Danielle Ponder

While she is most often identified as a soul singer, Danielle Ponder’s versatile music is infused with bits of gospel, trip-hop, blues, R&B, and alt rock. A former public defender from Rochester, New York, the singer/songwriter spent years playing music on the side before doubling down on her music career in the late 2010s. It was an unusual path to success, but one that allowed her to develop a unique sound full of depth and command. After signing with the Future Classic label, Ponder released her debut album, Some of Us Are Brave, in 2022.
Despite growing up in a deeply musical family, Ponder was drawn to a career in law after her brother received a 20-year prison sentence as a result of New York’s “three strikes” law. After law school, she became a public defender and later a diversity and inclusion officer in her hometown of Rochester. She also continued to make music in her spare time, writing songs, playing in bands, and even touring on occasion. By 2018, Ponder was struggling to manage both careers and decided to take a risk and pursue music full-time. Working with keyboardist and collaborator Avis Reese and producer Dave Drago, she began crafting the songs that would ultimately lead her to sign with eclectic Australian label Future Classic. Her first outing was a collaborative 2020 single, “Look Around,” with established Melbourne rhythm section Karate Boogaloo. Two years later, Ponder offered her first full-length album in 2022′s dynamic Some of Us Are Brave. ~ Timothy Monger