Livewire soul songstress Danielle Ponder is enjoying her moment. Since quitting her day job as a public defender and making the leap to devote herself full time to her music, the Rochester NY-native has seen the world welcome her with open arms: Televised musical performances (both on late night variety shows and long-running ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital); a critically acclaimed debut album Some Of Us Are Brave; and sets at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza 2023 that will put her amidst Thee Sacred Souls, Sheryl Crow, Lil Nas X, Maggie Rogers, and ODESZA are just a few of her accomplishments.
And we’ve been fans from the jump (her cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” remains one of our most enquired about songs every time one of our DJs breaks it out). When Ponder stopped by KCRW HQ last year for a roof-shattering performance and interview with Morning Becomes Eclectic co-host Novena Carmel, she played the unreleased song “Roll The Credits.” It’s a sprawling number which Ponder says is “about spirituality in all of its forms and our ability to find God in all things if we are paying attention.”
That track is at last out in the world today as a standalone single. To celebrate, we’re sharing a previously unseen performance of “Roll The Credits” from Ponder’s Live From session. It’s an eight minute masterclass in artistic expression and crowd work. Revel in the joy of watching one of our most promising rising talents fully in her element.
Also be sure to check out the San Juan, Puerto Rico-set music video directed by Hettie Barnhill.
More:
Danielle Ponder: KCRW Live from HQ
Writing legal briefs to R&B lyrics: Danielle Ponder commits to music
Do yourself a favor and catch Danielle Ponder live whenever she’s performing near you:
May 4 – New Orleans, LA—Orpheum Theater
May 12 – Miramar Beach, FL—Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend
May 13 – New Orleans, LA—Toulouse Theatre
May 16 – Austin, TX—Antone’s Nightclub
May 18 – Dallas, TX— Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit
May 19 – Houston, TX—The Heights Theater
May 21 – Phoenix, AZ—Valley Bar
May 22 – San Diego, CA—Voodoo Room at House of Blues
May 24 – West Hollywood, CA—Troubadour **SOLD OUT
May 26 – San Francisco, CA—Cafe Du Nord
May 27 – Napa, CA—BottleRock Napa Valley
June 2 – Ogden, UT—Ogden Music Festival
June 17 – Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 22 – Rothbury, MI—Electric Forest Festival
June 29 – Montreal, Québec—Montreal International Jazz Festival
July 1 – Werchter, Belgium—Rock Werchter
July 5 – Aix-les-Bains, France— Festival Musilac
July 7 – Rotterdam, Netherlands —North Sea Jazz Festival
July 29 – Newport—Newport Folk Festival
August 5 – Chicago, IL—Lollapalooza
August 18 –North Adams, MA—MASS MoCA