Incorporating influences from Southern rock, Laurel Canyon, and Woodstock, Valley Queen are led by Arkansas native Natalie Carol. The band formed after Carol relocated to Los Angeles in the early 2010s and heard guitarist David Donaldson at a local jam session. Hearing traces of the blues and Southern rock she grew up with, she reached out and the two began exchanging ideas for songs. The Valley Queen double-sided single "Carnaval/Make You Feel" appeared in mid-2014. By the time the songs "In My Place" and "High Expectations" were released by Canvasback Music/Atlantic Records in 2016, the lineup consisted of Carol, guitarist Shawn Morones, bassist Neil Wogensen, and drummer Gerry Doot. Both songs appeared in an Audiotree Live session released that September. Having already appeared on the festival circuit, including headlining the Echo Park Rising Festival, they opened for acts spanning Reggie Watts, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, and Laura Marling. Valley Queen self-released their debut EP, Destroyer, in March of 2017. Featuring production by Lewis Pesacov (Nikki Lane, Best Coast) and additional guitar by Donaldson, its six tracks included a cover of "Painter in Your Pocket" by Dan Bejar's Destroyer. ~ Marcy Donelson