Not So Soft – The Inspirational Ani DiFranco

Hello there Fe-liners, I hope 2014 is treating you well so far. For my first blog post of the New Year, I thought I’d transport you back in time to the mid-nineties when I was growing up in a little corner of North Devon.

When I was about 15, one of the cool girls at my school brought in a copy (on nineties-tastic cassette tape, no less) of Ani DiFranco’s Living in Clip, declaring it to be “awesome” or whatever phrase cool teens were using back then. Naturally said tape went viral and we were soon all hauled up in our bedrooms listening to it on repeat. This, along with Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Garbage’s 2.0, became the soundtrack to my late teens. Whereas I generally look back at things that were cool for a while in school with a nostalgic roll of the eyes; I still frequently listen to Living in Clip, although naturally I’ve upgraded to CD.

Ani isn’t adverse to the odd expletive and her music is often very political, which in itself appealed to teenage me, however I’ve found that her music has spoken to me in different ways over the years and I continue to find new meaning in her brilliant lyrics. It can be extremely moving – Untouchable Face, for example, is one of the best unrequited love songs I’ve ever heard. She is completely honest in her writing and does not shy away from being opinionated, something it is hard not to admire regardless of whether her style is your cup of tea.

The story of Ani DiFranco is quite the lesson in believing in yourself and your own abilities. In the early nineties when she was just starting out, she took the controversial decision to keep creative control over her music, the direction it would be taken, and how it would be marketed. “That’s why, in the early 1990s—an era when “success” was still defined by moving to the big city and hoping to get “discovered” by the big leagues—Ani and Scot [Fisher, her manager] chose to keep things small and local. Turning down offers from labels both major and indie, they started their own company” and Righteous Babe Records is still going strong.

I remember being very impressed by her courage to turn down contracts that most would have taken without hesitation and her wisdom to see that another direction was both available and more suited to her. I think that it is easy, regardless of which industry you are in, to accept the big contract, the guaranteed pay cheque, and the so-called job security. Once the celebratory air of achievement has worn off however, you may well discover that there is a pay-off; your time is not your own, you have to answer to shareholders, and you can find yourself feeling both trapped and unfulfilled. I have never been one to stay in a job in which I am unhappy however good it may be at paying my bills, being of the opinion that life is too short. I have always felt that if things aren’t working I need to take steps to change them, even if that means toning down my lifestyle for a while. I owe this philosophy mainly to my upbringing but it is also partly due to the example that Ani DiFranco had set for me.

While researching this article, I came across a project of Ani’s that inspired even more respect for her which I simply had to share with you. The Delaware Asbury Methodist Church in Ani’s home town of Buffalo was built in the 1870’s, stood empty for over 20 years after closing its doors in the 1980’s during which time anything of value was sold or looted. Having spearheaded a fundraising project to keep the wrecking ball at bay, Ani and her manager Scot went on to purchase the building and, contracting local firms, carefully restored and converted it. Babeville, as it was re-christened, opened its doors in 2007 and is now a centre “for music, art, and community projects” as well as the new offices for Righteous Babe Records. A visit there now has pride of place on my personal bucket list.

Restoration projects aside, Ani has released over 20 albums (most recently ¿Which Side Are You On? in 2012 – track 2, Unworry, being a personal favourite) earning international respect in the process, and toured all over the world. She is a tireless campaigner for human rights both through her music and by lending her voice and time to various causes – she is completely uncompromising when it comes to taking a stand against injustice.

Now a mother of two, Ani is as true to herself as she ever was. As it says on the Righteous Babe Records website, her mission has always been to “use her voice and her guitar as honestly and unflinchingly as she could, writing and playing songs that came straight from her own experience, her boundless imagination, her sharp wit, and her ever-more-nuanced understanding of how the world works. She did it in noisy bars with nothing but a shaved head and a lone guitar in 1990, and she’s doing it with renewed intensity today.”

Freedom and fulfilment to you all,

 

 

 

 

(Find out more about Debs on the Contributors page, or read her blog: Life, Likings, Lobsters)

 

My new musical obsession – Haim

I love music and I listen to music pretty much 24/7, I am constantly plugged in at my desk, in the car, whilst walking, cooking and in the bath. I am pretty sure that this baby is going to come out singing.

There has been a theme in my life since I was about 3 years old that I have always had a female musical obsession. It started out, well not with a real band, but Jem and the Holograms from the 80s cartoon. Moving further into the 80s it was Madonna, Kylie and then Belinda Carlisle. The 90s, Louise Wener from Sleeper and one of my biggest obsessions, Kenickie (Lauren Laverne’s 90s indie band. Through the 00s there was a strong Canadian theme as I was living there at the time, Feist, Emily Haines from Metric and Tegan and Sara. 

So what’s with the obsession? Well first of all it’s the music, I love music and I am envious of anyone that can play in public and with an air of cool. I do play music and can play, just not in public, I get massive stage fright, so I am in awe of musicians. Then there is the attitude, the I don’t care what people think of me attitude, I do what I want and I do what I feel like.

Lastly there are the clothes, look at the picture of Jem above and tell me that’s not cool. Again since about the age of 3 I have wanted to dress like a rockstar. I used to walk around the house with my aunty’s old snake skin stilettos on, an oversized stripy t-shirt with a belt around the waist. This has carried on through my life and items like my fake fur jacket and a pair of sunnies make me feel like I can rule the world.

So when I find a new female artist that I love, I find a lot inspiration in them. Music, fashion and personal inspiration and this gets me excited about life all over again. It makes me want to summon my inner rock star and put on an awesome outfit, listen to more and more music and it makes me want to get out there and do more cool things, achieve more and throw caution to the wind.

I am really hoping that through this article it is all becoming clear how Fe-line really came to be and that although only a real life entity for the last two years, it is something that has been in the making all of my life. Music, fashion and inspiration have been flowing through my veins since the early 80s. The beauty of the world today is I can share it all with you, my diary of all my random musings has become my blog, my physical girl wall of inspiring artists if now a Pinterest board and my mixed tapes and home made radio station are now playlists.

So who are my new obsession? Well they are three sisters hailing from California who go by the name Haim. They have awesome style and a nonchalant air of cool about them. They also come across as very funny women, down to earth and incredibly endearing. Here they are covering one of my favourite Sheryl Crow songs ‘Strong Enough.’

I can’t really remember how I first heard about Haim but since hearing the song ‘Don’t save me’ I have been a massive fan. Their 2013 album ‘Days are Gone’ is an all time office favourite of mine with the songs ‘If I could change your mind’ and ‘Running if you call my name’ being two I think I listen to on a daily basis. I think my baby is going to come out knowing Haim pretty well.

From a fashion point of view Haim also get my vote, I kind of love the resurgence of the 90s indie chick look and Haim rock it incredibly well with a modern twist: leather jackets, sunnies, long hair, short skirts and boots are often on the Haim fashion menu. I enjoyed rocking this look in the 90s when I first got into the indie scene and it is comforting for me that it’s back and long may it last I say. The only thing that upsets me is that I sold my whole Doc Martens collection (about 10 pairs) at a car boot sale in 2005 as I never thought this revival would come.

Haim are riding high at the moment and they have universal appeal, they are loved by the serious music press, the fashion mags and even by David Cameron apparently. I think the Haim ladies are incredibly Fe-line because they are inspiring, they do things their way, they are successful but they aren’t big headed with it. Long may it last for these awesome women and I hope that they keep releasing great music.

Love and rock stars,