Equipped with a moody electro-pop style and an evocatively honest writing voice, Baltimore-based singer-songwriter Violette is primed to take the alternative scene by storm. Gearing up to release a new solo EP, she showcases her strength with her irresistibly moody singles, “Stop” — such as the vibrant 1975-reminiscent — and her latest single “Fall Apart.” Having got her start as the leading lady in a pop-rock group, Violette is no stranger to the business. However, in her emergence into the indie-pop sphere with solo material, she is very much coming into her own as performer and songwriter. “Fall Apart” is a slow-burning ballad about letting the wrong person get a little too close. With its synth-laden hook and bitingly honest lyrics, the track is sensitive, emotional, and gorgeously melodic.
On the verge of releasing her sophomore EP in her beauty lies my death and my life, Violette is on the verge of a true breakout moment. Recently, the singer sat down with Play Too Much to give fans an inside peek into the behind-the-scenes of her latest creative effort, the broad span of outside influences that inspired it, and all the best tunes you should be adding to your summer playlist!
Play Too Much: We appreciate you taking some time to sit down with us, Violette! For readers who might be new to you and your music, could you speak a bit on your overall sound and style?
Violette: Thank you so much for chatting with me! If I could put a genre on my sound it would probably be alt-pop or indie pop, but I still like to give myself freedom to experiment with any style. My main goal is just to make good songs and build the sounds or style around the song.
PTM: Let’s talk a bit about your latest single “Fall Apart,” an awesome tune, by the way! How did the idea for this tune come about? What was the creative process like?
Violette: Thank you! I wrote this song and finished the entire demo during one of those really-bad-I-need-a-drink sort of nights. It was just me stewing on feeling manipulated and like I was left on a hook, but there was something about the original vibe that didn’t fit. I ended up re-writing all the music like three times. Once we had that last version started, it all fell into place and sounded exactly like it felt and how I imagined it.
PTM: You’ve got a brand new EP due out August 13th In her beauty lies my death and my life. Could you give the readers a little tease about what you have in store on this one? Do you have a song in particular you’re excited for fans to finally get to hear?
Violette: This EP is the best, most honest music I’ve ever made and the most free I’ve ever felt while writing. I think it really translates in the songs, too! My favorite song on the EP changes daily, but I’m really excited for people to hear “En sa beauté gît ma mort et ma vie.” It’s the first song I’ve ever released with no guitar on it and it is the product of literally everything I’ve learned making music the past few years.
PTM: The title definitely has a pretty melodramatic flair. What made In her beauty lies my death and my life the right name for this record?
Violette: It definitely is a bit melodramatic, but I think the EP is a bit melodramatic, too. The title itself is the translation from the french quote “en sa beauté gît ma mort et ma vie” [which is also the title of the 3rd track]. During quarantine, my partner and I just binged period films because we could get through two of them and then the day would basically be over. When I started working on In her beauty lies my death and my life, I really thought about it as a period film – I wanted it to be romantic and almost shallow upon first glance or listen, but the things I’m writing about are really dark and real. I wanted the title to reflect that feeling, too. In her beauty lies my death and my life, both the title and the music, are a big statement to me: this is who I am and what I’m about.
PTM: What or who would you say were your biggest influences when creating this album? Is there anyone you have been dying to collaborate with?
Violette: My favorite thing about songwriting is storytelling, so the past few years I’ve been addicted to good storytelling whether it be from music, film, or television. Taylor Swift’sFolklore dropped while I was recording In her beauty…, so that, [French film, 2019] Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and [BBC original series] Fleabag are just a few examples that got me in the place to make this EP. As far as collaborations, I’m dying to work on a song or record with Naomi from Muna. I think they’re absolutely brilliant and it would be a really cool fit.
PTM: As the music industry adopts a sense of normalcy again and tours are finally getting underway, we’ve gotta ask, is there a city you’ve been dying to play in that you haven’t yet or a place you can’t wait to return to?
Violette: I can’t wait to just get back on the road again. There’s just something about being on the road that sets my soul on fire. My goal is to finally get to perform in England. Royal Albert Hall is the dream, but to be able to even do a club tour in England would make my life!
PTM: On a similar note, are there any shows or festivals you are looking forward to as a music fan in the post-pandemic era?
Violette: I haven’t been to a show since the Japanese House played in Baltimore in late 2019, so at this point I’m excited for ANY show! Honestly, I’m really excited to be able to see my friends play in the venues around Baltimore that are basically our homes – Ottobar and Metro, specifically. If there’s anything I want to change in my post-pandemic life is just going to any show I can. That’s something I used to take for granted, but I definitely won’t ever again.
PTM: It’s crazy to think that your first EP When I Lose My Head dropped less than a year ago. In your short time as an artist, what have been your biggest career accomplishments? Is there anything on your career bucket list you are hopeful in achieving by the end of the year?
Violette: It is absolutely WILD to me that When I Lose My Head came out less than a year ago! I think my biggest accomplishment is making In her beauty lies my death and my life. My partner and I have always talked about wanting to record and produce our own music and we made this record in our home, just the two of us. It’s an actual dream-come-true and I’m so happy to have it out in a couple of more months! I would love to get back on the road, even if only for a few weeks, before the end of the year. My aim is to just keep writing, producing, and performing as much as I can!
PTM: With as much ground as you cover creatively, it sounds like you’ve got pretty sweet taste in music. Is there a new single that’s become your anthem for the Summer of 2021?
Violette: Great question! It’s still early, but I think St. Vincent’s“Pay Your Way In Pain” is my most-played new single so far. There’s something so vibey and 2021 about it – no money, kinda hungry, baby won’t see me – but it absolutely SLAMS.
PTM: We definitely appreciate you hanging out with us, Violette! Is there anything you want to leave the readers with before we go?
Violette: Thank you so much, again, for having me! I just want readers to know to stay tuned – this is just the beginning of the journey we’re on and there is absolutely no stopping me.
