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Be Sweet to Me
A black-and-white image of a young girl with black hair wearing a white dress and sitting in a meadow
Studio album by
Violet Grohl
ReleasedMay 29, 2026 (2026-05-29)
RecordedAugust 2024 – May 2025
Studio
GenreAlternative rock
Length31:57
Label
Producer
Singles from Be Sweet to Me
  1. "Thum" / "Applefish"
    Released: December 7, 2025
  2. "595"
    Released: March 11, 2026
  3. "Cool Buzz"
    Released: April 28, 2026

Be Sweet to Me is the debut studio album by the American singer Violet Grohl, released on May 29, 2026, through Auroura and Republic Records. Co-produced primarily by Justin Raisen and Anthony Paul Lopez, the album was recorded from August 2024 to May 2025 mainly at Raisen's Los Angeles home studio with a Wrecking Crew-like group of studio musicians. Be Sweet to Me is primarily an alternative rock album, with a sound indebted to the 1990s. Grohl cited the Breeders, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Soundgarden, and Cocteau Twins as her primary musical influences for the album.

The album was preceded by three singles: "Thum", "595", and "Cool Buzz". The singles and album track "Bug in the Cake" were supported by music videos. Grohl promoted the album through various interviews and is set to tour the United States and Canada in 2026. Music critics generally described the album as a strong debut and one that reflects Grohl's 1990s alternative rock influences and lineage.

Background

[edit]
A young blonde-haired woman wearing a black dress with yellow flowers, standing on a stage holding a microphone
Grohl in 2022

As the eldest daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl,[1] Violet Grohl said in an interview that she does not care about her status as a nepo baby:[2]

"Obviously, doors are open for me because of my last name," she eye-rolls. "It's not something I'm ever going to hide behind [...] I don't care – I really don't. I've heard that since I was 13 years old. So call me a nepo baby all you want. It's 'whatever' to me. I just hope that eventually people will give me a shot."

Before recording her debut album, Grohl released a cover of X's "Nausea" with her father in 2021.[3][4] She also contributed backing vocals to Foo Fighters' songs "Making a Fire" (2022) and "Show Me How" (2023), and performed live with the band at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert in 2022 and the Glastonbury Festival in 2023.[a] While always wanting a career in music, Grohl specifically mentioned that her time recording "Show Me How" gave her the insight and confidence to pursue a solo career.[9]

Recording

[edit]

Grohl recorded Be Sweet to Me from August 2024 to May 2025[10] primarily at producer Justin Raisen's Los Angeles home studio with a Wrecking Crew-like group of studio musicians.[11][12] Grohl contacted Raisen, whose previous collaborators included Kim Gordon, Charli XCX, and Lil Yachty, through her father after a Gordon show in Copenhagen. The two formed an immediate mutual connection: "He was pulling these references – things that are really near and dear to me, or that maybe the average listener might not know – and I just thought: 'Okay, this is who I should be working with'."[13] Raisen co-produced the album with Anthony Paul Lopez, with additional production from Joe Kennedy on "Last Day I Loved You" and Brad Lauchert on "Pool of My Dreams".[14]

Grohl explained that the musicians were close friends and frequent collaborators of Raisen's: "They're the coolest, most talented, genuine music lovers, and seriously talented musicians ... I'd never been in that kind of recording environment before. Everyone would throw out ideas, or I would share a reference, and whatever it was about the song, [we'd ask] how we can build and make it a completely new, different thing."[12] Grohl did not play any instruments on the album, saying that she felt shy and outclassed by the skilled musicians around her.[15] All of the album's songs originated from jam sessions.[16] On the songwriting process, Grohl said the songs were built around "inspiration playlists" that she brought to the studio: "[W]e would hang and listen for a little while, and then start writing."[17] Before her debut, Grohl's songwriting process was more solitary than collaborative.[15] Nevertheless, she expressed appreciation for the collaborative recording process, finding others' input helped give her motivation and insight into making better music.[13][15]

