A haunting new melody emerges from the shadows, inspired by the enigmatic world of David Lynch.
Violet Grohl, the talented daughter of rock legend Dave Grohl, has unveiled a brand new single titled ‘What’s Heaven Without You’. This deeply atmospheric track is a poignant tribute, released to mark the first anniversary of the passing of the visionary filmmaker, David Lynch.
Violet shared that the song was born from a place of shared grief and sadness, a collaboration with her esteemed musical partners, Persia Numan and Justin Raisen. "This song was written in David Lynch’s memory alongside two of my favourite collaborators in the world, Persia Numan, and Justin Raisen," Violet explained. "A few days after the chaos and devastation of the LA fires, we came together in our sadness and grief and let it pour out into this song." She added, with heartfelt sincerity, "We hope you can find some resonance in it. The impact he left on art is truly magical, we miss you David xx."
And this is the part most people miss... The lyrics themselves paint a vivid, almost surreal picture, reminiscent of Lynch's signature style. Violet sings, "Blue Eyes/Eyes burning/ Smoke dies/ Prized Curtains," over a soundscape that is both hazy and ethereal. The raw emotion continues with lines like, "Unclasp my hands/ They’re hurting/ They hurt," set against a simple yet effective distorted guitar riff and subtle percussion. She muses, "Count me out/ What’s heaven without you?/ Skin to skin/ Nothing around you."
Fans eager to immerse themselves in this evocative track can find ‘What’s Heaven Without You’ exclusively on Violet’s Bandcamp profile.
But here's where it gets controversial... David Lynch's passing was attributed to cardiac arrest, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as the underlying cause, and dehydration also cited as a significant factor. It's been reported that the devastating LA wildfires, which forced him to relocate from his Sunset Boulevard home, may have contributed to a decline in his health. Lynch had previously shared his emphysema diagnosis and the need for supplemental oxygen to walk, a steep price for an artist whose work often explored the darker, more complex aspects of the human experience. Is it fair to connect a creative work so directly to the physical decline of an artist, even in tribute?
This new single follows Violet’s recent release of ‘THUM’ and its B-side ‘Applefish’ last month. The 19-year-old artist expressed her excitement about sharing her year's worth of work, collaborating with a "badass group of musicians."
In late 2024, it was revealed that Violet was working on her debut solo album with the acclaimed producer Justin Raisen, known for his work with artists like Kim Gordon, Charli XCX, and Sky Ferreira. Her father, Dave Grohl, has even voiced his desire to contribute to her first record.
Violet's musical journey has seen her collaborate with her father before, notably on a cover of X's 'Nausea' in 2021. She began her stage presence with Foo Fighters in 2018, providing backing vocals, and has since performed with them at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts in 2022. She also lent her voice to the Foo Fighters' 2023 track ‘Show Me How’ and graced the Glastonbury stage with the band to perform it.
Furthermore, Violet joined the surviving members of Nirvana – Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear – for lead vocals on ‘All Apologies’ at the Fire Aid benefit concert in LA.
Meanwhile, Foo Fighters recently celebrated Dave Grohl's birthday with a special charity gig in LA, following their first show of the year in Mexico as part of their ‘Take Cover’ tour. The band is set to perform two stadium concerts in Liverpool this June.
What do you think of Violet Grohl's tribute to David Lynch? Does the music capture the filmmaker's unique essence for you? Let us know in the comments below!
