Kristin Hersh has proved herself as a truly independent artist with her bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave, but she expresses that individuality to its fullest in her solo career. Her acoustic solo debut, 1994's Hips and Makers, revealed a more intimate side to her piercing vocals and intricate guitar playing; on 1998's Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight, she dug deeper into her love of folk. From there, she alternated between the cathartic rock of 2001's Sunny Border Blue and 2018's Possible Dust Clouds and the acoustic-based reflections of 2023's Clear Pond Road. Writing and creating ways to finance independent music were also vital to her solo career. Before crowdfunding became commonplace for indie musicians, Hersh established platforms to fund and distribute her releases. Her acclaimed 2010 memoir Rat Girl and 2015's Don't Suck, Don't Die: Giving Up Vic Chesnutt bore the direct yet poetic voice of her songwriting.