Ani DiFranco was an idiosyncratic folk icon from the word go. The prolific singer-songwriter -- known as much for her percussive six-string picking as her tatted skin, once-shaved head and staunch DIY ethos -- fled her native Buffalo for New York City in 1989 at the age of 18, only to release her debut album on her own Righteous Babe Records from the trunk of her car within one year. DiFranco recently released her first career-spanning retrospective, the two-disc, 36-track 'Canon,' and stopped by our New York Interface studio to play us four songs, including the new track 'Present/Infant,' and an old favorite, 'Both Hands,' which undergoes a fairly radical reinvention."That was a funny story -- re-recording 'Both Hands.'" DiFranco recounted to Spinner. "We recorded it with [bassist] Todd [Sickafoose] and [drummer] Alison [Miller]. 'Canon' was all done, remastered and the graphics and the cover ... And we were going over the lyrics -- me and my manager -- and he's like, "Well, 'Both Hands' -- you sang that one really differently. Should we change the lyrics?" I was like, "What?" And he said, "Well, that verse you left out." The album was supposed to come out in a couple weeks. I was like, "Oh, no!" I forgot to sing the third verse or something. Through the miracle of technology, I went and dropped in the third verse."
Keep reading to download both the full performance and interview, where DiFranco discusses her near two-decade career, who she's supporting in the 2008 election, her newfound motherhood and just how many times she forgets her lyrics.
Download or subscribe to the Interface podcast for Ani DiFranco's entire live performance and interview. Video podcast requires iTunes 6 or higher and MP3 podcast is audio only.
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Full Set
'Present/Infant'



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Reader Comments(1 of 1)
judyat 10-27-2007
still as prolific, influential, and stunning as she was when she rocked at 18.
thank you for all of your beautiful sounds ani, todd, allison, julie, hammel, and the rest of you righteous babes!
Theresaat 10-28-2007
I lv U Ani
adu bismarkat 10-30-2007
i love you from my heart.so please remember to came and take me there.i am a boy of 23 years old i will like to see you good day your boy adu bismark from ghana.
torsers2at 11-01-2007
perfect woman, you have done a great job on your canon. i love it, but i dont want you to b done yet, girl. ferrin
torsers2at 11-01-2007
perfect woman, ur canon is a beautiful album, but i dont want you to be done yet, girl. uve got a lot more love to give us. all my love - ferrin
Francesat 3-09-2008
Ani is truly amazing.
So wonderful to see her smiling and so genuine in these videos...
Beautiful.