“The Only Way Out” single artwork
DEBUT ALBUM OUT
THIS SUMMER
Rising singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder’s new song, “The Only Way Out,” premieres today; listen HERE. “This song captures a situation so many people have been in,” says Ponder. “Ignoring red flags and entering into a relationship that you know will end with pain.” Ponder’s debut album is due this summer on Future Classic.
The new single comes on the heels of the most recent single, “So Long,” which Brooklyn Vegan praised for its “vintage-meets-modern soul vibe, kind of in the vein of something like Michael Kiwanuka,” further noting that “Danielle’s powerhouse pipes really seal the deal.” She made her television debut performing the song on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” this week, watch it HERE.
Following her much-lauded performances at SXSW and showcases in New York and Los Angeles, Ponder continues to tour. Upcoming shows include a string of dates with Amos Lee, see below for a list of performances.
In Ponder’s life, bravery manifested in the decision to leave her successful day job as a public defender to pursue singing and songwriting full time. Ponder had always been musical but chose to pursue a career in law after her brother received a 20-year sentence due to a “three strikes” law. But even as she became a tireless advocate for justice in her community—first as a public defender and later as a diversity, equity and inclusion officer in that same office—the music was never far; she remembers a time when she did a small tour in Europe and was back in court the following Monday. There eventually came a time to choose one, and so she leapt.
The sixth of seven children, Ponder was born and raised in Rochester, New York by her father—a musically-inclined pastor—and mother. She gravitated toward the piano on their front porch at a young age and eventually discovered alternative rock and hip-hop artists like Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, Lauryn Hill and The Roots. It wasn’t until she heard blues artists like Big Mama Thornton and Koko Taylor, though, that she knew singing was her true passion. Even as she became a tireless advocate for justice in her community, she found ways to keep music alive in her heart; in 2019, she gave a TEDx talk on what music can teach us about social justice.
| DANIELLE PONDER LIVE May 31—Mills Hardware—Hamilton, ON June 1—The Great Hall—Toronto, ON June 2—NAC Ontario Scene—Ottawa, ON June 3—Palais Montcalm—Québec City, QC June 25—Rochester International Jazz Festival—Rochester, NY July 9—The Ride Festival—Telluride, CO July 10—The Ride Festival—Telluride, CO August 4—Hayden Homes Amphitheater—Bend, OR† August 5—McMenamins Grand Lodge—Forest Grove, OR† August 6—Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery—Woodinville, WA† August 8—Vogue Theatre—Vancouver, BC† August 10—Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox—Spokane, WA† August 11—The ELM—Bozeman, MT† August 12—Fort Desolation Festival 2022—Torrey, UT August 13—Fort Desolation Festival—Torrey, UT† August 14—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater—Vail, CO August 15—Globe Hall—Denver, CO August 18—Stiefel Theater—Salina, KS† August 19—The Englert Theatre—Iowa City, IA† August 20—Blue Gate Performing Arts Center—Shipshewana, IN† August 22—Michigan Theater—Ann Arbor, MI† August 23—Taft Theatre—Cincinnati, OH† August 24—Zanzabar—Louisville, KY August 26—Sacred Rose Festival—Bridgeview, IL September 4—Nelsonville Music Festival—Nelsonville, OH October 1—ShoalsFest—Florence, AL † w/Amos Lee FOLLOW DANIELLE PONDER danielleponder.com | Instagram | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok |
