Born in South Orange, New Jersey, and shaped by the grit and pulse of cities across America, Violet Love’s journey has been one of sound, soul, and self-discovery, making him bare his soul through music. Now embarking on a new chapter in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this proud queer, Latin American artist arrives with “Destined to Fail,” a three-song EP that captures the raw ache of trauma, self-examination, and the bittersweet beauty of imperfection. Written, recorded, and mixed in his bedroom with mastering touches from professionals, this EP is deeply personal, like pages ripped from a private journal and set to music. It’s an unflinching look at the ways pain reshapes perspective, but it also vibrates with honesty, authenticity, and a quiet kind of love—the cornerstones of Violet Love’s creative ethos.
The EP opens with “Serpent,” a haunting track that crawls into motion with pulsing bass tones and a gritty guitar line that sets an uneasy and introspective tone. The production is darkly atmospheric—reverb-soaked and confined, like a dream you can’t quite escape. Violet’s vocals emerge as a confession, hushed yet cutting, with the words carrying the weight of revelation. There’s a push and pull between vulnerability and venom as he confronts inner demons, perhaps personified by the titular serpent—temptation, guilt, or the cyclical nature of pain. His performance here is gripping; he doesn’t just sing the words, he inhabits them. The restraint in his delivery draws you in closer, making every crack in his voice feel intentional, a mirror of the emotional unraveling at the heart of the song. The production subtly mirrors this descent, building tension through layered synth textures and percussive hits that echo like footsteps in a dark hallway.
The next song, “Apple,” unfolds as a more melodic, melancholic offering. It’s a track that wrestles with temptation and consequence, with the act of wanting something (or someone) that simultaneously heals and destroys. The guitar tones are warm but melancholic, carrying a nostalgic, faint shimmer, reminiscent of early Death Cab for Cutie or Bright Eyes in their most introspective moments. Violet’s vocals shine here—earnest, expressive, and full of ache. He sings like someone who has seen the beauty and the rot in love and still chooses to reach for it. The song’s production retains that DIY bedroom intimacy, but its layering is sophisticated: soft harmonies, a heartbeat-like kick drum, and delicate ambient textures that make the track feel cinematic in its quiet moments. There’s a fragile grace to “Apple,” as if the whole song might shatter if you listened too loudly—and that’s precisely what makes it so affecting.
Closing the EP is “Artist,” a powerful meditation on identity, purpose, and the exhausting beauty of creation. It feels like a full-circle moment—a confrontation with self after the storm. The song’s instrumentation blends elements of lo-fi indie rock and post-punk revival: crisp drums, echoing guitars, and a bassline that drives with a sense of restless urgency. Lyrically, Violet Love lays bare the contradictions of being the creator and the subject of his art. There’s self-doubt, hope, and exhaustion—but also liberation in accepting imperfection. His voice takes on a more defiant tone here, breaking free from the somber reflections of the earlier tracks. When he reaches the chorus, you can hear the catharsis in his delivery, the kind of raw vocal strain that makes your skin prickle. The production crescendos into a layered finale, guitars colliding with echoing vocals in a swirl of reverb and distortion—a sonic embodiment of chaos transforming into clarity. It’s the sound of an artist realizing that failure, too, is a kind of freedom.
As a body of work, “Destined To Fail” is an act of radical vulnerability; it is the sound of someone facing themselves with unfiltered honesty and coming out the other side bruised but whole. Violet Love doesn’t hide behind overproduction or perfectionism. Instead, he embraces imperfection as proof of humanity. Every track breathes authenticity, shaped by his roots, his indie folk past, and his evolving identity as a proud queer Latin American artist carving out space in the world through fearless expression.
The EP’s DIY charm and emotional precision echo the works of artists like Elliott Smith and Julien Baker, yet Violet’s voice and vision are unmistakably his own. Destined To Fail may sound like a statement of defeat, but it’s really the opposite—a declaration of resilience through acceptance. With this release, Violet Love plants his flag as one of the most compelling new voices in the indie landscape. He’s an artist who doesn’t just write songs but bleeds truth through melody.
Listen to the “Destined To Fail” EP on Spotify
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