The Texas-raised August Ponthier creates soul-searching songs with all the intimacy of a journal entry and unbridled imagination of a movie. Praised by Billboard as “an artist with seemingly unlimited potential,” Ponthier is known for their deeply personal and evocative music that blends alternative, indie, and pop influences. 

Ponthier first broke through with the 2021 EP Faking My Own Death — a collection that documented their coming-out story and delivered a dreamy fusion of indie-folk, alt-rock, and left-of-center country-pop. That same year, the Brooklyn-based artist teamed up with Lord Huron for the hit single “I Lied,” then joined the band on the road + made their late-night TV debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. 2022 saw Ponthier’s sophomore EP Shaking Hands with Elvis earn raves from the likes of Consequence, who compared the project to “the dynamic folk-tinged stoicism of Kacey Musgraves and Orville Peck.” 

They’ve toured with Bleachers, Holly Humberstone, The Japanese House, and been championed by the likes of Elton John and Brandi Carlile. Ponthier was recently featured in John’s Oscar-nominated documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late. The likes of Vogue, Rolling Stone, NPR, Vulture, NME, The FADER, V Magazine, and many more have touted their music + whimsical creative vision. Ponthier recently completed their first headline tour, and their debut album, Everywhere Isn’t Texas, is out now.

Selected by ASCAP

All bios appear as they were submitted in the year of scholarship presentation.