About

Hello! My name is Aimsel Ponti and I’m based in Portland, Maine USA. I’m a Music Writer & Content Producer at  The Portland Press Herald. I’ve been full-time there since 2011 and have been writing my weekly Face the Music column since 2003.

Music’s been my obsession my entire life.  I’m the gal who is going to come running into the room shouting to anyone within earshot “YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS SONG!”

I listen to a ton of music both from within Maine and well beyond it. I also go to a ton of concerts and interview local, regional and nationally touring artists as often as I can for both the Press Herald and this site!

I’m also the Local Music Director and host of Music from 207, the local music show, at 98.9 WCLZ which airs on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. and re-airs Sunday nights at 7 p.m. You can tune in old school style with on a radio or stream it live from anywhere.

The goal of this site is to share my excitement about all sorts of music from acts that have been around for a while to brand new ones I’m excited about.  I’ll talk about and review new albums, videos, concerts, festivals and other music related stuff. I’m a music fan. A big one. In my world, there’s no such thing as background music.  Nerd out with me! YEAH!

Oh and hey, find me on Twitter

On Facebook

On Instagram

Here’s my 2022 Press Herald interview with Ani DiFranco.

Here’s my 2022 Record Store Day interview with Bonnie Raitt.

Here’s my 2021 Press Herald interview with Chris Difford from Squeeze.

Here’s my 2022 Press Herald interview with King Princess.

Here’s my 2021 Press Herald interview with Judy Collins.

Here’s my 2022 Press Herald interview with Air Supply.

Here’s my 2021 Press Herald interview with Madi Diaz.

Here’s my 2021 Press Herald interview with Lake Street Dive and Allison Russell.

Here’s my July 2018 Press Herald interview with Brandi Carlile.

Here’s my Press Herald review of the November 2017 Elton John concert.

Here’s my July 2018 interview with Judy Collins.

Also in July of 2018 I had a lively convo with Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive.

Here’s my 2013 Press Herald interview with Molly Ringwald.

Other recent interviews also include Lukas Nelson and Joan Baez.

I also have had the pleasure of chatting with M.I.A. ,Shawn Colvin, Tori Amos, Patty Griffin, Jeff Daniels, Rachael Yamagata, Indigo Girls, Paula Cole, David Gray,  Gavin Rossdale and Melissa Etheridge among others through the years.

SPONSORSHIP

Aimsel on the Record is sponsored in part by LB Kitchen on 249 Congress St. in Portland, Maine.

LB kitchen logo

Please contact me if you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities!