Anna Tivel on Animal Poem, Short Stories, and Checking Your Shoes

“Through her graceful poetry and pristine instrumentation, the folk singer delivers indictments of modern indignities alongside moments of hope.”

— Pitchfork

Anna Tivel is an award-winning songwriter and musician from Portland, Oregon. In our conversation we traverse many topics; short stories, poetry, checking for shit on your shoes, and Anna’s latest spellbinding album, Animal Poem. For me, this felt like old friends talking about matters close to the heart despite this being our first real conversation. Anna Tivel is thoughtful, funny, inquisitive, and one of the best working songwriters out there. Pick a copy of Animal Poem at Fluff & Gravy Records.

Visit Anna Tivel at annativel.com | IG: @annativel

Episode Show Notes

Works by Anna Tivel

• Animal Poem
• Living Thing
• Outsiders
• Anna Tivel’s Full Catalog

Resources & People Mentioned

• Life is Beautiful directed by Roberto Benigni
• “Sticks” by George Saunders
• Fidelity by Wendell Berry
• “Sam Stone” by John Prine
• Louise Glück
• Still Life by Jay Hopler
• Richard Siken
• Nina Simone and Piano by Nina Simone
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

Drink Recommended

• Mint tea speckled with the earth it grew in

Photo pulled from AnnaTivel.com
Links to book purchases give a kickback to a local New Mexican bookstore and Contemplify