Too often we hear the descriptors “highly anticipated” or “most personal yet” regarding album releases. Yet, in the case of rising activist singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder, the former certainly applies and while there is no precedent for the latter, Ponder’s mission has always been deeply personal. As a former public defender, turned musician she remains a staunch advocate for social justice and more specifically Black feminism in her debut, Some of Us Are Brave. Ponder has already released three singles, so you may have heard “The Only Way Out,” “So Long,” and the titular track. The reference to ‘highly anticipated’ is due to high-profile performances over the past year and a half at SXSW, Newport Jazz, Newport Folk, showcases in New York and Los Angeles as well as television appearances. Ponder is a vocal powerhouse with a commanding presence as a live performer, inspired both by contemporary artists such as Lauryn Hill and The Roots and vocally by passionate blues artists such as Big Mama Thornton and Koko Taylor.
The inspiration for the album is the concept of intersectionality. Customarily feminism and issues impacting Black women have been separate but Ponder is putting to music her former role in her law office as a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. She read a book in law school entitled All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men: But Some of Us Are Brave,” thus the title. And it took a ton of courage for Ponder to choose between her two professions.
The title track comes accompanied by a video dedicated to Black women, filmed in her hometown of Rochester, NY. The lyrics tap into vulnerability, commitment, resilience, and bonding as she sings “Who’s gonna feel my pain, who’s gonna say my name, ain’t no choice but to be brave” over a backdrop of neo-soul infused with hip-hop beats. This defiance and supreme sense of self-worth manifests itself even more so as she bids farewell to her fears in “So Long,” wailing through the choruses. Here’s an exemplary verse – “I know there’s a darker side/The ones that only feed their pride/They’re aching/Oh! They’rе aching/I long for a higher plane/Don’t forget my mama gavе me my name/You don’t make me/Nah, you don’t make me.” The single “The Only Way Out” is a relatable tune in the vein of sisterhood, offering comfort to one inevitably trapped in a relationship that is about to end badly. The message is that the only means of escape is a broken heart.
One of the best examples of her dramatic delivery is “Only the Lonely” where her voice goes from glass-shattering intensity to that of a whisper. When she sings about crying in “Thoughts,” it’s tempting to just cry along with her, such is her ability to touch a nerve. She closes with the piano ballad, “Darker Than Blue,” backed by background singers who give the tune a church-like gospel feel, bringing a rousing anthem for independence.
In the title track, Ponder announces, “I’m here to stay” and backs it up consistently through her eight impactful tunes.
