Violet Grohl steps out of her famous father’s shadow with a haunted, alt-rock debut

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The title of Violet Grohl’s debut album, “Be Sweet to Me,” started as an inside joke.

The singer explains that ‘Be Sweet to Me’ is a playful phrase she and her best friend use to signal the end of their mock fights. It’s like saying ‘Stop it, I give up!’ in a cute way.

The phrase could have a hidden meaning, something Dave Grohl is still trying to understand. He recalls someone once asking if the name was a request for help, and he now pauses to think about that possibility.

She thinks it could be seen as a little introduction to the album, saying, “Just be nice!” But she also explains it’s really just a silly thing she and her best friend say to each other when they’re playfully teasing each other.

Whether she meant to or not, it’s understandable that the 20-year-old artist asked fans to be kind as she released her first album on Friday.

It’s easy to see why Violet Grohl might feel some pressure. She’s the daughter of Dave Grohl, the famous frontman of the Foo Fighters and former drummer for Nirvana, and Jordyn Blum, a model and TV producer. With so much discussion online about people benefiting from family connections, it’s natural she’d be worried about how her album would be received.

She doesn’t seem to mind the attention, though. On a pleasant May afternoon, Grohl seemed comfortable and confident – but never boastful – while relaxing on a sofa in her publicist’s charming backyard studio. Her long, black dress gave off a vibe that was both effortlessly cool, like a rock star off-duty, and subtly edgy. Her arms were covered in detailed tattoos, including a raven, a skull, and an antique lace fan. A small Balenciaga bag sat nearby, and a pair of oversized sunglasses rested on her head, atop a cascade of dark curls. Her pale skin and slicked-back hair made her striking gray-blue eyes stand out even more.

Spending time with Grohl shows she’s deeply attuned to the atmosphere of places and the feelings of people, both living and those who’ve passed on. She’s also a big fan of the paranormal, and her interest grew alongside her love of horror movies. “I started watching ‘Ghost Adventures’ around the same time I got into horror,” she explains, “and it really sparked my fascination with the supernatural.”

When asked if she’d ever encountered a ghost, Grohl immediately described a chilling experience at a hunting lodge in the Scottish Highlands. She said it was the most haunted place she’d ever been. As soon as she walked inside, she felt a sudden blast of cold air and a pervasive sense of being watched. She heard footsteps and voices that didn’t seem to have a source, saw unexplained shadows, and had vivid dreams. Despite the unsettling experience, she didn’t feel any malice or negativity – it was simply eye-opening.

The album “Be Sweet to Me” is filled with atmospheric and slightly unsettling sounds, drawing inspiration from the surreal style of director David Lynch. The songs tell stories of growing up through poetic and symbolic lyrics. Beyond just being enjoyable, this debut album is a deep dive into the roots of alternative rock, showcasing an artist with a strong understanding of music history. Across 11 songs, the album explores a range of late ’80s and ’90s experimental sounds – from energetic alt-rock (“Bug in the Cake”) to dreamy pop (“Mobile Star”) and even heavier, aggressive alt-metal (“Often Others”) and hardcore (“Cool Buzz”).

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Though she drew inspiration from many sources during recording – with producer Justin Raisen (who has worked with Charli XCX and Kim Gordon, and who connected them) – Grohl isn’t trying to recreate the sound of 90s grunge. Instead, she skillfully reimagines those influences, adding her own unique touch through creative arrangements, polished production, and a remarkably versatile voice. She can powerfully belt like Courtney Love, sing softly like PJ Harvey, or create an airy, dreamlike quality reminiscent of Elizabeth Fraser.

Dave Grohl describes the musicians Justin assembled for the album as close friends and incredibly talented. Raisen intentionally created a group reminiscent of the Wrecking Crew – a famous, informal team of session players from the 60s and 70s who played on many classic albums. Grohl says this was a new experience for him, a collaborative environment where everyone freely shared ideas and worked together to build on the songs, constantly striving to create something fresh and unique.

Growing up in the Tarzana and Woodland Hills area, Grohl always loved to sing – her mother even noted in a baby book that she was ‘babbling and singing’ as early as eight or nine months old. She started with piano lessons, where her teacher happily taught her any Beatles song she requested. She then learned to play the ukulele and guitar, and now enjoys experimenting with all kinds of instruments, including bass, drums, and even the lap dulcimer. ‘I just love exploring different instruments and the sounds they can create,’ she explains.

Dave Grohl’s father played a key role in shaping his musical tastes. He introduced young Dave, around age 4 or 5, to artists like Björk, explaining she was from Iceland and even happily playing Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” over and over. Grohl recalls thinking of Björk as the ‘princess of Iceland’ and remembers being particularly impacted by Björk’s ‘Hunter’ music video, which was a pivotal moment for him.

Growing up, while traveling with her dad and the Foo Fighters, Grohl helped the tour manager with tasks like distributing spending money, delivering mail, and bringing her dad a towel after concerts. Being around live music also inspired her to start writing songs, which she initially saw as a personal diary. She began by recording demos on a simple recorder and later, around age 13, she discovered music production software called Logic, which allowed her to explore songwriting in a new way.

In May 2018, while the Foo Fighters were touring, Dave Grohl performed at a charity concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. He invited his 12-year-old daughter to sing Adele’s “When We Were Young” with him. A few weeks later, she joined him onstage again while the tour continued, this time singing backup vocals. Although she had sung on stage before, this experience with a large audience was different. She recalls being frightened, but realizing afterward, “This is what I want to do. This is my purpose.”

After that, Violet Grohl frequently appeared alongside the Foo Fighters, becoming a popular and appreciated performer in her own right. Before the pandemic, in 2020, she joined the remaining members of Nirvana at a gala and sang “Heart-Shaped Box.” The following year, she and her father recorded a duet of the X song “Nausea.” In 2022, Violet opened the second tribute concert for the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins with a moving performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

Unlike some children of famous parents who downplay their family connections, Grohl openly embraces her heritage, which actually makes her seem more genuine and relatable. She doesn’t try to hide her background or constantly mention her father’s name. During the pandemic, she fondly recalls long car rides with her dad and sisters around Los Angeles, where they’d share music recommendations, with each generation taking turns as the DJ. “My sister and I even introduced him to the band Jockstrap,” Grohl laughs, adding that she also played him classic jazz and hip-hop, making it a constant exchange of musical discoveries.

During his evening drives, Grohl also absorbed the unique and slightly mysterious atmosphere of the city. He explains, “L.A. has a certain something I can’t quite put into words. It’s full of inspiration—beautiful people, historic architecture… I love seeing L.A. represented in art, whether it’s music, film, or literature. Having grown up and lived here my entire life, I feel a profound connection to everything about it.”

Like all artists, Grohl’s background has deeply shaped who she is, including a rather unusual childhood. She admits, with a no-nonsense attitude, that she feels the weight of her family name. She explains that people often try to mold her into an idealized version of what they want, not who she actually is. But she refuses to change. “I do this because I love music – it’s all I’ve ever known,” she says. “I won’t give in to expectations of who I should be.”

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2026-05-29 13:32