Poni

A reluctant graphic design major, living in a triple dorm and working in the dining hall, Poni went to house shows every weekend during her freshman year of college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She always returned to her room lamenting that she was not doing this with her life; she wanted to pursue music.

When Covid-19 hit in March of 2020, Poni packed up her dorm room in one swoop and moved to Camp Verde, Arizona, where Max Harms runs the studio, The Garage. Assembled after Harms lost his LA studio job due to Covid, The Garage is the tapestry-clad, incense-burning, gear-filled creative hub that brings together local musicians and artists. There is space for exploration in rural Camp Verde. Dogs frolic about in a pack, American Spirit handrolls abound, and “the tequila flows like water.” Out of Harms and Poni’s dynamic pairing emerges art that can be called indie pop or alternative, reminiscent of Angel Olson, Sharon Van Etten, and Bedouine. In Poni’s voice, we hear her simmering longing to create.

Poni comes from an art-loving home in Berkeley, California that her grandfather built. Her music draws deep inspiration from the traditional American folk and blues artists that her grandparents played for her growing up. Artists like Bobby Blue and Etta James rang through the living room and inspired Poni to transmute her longing into songs that are sultry, soulful, and mysterious.

Written by Poni's friend, Angie Fike.