The first song recorded was "Thum",[9] followed by "Plastic Couch".[16] A few weeks were spent recording the album's intense tracks, including "Cool Buzz" and "Often Others", before Grohl decided she wanted songs with a heavier emotional weight, resulting in "Mobile Star", "Pool of My Dreams", and "Applefish", which were sonically inspired by the spacious atmospheres of Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil.[18]

Composition

[edit]

Featuring 11 tracks, Be Sweet to Me is primarily an alternative rock album,[12][13] with elements of grunge, heavy metal, shoegaze, punk, folk, and jazz.[19][18] Its sound was compared directly to the music of the 1990s,[20][21] particularly the alt-rock sound her father was a part of.[1] Mojo magazine's Stephen Thomas Erlewine "marr[ies] the etheral swoon of dream-pop with the crunch of grunge, creating a fusion that evokes the off-kilter spirit of the '90s."[22] Grohl cited the Breeders, Hole, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Soundgarden, and Cocteau Twins as her primary musical influences for the album.[9][11][23][24] She described this period of music as "powerful", with themes and visuals that are "authentic and raw".[11] Comparisons were also made to her father Dave Grohl's former band Nirvana, Veruca Salt, and Queens of the Stone Age.[23][25][26] The Music's Mary Varvaris described the production as "unshakably heavy, with fuzzed-out, gritty guitars and hard-hitting drums swirling around Grohl's tender voice."[15]

Lyrically, Be Sweet to Me is filled with film imagery and Lynchian surrealism, relying on symbolism to tell coming of age stories.[12] In interviews, Grohl discussed her love of David Lynch, finding "relatability" in his work; Lynch's influence can be heard on "595",[9][15] whilst "Often Others" references Twin Peaks.[10] Grohl explained that because she often used visual and symbolic imagery in her music, her songs combined her love of cinema and music.[15] Daisy Carter of DIY wrote that the lyrics "revel in relative ambiguity; rather than spoon-feeding the listener, they zoom in on diverse details [...] using them as microcosmic explorations of grief, desire, and identity."[13] "Cool Buzz" was inspired by Grohl's experiences with misogyny and enriched by stories shared by friends.[16] There are also themes of romance and mourning.[19]

The album's title came from an in-joke between Grohl and her best friend during playful banter.[12][16] She further said that the phrase could "be seen as a pretext for the album. Just ... be sweet."[12] The album's cover photograph and accompanying promotional images were taken by the photographer Bella Newman.[27]

Release and promotion

[edit]

The album was preceded by the singles "Thum" b/w "Applefish", released on December 7, 2025,[28] followed by "595" on March 11, 2026,[29] and "Cool Buzz" on April 28.[30] Music videos were released for the singles. For "Thum" and "595", Grohl worked with the director Nikki Milan Houston, who developed the videos' visuals based on ideas from Grohl;[24] Houston also directed the video for "Cool Buzz".[31] The video for "Bug in the Cake" features the pornographic film actress Nina Hartley as Grohl's grandmother.[32] The album was released on May 29, through Republic Records and Grohl's own imprint, Auroura Records.[11][15][29]

To promote the album, Grohl conducted interviews with numerous publications across America, Europe, and Asia. These included Consequence,[18] Dork,[16] DIY,[13] The Forty-Five,[2] Kerrang!,[9] Nylon,[1] The Music Australia,[15] RockUrLife,[24] and Rock Sound.[33] On her extensive promotion, Grohl said: "If you want to put yourself out there, you have to put yourself out there."[16] She made her solo television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 3, 2026, performing "Bug in the Cake".[11] To support Be Sweet to Me, Grohl is set to embark on headlining tour dates across the United States and Canada through fall 2026, while also supporting the Breeders on other select shows.[1][18][34]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[35]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[23]
Clash8/10[19]
Classic PopStarStarStarStar[36]
Classic RockStarStarStarHalf star[25]
Exclaim!8/10[37]
The GuardianStarStarStar[38]
Kerrang!4/5[20]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[21]
MojoStarStarStarStar[22]
MusikexpressStarStarStarHalf star[39]
PasteC−[40]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Be Sweet to Me received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 from nine critic scores. Critics generally described the album as a strong debut and one that reflects Grohl's 1990s alternative rock influences and lineage.[b] AllMusic's Neil Z. Young argued that Be Sweet to Me could "serve as an entry point for younger generations to discover the music of those older inspirations".[23] Writing for Clash magazine, Paulina Subia praised Grohl's musical range and vocal performances, ultimately saying: "With this album, Grohl takes command of her sound with an evident thrill for how music can be imbued with a spectrum of emotion; and, in turn, Be Sweet to Me becomes unforgettable."[19] Erlewine similarly praised Grohl's vocals, saying she successfully adapted to different musical styles.[22]

