All Of It – Ani DiFranco on Her New Album, Documentary, and Starring in 'Hadestown'

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Kousha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Ani DiFranco
Air Date: May 24, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode centers on acclaimed singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, as she discusses her new album "Unprecedented Shiznall," her upcoming documentary premiering at Tribeca, her ongoing work as an author (including children's books), and her Broadway debut as Persephone in "Hadestown." The conversation explores her creative evolution, political activism, and the personal philosophies driving her art.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The New Album: "Unprecedented Shiznall"

• Collaboration with BJ Burton:
  DiFranco’s first album in over a decade with an outside producer—BJ Burton (Bon Iver).
  • Shift in Sound:
    The album moves toward a darker, more experimental sound with heavy use of technology and processing, differing from her previous “put microphones in front of musicians” approach.

    “I wanted to employ the world of machines in a way that I haven’t... musicians playing instruments is like one ingredient in a whole world of possibilities that I’ve yet to really explore.” – Ani DiFranco (06:37)

• Song Origins:
  Tracks were written and collected over many years; one (“New Bible”) dates back to 2011.
• Creation Process:
  DiFranco recorded alone at home and sent tracks to Burton, who built soundscapes around her voice and guitar.

Notable Track: “Spinning Room”

“Feeling depleted, feeling dry / Much like the blood was sucked out of my veins...” – Ani DiFranco (03:03, song clip)

Notable Track: “New Bible”

“Let’s mend the failures of history and the manmade world. Let’s mend the failures of the profit system, let’s rewrite the law books...” – Ani DiFranco (08:36, song clip)

2. Political & Philosophical Themes

• Empowerment & Emancipation:
  DiFranco underscores reproductive freedom as a key societal issue.

  “One of the first things I would focus on is reproductive freedom, because I feel like free women... are sort of a prerequisite to solving all the other social and political issues...” – Ani DiFranco (10:54)

• Challenging Social Assumptions:
  She encourages questioning capitalism, patriarchy, and “coming new to the game of being together.”
• Identity and Universality:
  The album reflects on moving beyond labels and recognizing shared consciousness.

  “Beneath all of the labels... we are essentially beings of light. And we are all not only family, but one together, you know.” – Ani DiFranco (12:57)

• Evolution & Change:
  The importance of remaining ever-evolving is a recurring motif.

  “I think what we really are, naturally, is ever evolving, you know, and I think that’s the glory thing about being alive and being embodied.” – Ani DiFranco (14:23)

Notable Track: “Virus”

A meditation on the pandemic and humanity’s impact on the planet.

“The pot calling the kettle black, that’s humans calling COVID... a virus, when we as a species very much are operating like a virus on the planet, destroying the host.” – Ani DiFranco (16:07)

• Sampling Her Past:
  BJ Burton sampled hand drumming from DiFranco’s older song “32 Flavors” for the “Virus” track.

  “BJ went back to a 1998 recording... and sampled the hand drumming from the outro of that song and flew it into this song.” – Ani DiFranco (17:37)

3. Personal vs. Political Art

• Song “The Knowing”:
  A more introspective track, touching on identity and inner truth.

  “This is not all of who I am. Underneath is something more... So it’s a song that speaks to... the essential nature of our consciousness.” – Ani DiFranco (19:23)

4. Other Creative Projects

• Children’s Books:
  • “The Knowing” (picture book, March 2023)
  • Upcoming: “Show Up and Vote” (about the importance of modeling citizenship/voting to children)

    “What we learn is even more than what we're told is what we see... So I wanted to make a book where parents and children could engage about the idea of voting...” – Ani DiFranco (20:25)

5. Documentary & Broadway Debut

• Documentary:
  “1-800-On-Her Own” premieres at Tribeca (June 10).
• Hadestown on Broadway:
  DiFranco is playing Persephone, returning to a project she helped launch musically in 2010.
  • New Experience:
    Performing with costumes and choreography, and entering the Broadway world after 30 years as a solo stage performer.

    “Wig, makeup, heels, dress for starters. Not my usual game...” – Ani DiFranco (22:20) “I’ve been performing for 30 years, but as me... Broadway is a very different beast. So I’m really a beginner.” – Ani DiFranco (22:20)

• Future Ambitions:
  DiFranco has been commissioned to write a work of musical theater, part of why she embraced her current Broadway experience.

  “I have been trying to push myself into new areas... a musical theater piece, okay, sure... A sense of evolution and discovery.” – Ani DiFranco (23:57)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On album title:

  “It’s making it fun for you. Yeah, I was thinking about Shiznall.” – Ani DiFranco (02:48)

• On evolution:

  “My instinct is in charge... I just knew I wanted to do something different.” – Ani DiFranco (05:55)

• On technology in music:

  “Nowadays making records... musicians playing instruments is like one ingredient in a whole world of possibilities...” – Ani DiFranco (06:37)

• On pandemic reflections:

  “There are just so many lessons... that we can take personally and collectively from that experience of another global pandemic. And I hope that we cannot forget them and that we can let them inform how we move forward.” – Ani DiFranco (16:07)

• On stepping onto Broadway:

  “I’ve just learned so much and felt so, so privileged to be amongst these brilliant performers, learning a whole new... Broadway world is a very different beast.” – Ani DiFranco (22:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• New album / process & producer BJ Burton: 04:23–08:29
• “New Bible” song & its message: 08:36–10:45
• On societal change & reproductive freedom: 10:45–11:48
• Identity and personal philosophy: 12:54–14:55
• “Virus” discussion & sampling: 15:08–18:16
• On personal songwriting ("The Knowing"): 18:48–19:23
• Children’s books & modeling citizenship: 20:04–21:39
• Documentary & “Hadestown” on Broadway: 21:39–22:20
• Broadway as evolution & pushing boundaries: 23:39–24:58

Tone & Style

Ani DiFranco’s conversation is passionate, candid, and intellectually engaged, blending humor (“Shiznall”), advocacy, and vulnerability. She oscillates seamlessly between political commentary and introspective philosophy, inviting listeners to question structures and embrace evolution—both personal and collective.

Summary Takeaway

This episode presents Ani DiFranco as a restless creative force, embracing change in her artistry and personal life. From experimenting with new sounds to stepping onto the Broadway stage and writing for children, she continues to fuse the personal and political, inviting listeners to challenge assumptions and seek deeper understanding of themselves and the world.