Happy Wednesday Folks,
In listening back to today’s conversation, I found myself struck with two thoughts: number one, I love this band; and number two, the feeling that we often find home in the places we least expect.
When I moved back to North Carolina nearly three years ago, I never truly planned to stay. I had a vague idea of what this place was, and I saw it as a temporary landing, a stepping stone on the path to greater artistry. Back then, I believed that anyone who had the chance to leave would. Success was merely a foreshadowing of an exit— and mine would come soon enough.
That year, I spent my time wandering through old growth longleaf pines and pretending the world was not ending around me. The world— virus-ridden, socially-collapsed— seemed to go on against all odds. And it was in the artists I found myself surrounded by that I found comfort, inspiration, and the ultimate sense that I was known deeply. I was known, and I was loved— and in that knowledge, I was found.
I moved from that small town in the pines two summers ago, but I still believe there is something special there. This project, I can say with certainty, would not exist without the collaborations and relationships formed in that space, and today’s guests reflect that narrative aptly. Our art is better in community; our art is better when we let it be driven by joy.
“I feel like it’s dense with people who give a damn.”
— Sean Diesfeld of The Violet Exploit, on small-town North Carolina
Thus, allow me to introduce you to today’s guest, The Violet Exploit, a 5-person Indie Alternative-Rock band that started in January of 2022. The band is local to Southern Pines, North Carolina and together they bring eclectic tastes and timeless yet timely sensibilities to their original music.
Their sound pays homage to classic rock with alternative nuances leaving audiences with a sense of nostalgia and energy. Their debut singles, “Laugh” and “Lay Down” were released in 2022 and were recorded locally in North Carolina. Throughout 2022 they worked extensively on recording their upcoming songs and playing various shows around North Carolina and Virginia.
With big plans for 2023, The Violet Exploit will have multiple music releases from singles to multi-song eps and even music videos. They are, truly, a force to watch, and a force to be reckoned with.
Their success builds on the close relationships they’ve formed as a band, evident in every part of this conversation. They also have thoughts on home, and the pressure to find it, to leave it, and to let it influence your work. I resonate deeply, and I hope you will, too.
EP 16: The Violet Exploit