New Age pianist and composer Clara Ponty was the daughter of renowned violinist Jean-Luc Ponty; raised in both Paris and Los Angeles, at the age of four she too picked up the violin, but two years later made the move to piano, writing her first song at age eight. As a teen she attended Interlochen Arts Academy, later studying under the likes of John Perry, Nelita True and Aube Tzerco; signing to Philips Classics, in late 1997 Ponty released her self-titled debut album, followed two years later by Embrace.