Being the daughter of one of the biggest rock stars of all time is bound to help when you’re launching a music career. But, as Violet Grohl has discovered, this exposure arrives with the usual accusations that their position hasn’t been earned the hard way.
To her credit, Grohl has never sidestepped her nepo baby tag. To be fair, she couldn’t, really. The LA-born singer has shared stages with Foo Fighters for years now and even harmonised with her father on the band’s grief-stricken 2023 single Show Me How.
But her debut LP ‘Be Sweet To Me’ proves there’s more to Grohl than the family name. In some respects, it also confirms that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, consistently drawing from a rich pool of ‘90s alternative and melodic rock influences.
But that’s hardly a criticism and, if anything, Grohl’s debut sounds more adventurous than much of what the Foo Fighters have produced in recent years, starting with raw intensity before unfolding into something more expansive and unpredictable.
Recorded in 2024 and 2025 with producer Justin Raisen (Kim Gordon, Charli XCX), the album pulls from a familiar mix as Pixies, the Breeders, Cocteau Twins and Queens of the Stone Age leave their fingerprints without Grohl losing her own emerging identity.
The 20-year-old singer comes out swinging. Thum pairs fuzzy guitars with subtle dream-pop textures before exploding into a raucous chorus to establish the perfect opening tone. Inspired by an “old sex phoneline” T-shirt purchased on Etsy, 595 shifts into moodier, groove-laden terrain culminating in a sumptuous rock ‘n’ roll jam outro, while the infectious Bug in the Cake reflects on her move into her late grandma’s house. Sliver vibes, anyone?
After a propulsive start, Grohl dramatically changes course. Mobile Star plays out like an eerie lullaby, her voice at its most captivating and hazy as she finds herself “floating between, awake and a dream / Visions of peace, I tried to scream.” Elsewhere, Applefish contrasts angelic vocals against bursts of sludgy metal, while ethereal penultimate track Pool of my Dreams finds us floating and far removed from the scrappy alt-rock artist who opened the record.
Grohl has asked that fans and critics give her music a fair chance before casting judgement. On the evidence of ‘Be Sweet To Me’, such a request is entirely justified. It’s more than just a pleasant surprise. Instead, it’s an intriguing first step.
Violet Grohl Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue August 25 2026 - MANCHESTER Deaf Institute
Wed August 26 2026 - GLASGOW King Tuts
Tue September 01 2026 - LONDON Camden Assembly
Wed September 02 2026 - LONDON Camden Assembly
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