Ladies First: Danielle Ponder

Their talent is undeniable. Their contribution to the culture is indispensable. They’re the Black women in our playlists, on our screens and in our feeds. On Ladies First, Element Everest-Blanks talks with one of these remarkable women about their lives, their music and how they made their moment happen. Because it’s not about who’s next. It’s about who’s now.

Danielle Ponder’s upcoming project, Everything Has Changed, is an introspective exploration of truth, growth, raw honesty and storytelling. Arriving Oct. 9, the album captures Ponder embracing the uncomfortable truths that accompany the process of becoming. It’s not simply a project about change, but also about accepting who you’ve become and telling that story without apology.

In our conversation, Ponder reflects on the meaning behind “Power,” “Sun and Moon,” and “God of You” — three songs that explore strength, longing, relationships and the ways we sometimes give others power over how we see ourselves.