Holly Near invites audience members to find their best selves. Almost singlehandedly Holly created a whole slice of today's folk and acoustic music scene: politically engaged female songwriters who have spoken out for gender equality and for the freedom to love whomever we choose, and who have created new, independent ways of distributing their music—well, these numerous artists all have Holly Near to thank for blazing the way. In 1972, Holly was one of the first women to create an independent record company, paving the way for women like Ani DiFranco and others.