Valerie June spent many years developing her voice before emerging as a major young star of Americana music in the early 2010s. Raised in West Tennessee, June absorbed all varieties of Southern music as well as soul, pop, and reggae, and further fed her muse by travelling the country before settling in Memphis. She became a central player in that city’s underground scene and was featured in projects like Luther Dickinson’s band The Wandering and Me’shell Ndgeocello’s Nina Simone tribute Pour Une Ame Souveraine. Her captivating singing style stood out in these collaborations. In partnership with the producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, she created Pushin’ Against a Stone, which topped many critics’ lists in 2013.