Features

When members of some of Chicago’s most beloved punk outfits—Naked Raygun, The Methadones, and Blood People—join forces, you might think you know what to expect. But Violets, a new quintet born from that very lineage, are here to turn assumptions on their head. With a sound that blends gritty rock energy, pop sensibilities, and a kaleidoscope of guitar textures, the band is carving out a space entirely their own.

Formed organically over drinks and shared musical limbo, Violets is the product of longtime camaraderie and a shared desire to explore fresh creative ground. Drummer Michael Soucy, guitarist Bill Stephens, and guitarist Simon Lamb first planted the seed for the band, later bringing on bassist/vocalist Fritz Doreza and powerhouse vocalist/guitarist Aly Jados, whose dynamic range and triple-guitar firepower gave the project its final spark.

The result? A self-titled debut EP that refuses to sit still—equal parts anthemic, dark, and unexpectedly melodic. Recorded with punk mainstay Dan Precision (88 Fingers Louie) at Bombshelter Studios, the EP offers everything from heavy hooks to fuzzed-out introspection, pushing the boundaries of what “punk roots” can sound like in 2025. We caught up with Violets to talk about reinvention, collaboration, and why they’re embracing a “do-whatever-the-hell-we-want” philosophy.

PRT: The story goes that Violets was born over drinks before a Fontaines DC show. Was it a serious idea right from the start or more of a 'sure, that sounds like fun' kind of thing? 

Simon: The story is true. Bill and I had been messaging back and forth about getting together for drinks. I’d asked Soucy if he’d be into seeing if Bill wanted to start something. The three of us met before that Fontanes show and that's how Violets were born.

Michael: Very true. It was a really casual thing. We’ve all known one another for a very long time and it just seemed like an easy, fun idea. Simon and I have played together since 2011 and Bill and Fritz for much longer than that. It just made sense. 

PRT: That conversation happened a couple of years ago—what’s the story behind the wait to release your debut EP?

Simon: It was just Bill, myself, Soucy and Fritz for the first 3 months while we tried to find a singer. I think Aly joined us in January of 2023(?) That's when we started throwing ideas around. Things moved slowly for a year, but once things started coming together we started to come up with more songs/ideas etc. Eventually we wanted to record something… It’s hard to really know what you sound like when you practice in a small room, not to mention we are LOUD. We went and recorded four songs with Dan Precision and were really happy with the end result.

Michael: LIke Simon said, things moved pretty slowly at first. But we never had any rush to achieve any crazy goals or anything. It was just fun. And then one day something just clicked about a year in. The songs started to come together and sounded great. We went to the studio and came back with something that sounded so good. We were going to just throw them out into the world but decided to be calculated with how we released them. 

PRT: Between you, you’ve been in bands like Naked Raygun, The Methadones, Dan Vapid & The Cheats, Blood People, Airstream Futures and many more. Was Violets always meant to sound different, or did the sound come together as you started writing together?

Simon: Nothing with this band has been a deliberate or conscious decision sound wise. We sound the way we sound. Bill comes up with riffs, I come up with riffs. Soucy & Fritz put their own touches to them then Aly works her magic with lyrics and melody.

Michael: There really is no deliberate effort to sound like anyone else. For me, there are a lot of inadvertent influences happening that help to drive the sound, particularly with my drums. But I try not to purposely sound like anyone else, and I think the other folks in the band do the same. 

Aly : I didn’t really know what to expect, but that was exciting. Bill made our mantra “we’re doing whatever the fuck we want” so that’s what we did haha.

PRT: With your previous bands reading like a who's who of Chicago punk rock, people probably come in with certain expectations. Have you felt any pressure to either meet or defy those assumptions?

SImon: Again, nothing is really deliberate with the way we sound, it’s just what happened organically. I’m sure people had expectations or hopes that we would sound like a mix of Raygun/Methadones/Blood People. We don’t. There is zero pressure, we do what we want and what we like.