Many critics believed Grohl successfully broke away from her father's shadow and established herself as a creative talent.[c] Writing for Exclaim!, David James Young wrote that Grohl distinguished herself from her family's legacy, at the same time demonstrated technical proficiency and proved she is an artist worthy of attention.[37] The Line of Best Fit's Marie Hascoët was eager to hear where Grohl would go next. She commended the album's music and lyrics as vibrant and imaginative and believed Grohl had a promising future ahead of her.[21]

In a more mixed assessment, The Guardian's Katie Hawthorne wrote that the nostalgic music was "too reverent [and] too predictable", concluding, "Grohl's a genuine talent, but her hungry threats need sharper fangs."[38] More negatively, Grace Robins-Somerville of Paste magazine found that Grohl's 1990s-influenced sound failed to set her apart from her Gen Z alt-rock peers, ultimately writing: "It's natural for a young artist to wear their influences like armor on the way to figuring out how to make certain sounds their own, but on Violet Grohl's debut album, these influences are wearing her."[40] In the Dutch music magazine Oor, Reinier Van Der Zouw hoped that Grohl would take more creative risks and not copy others for her next record, but believed the album was enjoyable and proved she has potential.[26]

Track listing

[edit]
Be Sweet to Me track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Thum"
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:11
2."595"
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:29
3."Bug in the Cake"
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:48
4."Last Day I Loved You"
  • Grohl
  • Kennedy
  • Raisen
  • Kennedy
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:39
5."Big Memory"
  • Grohl
  • Emme
  • Kennedy
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
  • Tavárez
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:47
6."Mobile Star"
  • Grohl
  • Kennedy
  • Raisen
  • Tavárez
3:23
7."Often Others"
  • Grohl
  • Raisen
  • Tavárez
  • Zizzo
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:30
8."Applefish"
  • Grohl
  • Emme
  • Lauchert
  • Lopez
  • Kennedy
  • Raisen
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:40
9."Cool Buzz"
  • Grohl
  • Lauchert
  • Kennedy
  • Raisen
  • Tavárez
  • Zizzo
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
2:32
10."Pool of My Dreams"
  • Grohl
  • Raisen
  • Tavárez
  • Lauchert
  • Raisen
  • Lopez[a]
3:17
11."Plastic Couch"
  • Grohl
  • Emme
  • Lopez
  • Kennedy
  • Raisen
  • Tavárez
  • Lopez
  • Raisen
4:41
Total length:31:57

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • "Thum" is stylized in all caps

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from liner notes[14] and Tidal.[41]

Musicians

  • Violet Grohl – vocals (all tracks), background vocals (track 8)
  • Justin Raisen – background vocals (1, 9); bass guitar, additional drums (1); guitar (2–5, 7–9); foley (6) noise guitar (7, 11); reverse percussion, effects, blip box, synthesizer (6); additional vocals, vocal effects (9); drum machine, electronic percussion (10); feedback (11)
  • Anthony Paul Lopez – drums (1–6, 8–11), guitar (2–5, 8–10), additional guitar (1), percussion (1, 4, 5, 9, 11); synthesizer (6, 10); foley (6, 11); background vocals (6)
  • Joe Kennedy – guitar (1–6, 8, 9, 11), bass synthesizer (2, 6), bass guitar (4); Mellotron, toy piano (6)
  • Julio Tavárez – bass guitar (2, 5–7, 9, 11), guitar (2, 5, 7, 9, 10), beatboxing (6); bass synthesizer, drums, synthesizer (10)
  • Ainjel Emme – guitar (3–5, 7, 8, 11), bass guitar (3, 5, 8), background vocals (5, 8, 11)
  • Persia Numan – background vocals (3)
  • Joseph P. Zizzo – drums (7)
  • Brad Lauchert – guitar, keyboards (10)
  • Shane Hawkins – additional drums (11)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Be Sweet to Me
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[42] 90
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[43] 39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[44] 137
French Physical Albums (SNEP)[45] 82
French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP)[46] 19
Scottish Albums (OCC)[47] 18
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[48] 16
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[49] 37

