Releasing her new single, “Some Of Us Are Brave,” the title track for her upcoming debut album, rising artist Danielle Ponder forms a link of solidarity among Black women. Her new track is a harrowing and soulful declaration of strength, beauty and perseverance. In addition to new music and an upcoming LP release, Ponder is slated to perform a string of shows supporting Amos Lee and Marcus Mumford that includes a show on Sept. 30 at the Wiltern (supporting Mumford).
Having worked as a public defender and later as a diversity, equity and inclusion officer, and deeply affected by seeing her brother receive a 20-year sentence due to a “three strikes” law, Ponder’s music is closely tied to her values and personal actions within social activism and challenging the status quo to create better equity and diversity. Her new single expands on this work and resonates deeply with anyone who has ever faced or fought against prejudice. Particularly, the single addresses other black women, pulling together their collective strength and showing a range of experiences and emotions captured through a moving music video, dedicated to Black women and filmed in Ponder’s hometown of Rochester, New York.
“I read a book in law school, ‘All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men: But Some of Us Are Brave’,” says Ponder. “I first fell in love with the title, I immediately felt seen. The book is essentially one of the first to address intersectionality. Often when we talk about feminism, we forget the issues that uniquely impact Black women and the same when we speak about race. The book is a collection of Black women writers pushing against invisibility, speaking loud and clear and telling our unique story. To me, this song was just a moment to pause and pay homage to Black women. The album is named that because that’s where I get my biggest inspirations. My biggest cheerleaders are my sisters, my mother, Black women. And I think bravery is what I’ve needed to become a full-time artist.”
“Some Of Us Are Brave” is the third song unveiled from Ponder’s forthcoming LP, out Sept. 16 via Future Classic. The theme of strength, especially in the face of the unknown, is heavily woven throughout this album, not just in its music but in the act of creating the album itself; after much deliberation and a lot of support, Ponder decided to leave her successful day job as a public defender to pursue singing and songwriting full time. The act of bravery to untether herself to security and pursue her passions adds a rich depth and texture to Ponder’s music as she continues her social advocacy through the arts. Fans can pre-order/save Ponder’s debut album here.
Following her SXSW performance and showcases in New York and Los Angeles, Ponder continues to tour with upcoming shows including her support date for Mumford at the Wiltern. Tickets for her Wiltern performance go on sale Friday, July 29 with presale options available. Other dates include the Moore Theater in Seattle on Sept. 26; the Keller Auditorium in Portland on Sept. 27; the Fillmore in San Francisco on Oct. 1; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco on Oct 2 and The Magnolia in El Cajon on Oct. 5. See below for a full list of performances.
GET TICKETS TO DANIELLE PONDER AT THE WILTERN
For more on Danielle Ponder, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Danielle Ponder Tour Dates:
July 31 – SummerStage, Central Park – New York, NY
Aug. 4 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR†
Aug. 5 – McMenamins Grand Lodge – Forest Grove, OR†
Aug. 6 – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery – Woodinville, WA†
Aug. 8 – Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC†
Aug. 10 – Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox – Spokane, WA†
Aug. 11 – The ELM – Bozeman, MT†
Aug. 13 – Fort Desolation Festival – Torrey, UT
Aug. 14 – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater – Vail, CO†
Aug. 15 – Globe Hall – Denver, CO
Aug. 18 – Stiefel Theater – Salina, KS†
Aug. 19 – The Englert Theatre – Iowa City, IA†
Aug. 20 – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center – Shipshewana, IN†
Aug. 22 – Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, MI†
Aug. 23 – Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH†
Aug. 24 – Zanzabar – Louisville, KY
Aug. 26—Sacred Rose Festival – Bridgeview, IL
Aug. 30 – Tennessee Theater – Knoxville, TN
Sept. 1 – Live On The Green – Nashville, TN
Sept. 4 – Nelsonville Music Festival – Nelsonville, OH
Sept. 7 – Kennedy Center – Washington, DC
Sept. 9 – Montclair Jazz Festival – Montclair, NJ
Sept. 10 – Montclair Jazz Festival – Montclair, NJ
Sept. 19 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO‡
Sept. 20 – Paramount Theater – Boulder, CO‡
Sept. 21 – Paramount Theater – Boulder, CO‡
Sept. 26 – Moore Theater – Seattle, WA‡
Sept. 27 – Keller Auditorium – Portland, OR‡
Sept. 30 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA‡
Oct. 1 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA‡
Oct. 2 – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass – San Francisco, CA
Oct. 5 – The Magnolia – El Cajon, CA‡
Oct. 6 – Ikeda Theater – Mesa, AZ‡
Oct. 9 – Austin City Limits Music Festival – Austin, TX
Oct. 10 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX‡
Oct. 11 – Majestic Theater – Dallas, TX‡
Oct. 14 – Orpheum Theater – New Orleans, LA‡
Oct. 16 – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
Oct. 28 – Suwannee Hulaween – Live Oak, FL
‡ w/Marcus Mumford
† w/Amos Lee
