Ani DiFranco

Ani DiFranco

- John Wirt

I conoclast singer-songwriter, indie music pioneer and social activist Ani DiFranco moved to New Orleans in 2003. A lover of the city and its music, she recruited local drummer Terence Higgins into her band. And Ivan Neville, Cyril Neville and horn players from Galactic, Bonerama and the Rebirth Brass Band have all contributed to DiFranco’s made-in-New Orleans recordings.

“I have a blast playing on Ani’s recordings,” Ivan Neville said. “She’s so creative and so urgent with what she says and how she expresses herself in music. And when she has me come over and play on her stuff, she doesn’t tell me what to do. She wants me to play what I hear. That’s how I collaborate with her. I really love that.”

A music pro since her teens, DiFranco moved from her native Buffalo to New York City when she was 18. Her indie recording artist career began when she made a collection of songs available to fans via 500 cassettes. The tape’s sold-out success inspired the 1990 formation of DiFranco’s indie label, Righteous Babe Records.

Constant touring and more self-made albums expanded the singer’s grassroots popularity throughout the ’90s. Her 1995 album, Not a Pretty Girl, and its follow-up, Dilate, made the fiercely independent and political artist a mainstream star.

When she’s not touring, DiFranco lives in New Orleans with her husband, the producer, engineer and musician Mike Napolitano, and their two children. Taking a break this year from songwriting, she’s currently working on her memoir.

You moved to New Orleans in 2003. Many celebrities, musicians, actors and filmmakers move to the city but they don’t stay. Are you still enjoying being here?

I hope I can someday grow old enough to say I’m from New Orleans. It could take 50 years of being a newcomer to earn that. But for me, it’s mecca.