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[3][5][6][7][8]
  2. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[23][19][25][37][22]
  3. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[13][15][18][25][12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Giandurco, Jillian (May 12, 2026). "Violet Grohl Gets Supernatural". Nylon. Archived from the original on May 13, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Gunn, Charlotte (April 9, 2026). "Violet Grohl interview: 'Male musicians my age have attitude'". The Forty-Five. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Lash, Jolie (April 23, 2021). "Hear Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and daughter Violet cover X classic 'Nausea'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  4. ^ Reilly, Nick (April 23, 2021). "Dave Grohl teams up with daughter Violet to cover 'Nausea' by LA punk legends X". NME. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Dave Grohl: 'I dreamt I was shot in the back'". BBC News. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Balogun, Taiwo (June 26, 2023). "Dave Grohl's 3 Kids: Everything to Know". People. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Zeller, Terry (September 29, 2022). "Violet Grohl: 5 Things About Dave Grohl's Daughter, 16, Who Performed At Taylor Hawkins Tribute". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Paige, Ashley (June 24, 2023). "Dave Grohl's Daughter Violet, 17, Sings Onstage at Glastonbury with Foo Fighters: 'That's My Girl'". People. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e Hickie, James (March 12, 2026). ""I was always encouraged to experiment and express myself": Inside Violet Grohl's debut solo album". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  10. ^ a b John, Caroline (May 7, 2026). "Violet Grohl im Interview: „Mein Vater wollte, dass ich meinen Weg gehe"" [Violet Grohl in an interview: "My father wanted me to go my way"]. Musikexpress (in German). Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e Zemler, Emily (June 4, 2026). "Watch Violet Grohl's Rousing Performance of 'Bug in the Cake' On 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Brodsky, Rachel (May 29, 2026). "Violet Grohl steps out of her famous father's shadow with a haunted, alt-rock debut". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 30, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Carter, Daisy (April 28, 2026). "Violet Grohl talks Foo Fighters fan pressure, women in rock, and debut album". DIY. Archived from the original on May 2, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  14. ^ a b Violet Grohl (2026). Be Sweet to Me (liner notes). Auroura/Republic Records. 00199957317184.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Varvaris, Mary (May 27, 2026). "Violet Grohl: 'Music Is For The Greater Good. There's A Bigger Purpose'". The Music. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Shutler, Ali (May 29, 2026). "Violet Grohl: 'You can never please everybody'". Dork. Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  17. ^ Garro, Adrian (June 4, 2026). "Out Now: Violet Grohl Releases Debut Album 'Be Sweet to Me,' Steeped in '90s Alt-Rock Influence; On Tour Now (Listen/Buy)". Rock Cellar Magazine. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  18. ^ a b c d e Ragusa, Paolo (May 28, 2026). "CoSign: Violet Grohl Trusts Her Instincts on Debut Album Be Sweet to Me". Consequence. Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  19. ^ a b c d e Subia, Paulina (May 27, 2026). "Violet Grohl – Be Sweet To Me | Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  20. ^ a b Roberts, Rachel (May 26, 2026). "Album review: Violet Grohl – Be Sweet To Me". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  21. ^ a b c Hascoët, Marie (May 27, 2026). "Violet Grohl: Be Sweet To Me review – rendered quintessentially 90s". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  22. ^ a b c d Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (July 2026). "Filter Albums". Mojo. No. 392. p. 89.
  23. ^ a b c d e Yeung, Neil Z. "Be Sweet to Me – Violet Grohl | Album". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  24. ^ a b c Navarre, Laura (March 23, 2026). "Violet Grohl (23/03/26)" [Violet Grohl (23/03/26)]. RockUrLife (in French). Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  25. ^ a b c d Johnston, Emma (May 29, 2026). "'She may have had the biggest leg-up in the world, but Violet Grohl has the talent to back it up.' Dave Grohl's eldest daughter pens a love letter to the '90s with debut album Be Sweet To Me". Classic Rock. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026 – via Louder.
