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Ani DiFrancoIf D.I.Y. folk music has a poster girl, it is Ani DiFranco. She started playing Beatles covers in Buffalo, New York area bars at age nine and began writing her own material when she moved out on her own at age 15. By age 19, she had composed more than 100 original songs and became a consistent performer on the New York City club circuit.After she pressed a 500 copy demo that quickly sold out in 1990, DiFranco founded the Righteous Babe record label as a means of distributing her music without relying on mainstream media and multi-national industry conglomerates. Turning away labels big and small, Ani independently released her second album, Not So Soft (1991), and toured the nation alone in her Volkswagen playing anywhere she could get a gig. More than 17 years and 17 albums later, DiFranco continues to reject the record industry. She has become a symbol for feminism, counterculture and grassroots politics through her passionately provocative music. Remembering her organic beginnings and always raising the bar with her songwriting craft, she blended jazz, funk and Latin elements on Evolve (2003), followed by an entirely solo performance Educated Guess (2004). Ani continues to innovate and inspire, recently releasing Reprieve (2006) and a live album that captured her 2002 performance at Carnegie Hall. DiFranco’s percussive playing technique led Alvarez to develop a signature Yairi acoustic model to her exact specifications. The ADY1 has an extended pickguard and an extra-deep mahogany body with electronics capable of capturing each note of Ani’s powerful performances. View the artist's website: www.righteousbabe.com |
