Photos by Jen Vesp – Ani DiFranco is an American singer-songwriter and activist born on September 23, 1970, in Buffalo, New York. She began performing at local bars at age 9 and moved to New York City at 16 to pursue music. In 1990, she founded Righteous Babe Records, one of the first artist-owned labels, allowing her to maintain creative and political independence.
DiFranco’s music blends folk, punk, jazz, funk, and hip-hop, and often addresses social and political issues such as feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and anti-war activism. She has released over 20 albums and collaborated with artists like Pete Seeger, Chuck D, and Prince .
In 2019, she published her memoir, No Walls and the Recurring Dream, which became a New York Times bestseller. She also released a children’s book, The Knowing, in 2023. In 2025, DiFranco made her Broadway debut as Persephone in the musical Hadestown, drawing from her earlier contributions to the show’s concept album.
Throughout her career, DiFranco has remained a prominent voice in the DIY music movement and continues to inspire through her music and activism.
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