are wonderful who are doing shit on their own, who could use some support, and it just feels like the right fit, you know? A label like RBR and what we have to offer makes sense to them and they\u2019re people whose work and presence in the world I appreciate. It just sort of happens organically like that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Ok, yeah the values that you apply to your music, your artists, all these people that you represent, you really put it all into this label and making it something true to you. I see you promote a lot of social and climate activism through your work too, music and the label. Does the label work with any organizations directly or is this label more of just a platform to promote them on? Are there any relationships that you\u2019ve built through your activism?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Oh, yeah, well I have tons of associations with tons of organizations and I do a lot of political work. Righteous Babe, we also do have a foundation that\u2019s set up to do direct support for activists. But it\u2019s sort of like Righteous Babe is part of my activism, you know? I support people defending women\u2019s right to choose, I support people trying to decarcerate America and fix the broken criminal justice system. I support people doing climate activism, all kinds of stuff. And then, I support independent artists, many of whom are political, but all of whom, you know it\u2019s almost like their existence in the world- a woman or a queer person, or just people outside of the old boys\u2019 club of the music business- making music or singing about their lives, doing things in a different way, that\u2019s political in of itself. To have a woman in control of her career and of her voice, her job, her life, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing and supporting. RBR is sort of another [part] of my being active in the world. Supporting the artistic arena of, you know, trying to make the world a better place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Absolutely, and you know, you\u2019re so right about just a woman herself making her own music and representing herself is political in of itself. Besides incorporating this activism into the label and the artists, you also participate in a lot political songwriting and you use your music for social change and to kind of start a conversation, so as you do this, is there a bridge between music that\u2019s addressing the public and voicing more political, social activism and then music that\u2019s more just Ani talking to Ani, personal music? Are they more separate or do they coexist?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: I mean, I started writing songs when I was 14 and it was very much Ani talking to Ani and trying to figure out who Ani was and why did she feel so much like a square peg in a round hole? Like, looking around at the world, it seems so crazy and really wrong, and wondering, \u201cIs it me?\u201d I think- and trying to distance myself from the things I was taught and the things I was taught to assume, ways I was taught to operate, you know, even like, \u201cA career in music means you get a record deal and you dot, dot, dot, and x,y,z\u201d. Just, questioning all of it, like, \u201cReally, is that the only path? Is this the only way?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think 30 years of doing that through my art have helped me to find myself and low and behold when you do that, and share that process with others, it can help others to find themselves. It\u2019s <\/span>a real- I just love that. To me, that just seems sort of like the fundamental process of art, where the artist puts something into the world, and the receiver of it is not only taking that into potentially their own purpose, but then by receiving it and affirming it and holding it and giving it a place in the world to live in their own heart, in their own life, you know, affirms and ignites the artist into their own purpose, and identity, and existence. This circular feedback loop of positivity and mutual affirmation that, I mean it\u2019s my greatest joy, to have so many responses, whether it be through the mail or in-person, or people over the years who say, \u201cBecause of you, because of your music, I, dot dot dot or I started doing this radically awesome shit or I could x,y,z.\u201d That\u2019s my greatest joy in life, helping be apart of somebody unlocking themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: And that\u2019s what you\u2019d say your purpose for what you do is, igniting that spark in people and giving them a voice or helping them discover their voice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yeah, it\u2019s never been about \u201cDo as I do\u201d or \u201cFollow me\u201d, it\u2019s been about just being an example of somebody who\u2019s following their own heart and proving that it\u2019s a possibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: What advice do you have to artists that are coming into this industry who are not only doubting joining the major record label world, but also doubting themselves and making it in this industry?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: I mean, if I had to narrow it down at one place in the sort of vast answer to that question, I would start with: Give yourself time. Give yourself space when you need it. I think that doubting yourself and not knowing what choice to make, that\u2019s part of the process. What I think I did the\u00a0<\/span>most wrong along the way, what I would change if I could go back to baby Ani, I would, when I\u2019m really lost, when I\u2019m really conflicted, or when I\u2019m really not ready to take the next step, don\u2019t. Get the f**k off stage. Go take a month off, take a year off, take a decade off! Go, I don\u2019t know, macram\u00e9, you know, go to Africa, help build a hospital. Whatever, if you need time to find yourself and the direction you need to go in, go. Don\u2019t succumb to the pressure to \u201cstay on your horse, stay on stage, make that next record, while the iron is hot\u201d, you hear that all the time and it\u2019s a lot when