© 2026 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Juliana Hatfield: Still Fiercely Independent

Before I went back and delved into Juliana Hatfield's work with Blake Babies, The Lemonheads and the trio that shares her name, I knew her simply as "Emma," the most beautiful lunch lady I had ever seen. You see, Hatfield isn't just a musician, but also a prominent player in projects such as TV's My So-Called Life and The Adventures of Pete & Pete, on which she played the aforementioned "Emma."

But those moments are really just footnotes to a musical career that spans more than 20 years and nearly as many albums, with a fiercely independent streak running through all of her work. I had the privilege of sitting down for a conversation with Hatfield to discuss her new album (How to Walk Away), her first venture into publishing with a recent memoir, and what it means to own an independent record label in this ever-changing music-industry landscape. Uncompromising, inspiring and sincere, Hatfield is the genuine article.

Listen to the previous Favorite Session, or see our full archive.

Copyright 2008 WFUV

Ben Jones

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.