Allison Ponthier

August Ponthier was born on February 26, 1996, in Allen, Texas. They studied jazz at the University of North Texas before relocating to Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 20 in 2017. In New York, Ponthier engaged in various creative endeavors, including contributing to the Museum of Natural History’s Snapchat account, modeling, selling handmade jewelry, and creating custom pet portraits. These early experiences contributed to a diverse background that later informed their artistic expression.

Ponthier began leveraging TikTok in 2019, sharing song covers, original songs with queer-themed lyrics, stop-motion animation, and duets. This digital presence led to a significant career milestone when they signed with Interscope Records in 2020. Their debut EP, “Faking My Own Death,” was released in August 2021. The lead single, “Cowboy,” was written in 2017 after moving to New York and reflecting on personal identity and experiences. This track was recognized by Billboard as one of the “25 Best Songs By LGBTQ Artists of 2021 (So Far).” The music video for “Cowboy” drew inspiration from films such as “Death Becomes Her,” “The Witches,” and “Troll 2.”

Their career progression includes notable collaborations and releases. Ponthier was a featured vocalist on the track “I Lied” from Lord Huron’s 2021 album “Long Lost.” They performed “I Lied” with Lord Huron on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in May 2021 and subsequently toured with them in September 2021. Following this tour, Ponthier performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. In January 2022, Jack Antonoff announced Ponthier would join Bleachers for their 2022 tour. June 2022 saw the release of their second EP, “Shaking Hands With Elvis.” In May 2024, their third EP, “Breaking the Fourth Wall,” was released. After parting ways with Interscope Records, Ponthier embarked on their first headline tour, “The Karaoke Queen,” in mid-2025 and is scheduled to release their first full-length album in late 2025. On October 15, 2025, Ponthier publicly came out as nonbinary, adopting the name August and using “they/them” pronouns, while continuing to identify as a lesbian.