Doria Roberts

Raised in Philadelphia yet based in Atlanta, Doria Roberts blends an urban edge and soulful depth with the relaxed appeal of folk music, whether performing solo on acoustic guitar or fronting a full band. She first picked up the instrument during her senior year at the University of Pennsylvania, seeking relief from East Asian studies coursework, and this casual outlet quickly sparked her development as a songwriter. Drawing from the artistic legacies of Nina Simone, Janis Ian, Billie Holiday, and John Lennon while embracing the rebellious drive she found in Patti Smith and Ani DiFranco, Roberts cultivated a distinctive style as a reflective and incisive performer whose work also served her political commitments. An openly lesbian artist, she has appeared at Gay Pride Festivals, the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, Lilith Fair, and the Montreux Music Festival. Her song “Perfect,” featured on the 1999 album Restoration, earned a nomination for Best Pop Recording at the 2000 Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards, sharing the category with Toshi Reagon, Luscious Jackson, and Me'shell Ndegéocello. Since 1995 she has produced Queerstock, a traveling showcase highlighting a wide range of gay and lesbian performers. She also established and operates the independent Hurricane Doria Records and took part in the documentary For the Love of Rock alongside Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Jane Siberry, and DiFranco, a film centered on women working in independent music. These pursuits have not diminished her drive to create intimate songs about love and everyday experience that satisfy listeners while leaving them eager for more. Radio Doria appeared in November 2000.