About Indigo Girls
Amy Ray and Emily Sailers first met and performed together at their high school near Atlanta, Georgia. In 1985 they started playing as "Indigo Girls" while attending Emory University, releasing their first full-length album in 1987. Since then they have released many more albums, and have been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, winning "Best Contemporary Folk Recording" for their self-titled album in 1990. Recently their 2020 album "Look Long" peaked at the number 2 position on the US Folk chart, marking their third consecutive release to reach that position. The duo has collaborated with lifelong Indigo Girls fan Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who even tattooed the Girls' lyrics on his upper chest. They also featured on P!nk's scathing song criticizing George W. Bush, "Dear Mr. President." They have seen a recent surge in popularity since being featured prominently in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" which used their 1989 hit "Closer to Fine" as a musical motif.
Outside of their music the Indigo Girls are human rights activists with a history of publicly standing up for their beliefs, including calling out music festivals for anti-trans policies at a feminist music festival, and championing progressive beliefs for their whole career. Both Ray and Sailers identify as lesbian and are regarded as queer icons, nominated to Out magazine's "OUT100" in 2017, recognizing their work to help support the LGBTQ community. They are members of many groups that seek to benefit the greater good, including the "National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty," "Canadian Charity Artists Against Racism," and helped found environmental non-profit 'Honor the Earth."
