Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, collectively known as The Indigo Girls, have blazed trails since the beginning of their career. From being one of the first acts to come out, to continuing to fight for equality for the LGBT community, the Indigo Girls are true icons in the music world. Here, Entertainment Editor Cookie talks to Emily Saliers about their tour with the legendary Joan Baez, how they choose their collaborations, and working with Pink.
You’re coming to NJPAC on Wednesday, June 19 to perform with the legendary Joan Baez. Are you excited to be back in the Garden State?
Absolutely! We’ve toured with her before and we absolutely love her. She’s just such a cool lady, with politics that are right in line with ours. She’s a legend, completely.
Your last album “Beauty Queen Sister” was fantastic. When can we expect some new music from the Indigo Girls?
We definitely plan to come out with some new material. We were going to actually do something with a full symphony, but it just could not work out for various reasons. We love putting out new material that’s fresh, so that is definitely coming.
You’ve worked with new and emerging artists like the Shadowboxers and Lucy Wainwright, really helping to bring new artists to the forefront. How do you choose who you want to work with?
You know, it’s funny, we really choose our collaborators in a very organic way. We like artists who like to just hop up on stage and have a “hootnanny” with the music. It’s funny also, when we’re with Joan, we think of her as like our matriarch of sorts, but with artists like the Shadowboxers, we’re almost like the verteran artists, so it’s a nice inter- generational change of sorts.
You worked with Pink a couple years ago on the fantastic track, “Dear Mr. President”. At that time in our country, we really needed a song like that, as so many people had feelings that they could not express. Did you know that when you recorded it that it would become an anthem or sorts?
We were so honored to be asked to do the song, you know Pink, she doesn’t give a shit. It was a great track and her politics and the message of the song are right along with ours. so it was such a blast to record the track and get to hang out with Pink, it’s such a great song.
Many artists are coming out now and are able to be out, many of them following the trail that you ladies blazed for them. Are there any out artists that you are really loving right now?
I think Brandi Carlisle is really amazing. She has that folk sensibility, and she is a really talented girl. I think there’s been such a change, with so many artists coming out and staying out, it’s really changing the landscape of things for the queer community.
The Indigo Girls have accomplished so much, 14 records, greatest hits CD’s, even some live albums. What could possibly be next?
Well I definitely do want to do something with a full symphony, we absolutely love doing that. I know that I want to do a solo record also, so that’s definitely on the horizon. With us, there is always something happening.
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, collectively known as The Indigo Girls, have blazed trails since the beginning of their career. From being one of the first acts to come out, to continuing to fight for equality for the LGBT community, the Indigo Girls are true icons in the music world. Here, Entertainment Editor Cookie talks to Emily Saliers about their tour with the legendary Joan Baez, how they choose their collaborations, and working with Pink.
