A New Grohl Enters the Stage: Violet Releases Her First-Ever Single
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Violet Grohl has officially stepped into the spotlight with her debut single, marking her first full step as a solo artist. For years, audiences have watched her appear beside her father, Dave Grohl, in guest performances that hinted at a musical path of her own. With the release of “THUM,” she finally offers a clear picture of the sound she wants to explore—one that blends grit, melody, and a sense of youthful curiosity.
Her new track arrives with a surprising amount of confidence. Drawing inspiration from alt-rock acts like Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures, “THUM” leans into a dirty, driving guitar riff while pairing it with her smooth, melodic vocal style. That contrast gives the song its personality—it sounds grounded in the rock world she grew up around but also shaped by her own taste and instincts. For a first single, it sets the tone without trying too hard to imitate the past.
Violet introduced the release on Instagram, expressing how excited she was to finally share something she had quietly worked on for a year. Her message was simple and sincere, focused on the joy of collaboration with musicians she admires. That alone said something important: she wants her career to grow through genuine connections rather than relying on her last name. And so far, listeners seem willing to meet her exactly where she is.
Her Sound Finds its Footing
“THUM,” backed by the track “Applefish,” is available both digitally on Bandcamp and as a limited seven-inch vinyl—a nod that feels in step with the Grohl family’s love for physical formats. The song wastes no time establishing its tone. A heavy, Homme-style guitar riff drives the track forward while Violet’s voice floats lightly above it, creating a push-and-pull that feels refreshing for a debut. It’s rough around the edges in the best way, with a sound that suggests she values feel over perfection.
Her vocal approach also sets her apart. Rather than reaching for raw power or dramatic belting, she leans into a soft, melodic delivery that balances the heaviness beneath her. It’s a style that adds a sense of intimacy to a song that could easily have leaned too far into aggression. That balance shows thoughtfulness in how she presents herself—not just as a young rock singer, but as someone who understands how to shape a mood.
The musicians and collaborators she chose for the recording hint at her long-term direction. She is reportedly working with producer Justin Raisen, known for helping artists experiment outside the mainstream, including Kim Gordon and Viagra Boys. That pairing suggests Violet’s upcoming work may push further into alternative territory, embracing textures that feel modern but still grounded in rock roots. For listeners, it’s the kind of foundation that leaves room for her identity to evolve naturally.
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Support From a New Generation of Music Families
Once Violet announced the single, her comments section quickly filled with encouragement from others who grew up in the shadows of famous musicians. Toni Cornell, daughter of Chris Cornell, cheered her on with genuine enthusiasm. Shane Hawkins, son of the late Taylor Hawkins, added a proud message of his own. Their reactions highlighted a quiet but meaningful network of young artists raised around the same industry pressures and expectations.
Other messages followed from Raven Numan and Olive Freese—daughters of Gary Numan and Josh Freese—showing that Violet’s debut resonated across multiple rock families. There’s something striking about seeing these second-generation voices encouraging one another, forming a kind of peer group that understands the weight of legacy better than anyone else. Their support gives Violet’s launch an energy that feels communal rather than competitive.
Even beyond the rock crowd, well-known figures joined in. Flavor Flav offered an enthusiastic shoutout, while Iris Apatow and Truly Young added their own praise. The response wasn’t just polite—it carried a sense of shared excitement, as if they all recognized that this was an important step for Violet. In an industry where first impressions can be fragile, that early wave of goodwill helps clear the runway for her next moves.
A Young Artist With Real Stage Experience
Although “THUM” is Violet’s first official single, it isn’t the first time listeners have heard her voice. She delivered a standout performance on Foo Fighters’ 2023 album But Here We Are, singing on the track “Show Me How.” The song became one of the emotional pillars of the record, and her presence on it showed remarkable poise for someone still carving out her musical identity. Many fans took that moment as the earliest sign that she had a future as more than a guest vocalist.
Before that, she joined Dave for a studio cover of X’s “Nausea,” a track closely tied to the Grohl family’s early history in Los Angeles. That duet showcased her ability to shift between gentle clarity and raw tone—skills that appear again in her new single. Each step she’s taken over the years has slowly revealed more of her style, and this new release gathers those pieces into something more complete.
Earlier in 2024, she stood onstage with the surviving members of Nirvana—Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear—during the Fire Aid benefit concert in Los Angeles. Singing lead vocals on “All Apologies,” she handled a song with an enormous legacy attached to it, yet delivered it with calm assurance. For many in the audience, it was a moment that bridged generations, showing a young artist holding her own amid musicians who shaped the history of the genre she now steps into.
