Although Ken Pomeroy only began to garner national attention over the past couple of years with breakout placements in Reservation Dogs (original track “Cicadas”) and Twisters (a cover of Richard Thompson’s “Wall of Death” recorded with Wilderado and James McAlister), the 22-year-old songwriter has been writing and performing since she was 11. As the Oklahoma native prepares to release her sophomore album and Rounder Records debut with this May’s Cruel Joke, she’s poised with a maturity both in her songwriting and outlook that belies her youth.
“I don’t diss anyone that gets popular on TikTok or things like that, but it’s nice to know that I’ve been doing it for a long time, and I feel like I’ve paid dues and such,” she laughs. “It definitely feels like I’ve been working up to this moment for a long time, which makes it feel rewarding. Being 13 or 14 years old writing songs, I didn’t really have a vision for stuff, and at that point [I was] just starting to get comfortable and know what kind of songwriter I was, and that’s a never-ending question. But I had to grow up super quickly, so it became a normal thing to think about really deep stuff.”
Pomeroy’s songs carry a weight in her airy voice that unravels a complex restlessness and longing. 2021 debut LP Christmas Lights in April presents characters often feeling stuck, both emotionally and physically, who look toward uncertain horizons with a mix of hope and trepidation. Her Cherokee heritage also plays an important element in her songwriting, both directly – as with her Native language version of “Grey Skies” that appeared on the 2022 compilation Anvdvnelisgi – and indirectly in general approach and worldview.
“I grew up in the culture, which I’m thankful for,” she says. “I grew up learning to appreciate the land and relationships between people, and understanding that it’s all bigger than just us. I also think that the genuine nature of Native people really resonates with how to express feeling, and music has been around way longer than anything ever recorded. It’s how we connected with people, how we connected with each other, and it’s how we gave thanks to the land.”
With Cruel Joke, Pomeroy’s songs receive a more robust, versatile production with the support of Gary Paczosa (John Prine, Sierra Ferrell) that expands their emotional impact. Yet even as she steps into the next phase of her career, her focus remains purely on her songwriting.
“I think I’m just really excited for people to hear this album and excited [to see] if people resonate with it, but if they don’t, I’m also not going to be discouraged because I did that record for me,” she acknowledges. “I have no choice but to make music. It’s just something I have to do for me to feel okay, and for me to get things out. So I think that’s a positive on my end.”
Ken Pomeroy
Friday 14, noon, high noon
Friday 14, 4pm, Imogene + Willie (unofficial)
Saturday 15, 2pm, Punch Bowl Social (unofficial)
This article appears in March 14 • 2025.
