Track of the Day: Dominique Pruitt “High in the Valley” (2018)

Los Angeles-based country singer-songwriter Dominique Pruitt has dropped a new single, her first release in five years. “High in the Valley” is a swaggering retro-tinged ode to the monotony of the 9-to-5 life, if you like your country music fiesty and female driven, then this is the track for you.

Despite coming from a musical family, her father worked with Engelbert Humperdinck and played in 60’s band The Association, Pruitt’s career path has been rockier than most. Initially hesitant to fully embrace a career in music, she only started recording demos seven years ago, before releasing an EP, To Win Your Love in 2013. She had a full length debut record ready for release, but with things not feeling right, the album was shelved, and not long after the label folded. Cut to five years later, and “High in the Valley” is her comeback single.

Co-written with Jasmine AshJoseph Holliday and Kenny Fleetwood, “High in the Valley” is dripping in spaghetti western vibes, and brings to mind the likes of Nikki Lane, and Australia’s own Ruby Boots. Right from that drum intro, Pruitt and her band completely set the mood, with some lovely guitar work from Travis Daggett, not to mention John Schreffler Jr. on pedal steel. It’s moody, stylish and immediately conjures up images of smoky dive bars and dilapidated motels. Credit to Pruitt and her co-writers too, there are some wonderful lyrics on show here too: “Closest that I’ve ever been to God is a Bible on a nightstand at an old roadside motel,” is great line, as is that chorus, which is deceptively downbeat and biting.

There’s quite a few badass women working in the Alt-country/Americana world of late, and with the promise of more new material on the way I think it’s safe to say Pruitt is certainly one of them.

“High in the Valley” is available now. With the promise of more new music on the way keep up to date with Pruitt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Header Image: Ron Pruitt

Simon Clark

Books Editor. An admirer of songs and reader of books. Simon has a PhD in English and Comparative Literature. All errant apostrophes are his own.