Ani DeFranco was born in Buffalo, New York, and began guitar lessons at nine years of age. DeFranco also started her record label, Righteous Babe Records, with $50 when she was eighteen years old. She has never signed with a major label and has been the model for independent artists in their struggle to control their music.

Because Ani owns her own label, she allows herself a great deal of artistic freedom, including the ability to release records as much, and as often, as she wants, and to include controversial material and language. She has turned down attractive recording contracts. You can her speak about this topic in her songs, most notably in “The Million You Never Made.”

Ani DeFranco's guitar playing skills include rapid fingerpicking and use of alternate tunings (see Joni Mitchell). She also employs a complicated overhand “slap” technique that gives her a very percussive sound. Her lyrics have also received praise for their sophistication and wordplay in general. Song content is important and filled with subtle irony as well as descriptive use of metaphors. DeFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock, but she has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Prince and both Maceo and Corey Parker of James Brown fame. DeFranco has released more than thirty-two recordings since 1990, including live recordings and videos.