Michael: I haven’t felt any pressure, but I know people are expecting something else before they hear us. I love that we don’t sound at all like any of our other associated bands. 

Aly: Anytime you put something out there be it a song or piece of art of whatever kind there is some anticipation of how it will be received,  we were confident and stoked on what we came up with so it didn’t matter that much. 

PRT: Like Pixies, Violets is a cute name for a band. Yet I wouldn't describe your music as cute. Was the name meant to be a bit of a curveball?

Simon: Bill came up with it. We all love it.

Michael: The worst part of being in a band for me is trying to come up with a name so I’m happy someone else did it!

PRT: You've mentioned taking a "kitchen sink" approach to making the EP, yet the end result sounds very cohesive. Are there songs that started out sounding very differently before being Violets-ified?

Simon: We have developed somewhat of our own sound, but when we went in to record with Dan Precision he really took what we do and elevated it. He saw us play our first show a year or so ago and told us he wanted to record us… I swear he knew what we sounded like before we did. The songs start out usually upstairs on the fourth floor of Cobra Lounge where we practice. Sometimes they morph, sometimes they don’t. I think the only one that wasn’t born up there is “Eras.” I’d come up with the music 12 years ago and Soucy put down drums to it as a rough demo but it definitely didn’t suit the Cheats/Methadones so it’s been asleep until last year when Violets gave it life.

Michael: This band, more than any other I’ve played with, is harder to hear a “finished” product while putting the songs together. Its more collaborative than Methadones or The Cheats, so there isn’t a finished song ready to go. Working with Dan was like having a sixth member pull everything together in a cohesive way. 

Aly: It was really nice to be in the studio and hear the songs come to life. Phone memos are cool and all but being able to clearly hear what was happening got us excited about what we were doing. 

PRT: While the songs are definitely melodic and catchy, there’s also a definite darker edge underneath. What draws you to that contrast?

Simon: I can’t say there is anything specific that makes that contrast happen. They turn out the way they turn out.

Michael: We’re all really nice, fun people which makes me love that we might sound a little darker!

Aly: I love poppy hooks and heavy music…I’d say with Violets, there is a hopeful sentiment with a lingering underbelly…bringing the darkness to light. 

PRT: Dan Precision from 88 Fingers Louie produced and engineered the EP and you've said that he possibly understood the sound of the band before you yourselves did. What did he bring to the table that helped shape the record?

Simon: Dan is amazing to work with. He comes up with ideas, produces, comments etc and he will hear things we don’t. He’s so good at what he does.

Michael: Like I said before, he kind of acted like a 6th member. Those background vocals, tambourine parts, layered vocals, and even some small lyric ideas totally made the sound.

Aly: Dan was very patient and willing to try stuff, easy to work with and we got the thing done. 

PRT: You have three guitarists in the band... is there such a thing as too much guitar?

Simon: Nope.

Michael: Normally, yes. But now with Violets, if one of them isn’t in the room things sound off. They all compliment one another so well both with what they’re playing and how they sound playing it. 

Aly: no way haha, the more guitar the better. A wall of guitars…yes please. 

PRT: If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which one would it be and why?

Simon: It’s always going to be a Dylan album but right now it would be “Rough & Rowdy Ways”. One of the darkest albums he’s come out with in his entire career. I love it. Heart wrenching love songs, dark, dark lyrics that, for me, paint amazing visuals. Great word play and funny,

Michael: Louder Than Bombs by The Smiths. Perfect mix of pop and a little punk. Absolutely phenomenal album. Or Black Sabbath Vol 4. A little trippy, super heavy. Sorry I couldn’t just choose one. 

Aly: for the rest of my life?!? Damn that’s a big question…I would say Coral Fang by the Distillers 

PRT: What's up next for Violets? 

Simon: Group hug. Celebrate.

Michael: I’d love to get back into the studio. We’ve got another bunch of songs that i can’t wait to hear recorded. 

Aly: It would be cool to record some more songs. I love being in the studio and I think it just internalizes what’s written, it all comes together in there. But playing more shows is definitely on the docket.