Ken Pomeroy is a fresh, powerful voice in the folk and songwriting scene, bringing a calmness matched by rare intensity. She returns with Cruel Joke, her sophomore album and first release under Rounder Records. The record cements her place among the most compelling young artists in Americana today, delivering a haunting, magnetic collection of songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Born and raised in Oklahoma and a proud native Cherokee, Pomeroy’s music lives at the intersection of country and folk. With Cruel Joke, she takes a bold artistic leap, digging into themes of self-reflection and hard-won growth through intimate, often devastating lyrics. Co-produced by longtime collaborator Dakota McDaniel, alongside Gary Paczosa and Colton Jean, the album brings a raw clarity to her sound while keeping the delicate, homespun textures that first caught listeners’ ears.
Her songwriting journey began at just 11 years old, and that early emotional depth still pulses through her work. The oldest track on the album was written at 13 – a testament to the maturity she’s always brought to her craft. The songs on Cruel Joke are heavy and dark, yet deeply inspirational – exploring identity, pain, and perseverance through poetic language and unforgettable melodies.
Over the past two years, Pomeroy has honed her voice on stages large and small – captivating intimate rooms with her quiet power and sharing stages with modern folk icons like Iron & Wine and John Moreland. That experience translates powerfully on Cruel Joke, an album that feels lived-in, earned, and wise beyond its years.
“Storytelling in music is such a traditional root of so many Native cultures that I don’t think it’s a coincidence I’m doing this now,” Pomeroy reflects. That lineage runs through every track on Cruel Joke, connecting past to present, grief to grace, and artist to audience.
With this release, Ken Pomeroy doesn’t just step into the spotlight – she claims it with quiet force and fearless vulnerability.
– @meanwhile_in_music
