Danielle Ponder, Chief Cleopatra

Grounded in eras of gospel, Danielle Ponder’s fervent voice leaps from gentle buzzes to cyclonic cries, reverberating and scratching the soul. Some of Us Are Brave, the Rochester, N.Y. attorney’s aureate faith-filled 2022 debut, unfurls an enduring hope to “hold hands in love/ fight on for truth” (“Darker Than Blue”). The daughter of a pastor melds personal experiences with her teenage discoveries – R&B, pop, blues, rock, and trip-hop – to convey a universal body of work. Her latest single “Roll The Credits” sinks into overflowing gratitude. Local soul-rock celestial Chief Cleopatra accompanies Ponder on the third stop of her spring tour. – Angela Lim