Valley Queen

Nearly a decade ago, Natalie Carol left her home in Little Rock, Arkansas and headed to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. With a voice reminiscent of a southern-born Patti Smith or Stevie Nicks, Carol has the sound and the looks that would have fit in perfectly with the Laurel Canyon music scene of the 60s and 70s. Her band, Valley Queen, with Neil Wogensen (bass/vocals), Shawn Morones (guitar), and Mikey DeLuccia (drums) carries the rock spirit of the past in to the present, earning a spot on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series and praise for their sound. April marked the debut of Valley Queen’s debut EP, Destroyer.

STEREOGUM

“But the latest tease of the band’s long awaited debut album portends the Los Angeles quartet finally realizing their full potential. They’ve never sounded better than they do on “In My Place” — especially vocalist Natalie Carol, who wrestles with the wreckage of her faith and self-perception while anxiously considering her own youth “floating on great expectations” and “choking on grand illusions.” – Pranav Trewn

BROOKLYN VEGAN

“Singer Natalie Carol has a real powerful voice, and the band’s folk pop has gained comparisons to Fleetwood Mac, Florence Welch, and others.” – Andrew Sacher

NOISEY

“Driven by the impassioned vocals of Natalie Carol—tones that shiver in all the perfect places—”My Man” is a song that smacks of rolling hills and freeform dancing, a kind of pop imbued with Laurel Canyons vapors and alt country angles and a top down free spiritedness.” – Kim Taylor Bennett

NPR: ALL SONGS CONSIDERED

“Valley Queen comes from the Neil Young school of great music. They are fronted by Natalie Carol, whose voice is simply amazing.” – Bob Boilen