Ani DiFranco Happily Hops Off Her ‘Hamster Wheel’

Like everything meaningful in her life, Ani DiFranco says that her 2-year-old daughter Petah Lucia has factored into her music. “It is amazing to have a kid and be forced to step away from myself a lot, and you come back and you can see things that you don’t see when you spend all day with your thoughts,” the 38-year-old singer/songwriter tells Creative Loafing. “I think a baby is a really good influence for me that way.”

“I’m trying to write about the good side of life more because I think it’s been omitted from a lot of my…epics.”

Emphasis on ‘trying!’ Ani admits that Petah often zaps her time and energy, leaving little left over for making music. “It can feel a bit artistically constipated sometimes,” she admits before adding “but I welcome it.”

“It’s a big change, like it is for all parents, but, for me, I’m at the right point in my life to get off my hamster wheel for a second and just hang out and have more contemplative time, which serves us in the end.”

Petah is Ani’s first child with husband Mike Napolitano.

Source: Creative Loafing