Indigo Girls

Folk-rock, Americana, singer-songwriters

The Indigo Girls are most often compared either to other queer artists like Ani DiFranco or popular folk-pop duos like Simon and Garfunkel. However, their intricate counterpoint harmonies and edgy approach to contemporary folk calls to mind a far wider range of influences from '70s and '80s punk like the Clash and the Pretenders to poets like Patti Smith and Joni Mitchell, progressive folk legends like Bob Dylan, and countless others.

The Indigo Girls are a folk music duo, though they are frequently joined on the road by a rotating roster of backing musicians. Still, the main band is comprised of singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Amy Ray and Emily Saliers.

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"Closer to Fine" (from Indigo Girls)
"Shame on You" (from Shaming of the Sun)
"Ghost" (from 1200 Curfews Live)

Emily Saliers was born in 1963 in New Haven, CT. A year later in Atlanta, Amy Ray entered the world. When she was in sixth grade, Emily's family moved to Decatur, Georgia, and Emily was enrolled at Laurel Ridge Elementary School, where she would meet her future musical partner. The two quickly became friends and, by high school, had formed a musical duo known simply as Saliers & Ray. Built on intricate harmonies and folk sensibility, the duo began performing at talent shows and open mics around the Atlanta area as the B Band.

In 1981, they recorded their first demo in Amy's basement. After playing the local scene for four years, they adopted the name Indigo Girls and began releasing singles to Atlanta radio.

Their first full-length record, Strange Fire (1987), was released independently to less than thrilling reviews from the music industry. Nevertheless, a year later, the duo snagged a record deal with Epic, who re-released Strange Fire in 1989.

In the beginning of 1989, with the release of what has proven to be their most timeless classic "Closer to Fine," the Indigo girls suddenly had everyone's attention. Their first major label release snagged them a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording, as well as a nomination for Best New Artist. They released nine albums on Epic/Sony before parting ways in 2007. They had a brief relationship with American Records but have since opted to go entirely independent forging their own way on their IG Records.

In addition to the work they do together as the Indigo Girls, both Saliers and Ray have vibrant solo careers. Saliers has her hat in the culinary community and has published a book with her father Don Saliers, with whom she performs for special causes. Ray started a non-profit independent record label in the 1990s, known as Daemon Records, and has since supported a number of independent artists, including highly praised folks like Girlyman, Danielle Howle, Lindsay Fuller, and others. She's also released a handful of solo albums which touch much more on her punk-rock influences and grittier songwriting tendencies.

Together with Winona LaDuke, the Indigo Girls also started an environmental justice organization called Honor the Earth, through which they have worked on environmental and social justice campaigns with and on behalf of American indigenous communities and the Zapatista movement in Colombia. They've also lent their celebrity to the Human Rights Campaign, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and other causes.