written by Maria Arroyo
Katie Pruitt is a singer/songwriter from Georgia. She released her incredible debut album, Expectations, back in February and has truly inspired and motivated me to be the best singer/songwriter I can be. Her album touches on every aspect of her personal life from things like mental illness and bad relationships to her experience growing up gay in the South.
Pruitt explains the title to the album, saying “I called the album ‘Expectations’ because I liked that it was ironic. This record’s really about letting go of what other people expect from you, and being free to be… to just finally be yourself.” She also touches on why this album was so important to create because of her upbringing.
Throughout the album, there is a mix of blues and folk which is partnered with a beautifully written melody and a great story to tell. I love how easy it was to identify with songs like “Wishful Thinking” and “Searching for the Truth”, especially with the female’s perspective. She takes her time with building anticipation throughout the song to create the best work possible.
Expectations is another song that’s easy to relate to if you’ve ever been in a situation when you’ve given too much, even when you shouldn’t have. The message that “other people’s expectations can weigh heavily on your shoulders” is one that I think is under-discussed in our world, so the exploration of this concept in her album was very music appreciated. I wish this would have been a song I had earlier in life, but I’m glad that she’s created such a wonderful masterpiece right now.
Even though there are a lot of important messages and concepts that she talks about in her album, I think the one that screams the loudest are those written from her perspective as an openly gay woman. I think a lot of her songs like “Normal” and “Loving Her” show how honest of an artist she is, and also give you a glimpse as to what it was like for her growing up in the south and feels so different from everyone else. She explores the feelings of wanting to make life easier by conforming to those around her, but in the end, she realizes that life isn’t about being easier… but being happier. “Georgia” is all about the concept that Love belongs to all humankind. Going back through my notes, I realized I literally wrote “holy fuck… I need to meet this girl…” So I guess you could say I’m slowly becoming a super fan of her and her music.
My favorite song off the album is hands down “Grace Has A Gun.” The melody and vocals are strikingly beautiful, and the song structure is exceptionally strong. The tension she’s able to build in her voice is something I’m always attracted to, and so it’s no surprise that this song has been on repeat, and made it to my favorites on my Spotify playlist! It’s not until the end of the song that you realize just how big of an impact this songs’ message has on the album as a whole.
Closing out her album is “It’s Always Been You.” It’s a stripped-down and honest song. The picture it paints is something that anyone who has a partner can relate to. This album all comes back to her.
On top of her incredible storytelling, the melodies throughout the album are powerful and delivered flawlessly. She is able to connect not only through her story but she also conveys that same story in her voice. The rising and falling within each song match the high peaks and softer moments in the instrumentation. Her vocals manage to keep me on my toes and every time, I am blown away. Pruitt has become a favorite of mine, and one that I strongly urge everyone to give a listen to. She explores so many ideas and emotions that are relatable not only to the LGBTQ community but to everyone.