  26. ^ a b Van Der Zouw, Reinier (May 29, 2026). "Recensie: Violet Grohl – Be Sweet to Me" [Review: Violet Grohl – Be Sweet to Me]. Oor (in Dutch). Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  27. ^ Grohl, Violet (May 22, 2026). "One week until Be Sweet To Me is released! Shout out to Bella Newman for all the beautiful pictures and helping bring my vision to life". Facebook. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  28. ^ England, Adam (December 7, 2025). "Listen to Violet Grohl's punchy debut solo single 'THUM'". NME. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  29. ^ a b Jones, Damian (March 11, 2026). "Violet Grohl announces debut album 'Be Sweet To Me' with rollicking single '595'". NME. Archived from the original on May 5, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  30. ^ Rigotti, Alex (April 28, 2026). "Violet Grohl shares menacing new single 'Cool Buzz' and announces debut headline tour dates". NME. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  31. ^ "LISTEN: Violet Grohl Shares PJ Harvey Influenced New Single "Cool Buzz" & Tour Dates". Glide Magazine. April 27, 2026. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  32. ^ Rosen, Craig (June 5, 2026). "Daughter of Rock Hall of Famer Releases Music Video Starring Legendary Adult Film Star". Parade. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  33. ^ Caro (June 4, 2026). "Interview – Violet Grohl : « J'ai Toujours Eu Un Amour Profond Pour La Musique. »" [Interview – Violet Grohl: "I've Always Had A Deep Love For Music."]. Rock Sound (in French). Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  34. ^ Ragusa, Paolo (June 4, 2026). "Violet Grohl Announces New Tour Dates, Makes TV Debut with "Bug in the Cake" on Fallon: Watch". Consequence. Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  35. ^ "Be Sweet to Me by Violet Grohl". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  36. ^ Earls, John (June 2026). "Reviews: New Albums". Classic Pop. No. 105. Anthem Publishing. p. 87.
  37. ^ a b c Young, David James (May 29, 2026). "Violet Grohl Is No Pretender on 'Be Sweet to Me'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  38. ^ a b Hawthorne, Katie (May 29, 2026). "Violet Grohl: Be Sweet to Me review – alt-rock arriviste aces the part". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 30, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  39. ^ Boße, André (May 29, 2026). "Violet Grohl – Be Sweet To Me: 90s-Erbe, neu erzählt" [90s legacy, retold]. Musikexpress (in German). Archived from the original on May 31, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  40. ^ a b Robins-Somerville, Grace (June 4, 2026). "References are more decorative than distinctive on Violet Grohl's debut album". Paste. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  41. ^ "Be Sweet To Me / Violet Grohl / Credits". Tidal. Archived from the original on June 15, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  42. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 8 June 2026". The ARIA Report. No. 1892. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 8, 2026. p. 6.
  43. ^ "Ultratop.be – Violet Grohl – Be Sweet to Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  44. ^ "Ultratop.be – Violet Grohl – Be Sweet to Me" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  45. ^ "Top Albums Physiques (Semaine du 5 juin 2026)" [Top Physical Albums (Week of 5 June 2026)] (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Archived from the original on June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  46. ^ "Top Rock & Metal Albums (Semaine du 5 juin 2026)" [Top Rock & Metal Albums (Week of 5 June 2026)] (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Archived from the original on June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  47. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 5/6/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  48. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart on 5/6/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  49. ^ "Top Album Sales: Week of June 13, 2026". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 9, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
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