Ani DiFranco
USA, 1989–now
Singer from Buffalo who started her own label at nineteen rather than sign to anyone, and has released everything on it since. Acoustic guitar played percussively, with the strings slapped and the nails taped, under lyrics that are political without being folk-revival polite. Pete Seeger was a mentor and later a collaborator.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Ani DiFranco and 1 artist Ani DiFranco influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Ani DiFranco?
- Pete Seeger — Named among her mentors, and not only as a figure — they later recorded and appeared together. She is the bridge from the Weavers' activism to indie rock.
- Woody Guthrie — The protest-song tradition she works in, and one she has marked in person — she played the opening of the Woody Guthrie Archives in 1995 alongside Springsteen and Billy Bragg.
- Joni Mitchell — The other half — open tunings and a guitar part that is the arrangement rather than an accompaniment to it.
Which artists did Ani DiFranco influence?
- Nelly Furtado — The biggest one, in her own words: 'when I was a teenager, I wanted to be Ani DiFranco. I never wanted to be part of corporate music.' It explains why an album with a Timbaland hit on it still sounds like someone who started out refusing the industry.