Pony

Hailing from Toronto, PONY specializes in a fuzzy yet melodic brand of guitar pop that draws its core inspiration from early-nineties grunge and vintage indie-pop traditions. Led by vocalist and guitarist Sam Bielanski, the group issued a run of catchy singles and EPs through Buzz Records throughout the latter half of the 2010s, later moving to the Massachusetts-based American imprint Take This to Heart Records for the 2021 album TV Baby.

What began in 2014 as an offhand plan between Bielanski and a friend to compose tracks about their “shitty boyfriends” evolved into an official endeavor the next year with the self-released EP Crush. Once a full band coalesced around the growing catalog, PONY quickly gained local traction in Toronto. The first roster featured bassist Eva Link, guitarist Stephen Giroux, and drummer Matt Sandrin. After inking a deal with Buzz Records, they released well-regarded 2017 singles such as “DIY” and “Alone Tonight.” Later that same year the second EP, Do You, surfaced and prompted parallels with nineties touchstones including Juliana Hatfield and the Breeders.

As the decade closed, the outfit had largely become Bielanski’s vehicle. Enlisting a fresh rhythm section of bassist Matty Morand and drummer Lucas Horne, she finished the debut long-player. Issued in 2021 via Take This to Heart Records, TV Baby distilled PONY’s most potent elements into a concise power-pop statement that also referenced grunge and eighties pop textures.