Widely published as an essayist, journalist and poet, the native Californian's work has drawn comparison to Lucinda Williams, The Cowboy Junckies and Patty Griffin. A frequent collaborator with Bay Area artists, Roberta Donnay produced her first CD "5 Acres" in 2003, followed by another EP of original material "Turn It All Red" in 2007. She completed the full-length CD "Adding Water to the Ashes" (produced by Ben Bernstein) in 2008 which is steadily gaining admirers.
A commitment to truth informs her work: "Dream Me," written shortly after the pivotal 2001 visit to New York City, was included on the 2004 RockerGirl compilation CDs and received radio airplay on KPFA during a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. 2005 saw new collaborations with B.Z. Lewis, resulting in the track "You Are Home" (which received national airplay and is featured on the Java with Jahvalin Indie Artist CD 2005 and the Indie Music for Life Compilation (2007). The tune "Hurt or Do the Hurting," also from "5 Acres," was included in the trailer for the documentary "Doing Time." In 2007, she began working with Ben Bernstein (of New Monsoon), resulting in his production of "Adding Water to the Ashes," which is filled with songs exploring love, loss and faith.

A frequent performer, Deborah showcased at the 2006 Millenium Music Conference in Pennsylvania, the 2005 RockerGirl Magazine Music Convention in Seattle, Washington, in Austin, TX, as part of the the GoGirls Invasion of SXSW and was a featured act at the Sunset Junction Street Fair in Silverlake, The Harmony Festival (Santa Rosa) and the Monterey Summer of Love Anniversary event. Beyond the West Coast, she's performed at venues across the country including Arlene's Grocery, The Grey Eagle and the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, and recently put together a band while traveling in India to perform privately.