Ani DiFranco comes to UAlbany with new book on music, feminism, and freedom

Ani DiFranco will share her story with WAMC's Joe Donahue next Tuesday. Note: It's a conversation, not a concert

By Lillian Magurno, NYS Writers Institute intern

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Ani DiFranco is more than just a Grammy-winning artist with 20 studio albums. She is also a feminist, activist, Broadway actress, and published author.

DiFranco’s newest book, The Spirit of Ani: Reflections on Spirituality, Feminism, Music, and Freedom, co-authored by co‑author Lauren Coyle Rosen, highlights her creative process, spirituality, and dedication to feminism.

DiFranco has been in the spotlight since 1989, when she founded her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, at age 19. Her self‑titled debut album was released in 1990 and featured a collection of folk‑driven guitar songs. DiFranco’s most recent album, “Unprecedented Sh!t,” was released in 2024.

DiFranco’s career and platform as a musician was always more than just selling records and winning awards for her. DiFranco has used her platform to advocate for feminism and to bring awareness to social issues such as sexism, racism, and homophobia.

DiFranco writes about these issues in her songs as part of her activism.

“When it’s time to design government, culture, and society, we’ve got to have the genders in that resonant balance,” said DiFranco on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series introducing her song “Play God.” “Reproductive freedom, first step to world peace. I know I’m a weirdo, but that’s how I look at it.”

DiFranco’s activism extends to her book publications. Before publishing her most recent book, Ani has authored a memoir titled No Walls and the Recurring Dream and three children’s books including Show Up and Vote, which is a call-to-action story about voting.

The Spirit of Ani: Reflections on Spirituality, Feminism, Music, and Freedom differs from DiFranco’s previous publications because of the use of archival materials. DiFranco includes unpublished photographs, journal entries, and lyrics in her book.

“I feel like I've been on the lam most of my life, you know, since I was a teenager, so stuff comes and stuff goes," said DiFranco on the inclusion of archives in an interview with People magazine, "I looked around at the artifacts that were around me and like, whoa, 'there's a journal I haven't looked at since I was 16.”

Ani DiFranco with Joe Donahue

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24

A Creative Life Conversation

Page Hall, UAlbany Downtown Campus

135 Western Avenue

Albany NY 12203

Free and open to the public.

Pre-signed books will be available for sale.

No author signing or photos at end of event.