Art Is Activism

By John Malkin, AlterNet. Posted October 31, 2004.

Ani DiFranco is a prolific singer, songwriter and guitarist who has produced 20 of her own albums in the past 15 years. She is known for her gripping lyrics, percussive guitar style, and highly energized live shows. Spanning many musical genres, from folk-punk to jazz-funk, her very personal music has garnered her a deeply loyal fan base.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1970, she started performing in local bars at the age of nine. Despite offers from major and independent record labels to produce and distribute her music, she formed her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, when she was 19. She has long been committed to making music with integrity and honesty and an openness to move beyond stereotypes and challenge the status quo.

Ani DiFranco tours worldwide much of the year and spent recent months performing in swing states of the U.S. on her Vote Dammit! Tour, where she has led the move by musicians to encourage their fans to participate in the political process. Likewise, at righteousbabe.com, fans can read about peace and justice organizations to become involved with, as well as independent media sources to pay attention to.

Her latest album, "Educated Guess" is a return to her earlier solo sound of guitar and vocals without a band and was recorded on a simple 16-track recorder in her home. In the liner notes, Ani writes, "How can one talk on the role of politics in art when art is activism and anyway both are just a lifelong light shining through a swinging prism?"

Ani will be releasing a new album called "Knuckledown" on Jan. 25, 2005. The CD features a full band on most tracks and was co-produced by Joe Henry. Also scheduled for release on Nov. 9 is "Trust," a DVD of Ani's recent live performance in Washington D.C., which includes an appearance by Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

The following interview was recorded on Oct. 1, 2004 for Free Radio Santa Cruz, a commercial-free, collectively-run radio station that operated for almost 10 years without a license until Sept. 29, 2004, when it was raided by FCC agents and sixteen armed federal marshals. FRSC can now be heard on the internet at www.freakradio.org. On Oct. 24, an autonomous group calling itself Santa Cruz Radio Access Movement, or SCRAM, began broadcasting the web-stream locally at the station's old address on the radio dial, 101.1 FM.

Ani, I am grateful to be able to speak with you today.

Thank you.

What is it about the current state of the world and this particular election that makes you feel so strongly about encouraging your fans to be politically active and vote? What is at stake?

(Laughter) What is it about the current state of the world? Well, I think that first and foremost it is the government of the United States! (Laughter) That is a pretty big problem in the world. I seems like a real good time to talk about voting, about getting registered and getting activated. I am pretty thrilled to be one of many tours out there right now, addressing the exact same issue. I think that in every desperate situation, such as the political circumstance we find ourselves in these days, with this administration, there are great opportunities for change. Opportunities for dialogue. I guess it is about trying to be smart and strategic and capitalize on that opportunity.

There are just a whole lot of people out there right now becoming aware of the fact that we haven't been participating as citizens of this country. Statistically, the voting participation is so low, especially among young people. To use this crisis as an opportunity to get inspired, to participate once again. Get registered and not just vote this November, but in every election from now on. Sort of a life-style shift in this country, from consumers back to citizens. It is kind of what I am feeling around me right now and I am trying to donate my energies to.

What kind of response are you getting from audiences?

Oh, really strong! It is quite thrilling. Tons of people are getting registered to vote at these shows that are in the swing states. I am sharing the stage with other political artists like Dan Bern, Margaret Cho, The Indigo Girls and Suzanne Westenhoefer. And then in between the artists is a slide show that we show along with music that is about the history of voting in this country. How hard activists – people, citizens – fought for the right to vote, which is very inspiring to me, anyway, to watch. To watch this slideshow and feel inspired to exercise that right. It feels like the atmosphere of inspiration is pretty high everywhere we go and the possibility for change therefore is too.

There is one popular view of rock and roll – particularly punk rock – that it lives outside of politics and even that there is an apathy among fans about the possibilities of social change. Do you think that holds true anymore, if it ever did?

John Malkin is a musician and journalist who hosts a weekly radio program focusing on social change and spiritual growth. A book of his interviews with musicians, including Ani DiFranco, will be published by Parallax Press in the spring of 2005 with the title "Sounds of Freedom."

Liked this story? Get top stories in your inbox each week from AlterNet! Sign up now »