PONYFOLK

BIOGRAPHY

 

Ponyfolk was formed in 2014 by Clifton Nesseth (vocals, strings, guitar, synth/keys) and Paul Sauey (vocals, strings, guitar, bass). Based out of Duluth and Minneapolis, MN, the pair’s multi-instrumentalist abilities and vocal harmonies have carved them out a reputation of creating maximalist soundscapes that are defined by droning layers of guitars, strings, and synth textures - undergirding emotionally evocative lyrical imagery. Over the last few years, the band has expanded to include Aaron Hays (drums), Alex Nelson (keyboards), Mikey Marget (cello), and Lewis Franti (percussion).  The band will be releasing their debut LP on February 22nd a celebration of traditional Americana and Nordic folk music. Performing in various configurations and styles, Ponyfolk's music always keeps a foot planted firmly in the ethos of the folk traditions while stepping forward into new sounds and musical terrains.

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Originally crossing paths at Shell Lake Arts Center's summer camp as jazz students in 2004, Clif and Paul bonded over their mutual interest in bassist Jaco Pastorius and the English rock band, Cream. Several years later, they happened upon each other while auditioning for St. Olaf College’s music program in Northfield, MN. During their tenure in St. Olaf’s music major program (2006-2010), Paul Sauey played cello with the St. Olaf Orchestra and Clifton played flute in The St. Olaf Band. 

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After college, Clifton and Paul formed Ponyfolk (originally Pony), borrowing from the more acoustic side of their common musical tastes and exploring their growing interest in multiple folk music traditions. Focusing heavily on their vocal harmony work and building their songs around intricate finger-picking textures and Scandinavian-inspired modalities, they released EP I in 2015. A remix of this EP will be reissued in early 2025. In subsequent years, they began to add synthesizers and a more modern aesthetics to their sound while simultaneously becoming more serious students of various styles of Americana and Nordic instrumental music., the latter being inspired by their time at Nisswa-stämman: Nordic Music & Dance Festival in North Central Minnesota. Over the last few years, the band has a played a key role in moving the stämma to Duluth, MN, where it will undergo its 3rd iteration on June 13th & 14th, 2025.  Clif and Paul both received fellowship grants from American Scandinavian Foundation (ASF), which will allow them to study music in Southwestern Sweden in July of 2025.

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The band has also been working on a folk rock LP since 2021, which will also finally be released sometime in 2025. Ponyfolk's music has been described as “the dark side of Simon & Garfunkel” and “early Pink Floyd mixed with the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.”