you\u2019re young! While the iron is hot, while the iron is hot! Put away that pressure and put away those voices, and take your time. Give yourself the space you need to find your way because really, sometimes doing nothing is the right path to doing the right thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Mhm, good work takes time. The truth of being an artist I guess, especially in the major record label world, is that you make a lot of sacrifices for your artistry, and what you want to tell people is that they don\u2019t have to make those kinds of sacrifices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yeah, I mean you would hope. Although, what I really did in reality, is self-impose, you know, deadlines. In a different way, instead of being at the mercy of business people who are just like \u201cGet her out there, get her out there! Put her in press, get her on TV\u201d. Instead of being pressured by people who did not think of me as a whole person, a holistic approach, I did that to my fu**ing self. That\u2019s what I regret, but on the other hand, I was in charge of so many people\u2019s livelihoods at the label, in my touring crew, in my band along the way. I felt like I couldn\u2019t stop and tell everyone, \u201cI\u2019m taking a year off, sorry, figure it out\u201d. You know, there were pressures c<\/span>oming from within me to do more faster, harder, longer than was right. So, it\u2019s hard for people to take the time and space they need, I think, to be okay. So, that\u2019s my biggest advice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: I think that\u2019s very good advice. It\u2019s very good advice to value your autonomy and your right to choose, and to make those hard choices for yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yeah, and I feel like the pandemic kind of brought that type of awareness home to a lot of us, like \u201cOh this stepping back from all of it feels really good, does the temperature always need to be turned up so high? Maybe not.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Absolutely! See, you just got me so excited to go see your show November 9th! What should I expect? What should I be looking forward to?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Oh yeah, well, the Righteous Babes Revue is going to be really cool and renegade and they’ll probably do some sitting in with me and my band. My band this time around is going to be unique because Todd, my bass-playing friend and right-hand man of like twenty-freaking-five years now, he\u2019ll be there by my side. But then, we\u2019re working with a new drummer, Jharis Yokley.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Sorry, what\u2019s his name?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Jharis Yokley! It\u2019s a really fascinating name, that\u2019s J-h-a-r-i-s and his last name is Y o-k-l-e-y. So, this is the first time that we\u2019re ever playing together, so it\u2019ll be really new and different. I mean drums are so key to a band and a show. It\u2019s going to be really a new thing that\u2019s happening, you know, we\u2019re getting together in a couple of days to rehearse and then we\u2019re just going to go for it!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Ok! I\u2019m so excited to be there in person and hear it all live and all these songs that I\u2019ve been listening to, since I found about it, I\u2019m even more stoked. Is there anything you want to say to the people before we wrap up today? It could be anything, it could go back to anything else we talked about, something about the show, or life itself, go for it!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yes, vote! Don\u2019t forget to vote!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Vote Dammit!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yeah, Vote Dammit! You know, I think the Boston show is after Election Day. Am I right about that? I can\u2019t remember the date of it. So, the Boston audience is lucky that they will actually get to enjoy me playing music and playing guitar and singing, because all of my shows till now and up to election day is just me standing there going, \u201cVote! Vote! Vote! Vote!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: I mean hey, the people gotta know!<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Yeah, yeah, I mean we just gotta do it. So anyway, if this article is coming out before election day, that\u2019d be the only thing I would add, is \u201cDon\u2019t forget to vote\u201d. Now or never.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: It most likely is, so people still have a chance to know. You\u2019d be surprised how many young people don\u2019t even know that they vote right now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Mhm, Mhm, yup, so if I had one dying wish, it\u2019d be that they did know and they exercise their franchise and change this fu**ing nation to be what it\u2019s meant to be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E: Thank you so much for your time, I\u2019m so glad I got to talk to you today. I\u2019m so excited to see you soon!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A: Cool, well thanks Eva for your time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ani DiFranco will be performing at The Royale in Boston, MA on November 9th. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Eva Fournel\u00a0 I recently got to speak with revolutionary singer-songwriter, activist, and record label owner of Righteous Babe Records, Ani DiFranco, as she kicks off her Righteous Babes Revue tour alongside her fellow Babes. Ani openly discusses the realities and values of a small-business record label, what activism means to her, and shares honest, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20911,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,1523],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34326"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34326"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34372,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34326\/revisions\/34372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}