Violet Bennington is opening up about recovery while preparing a debut album with Dead Name Draven. In an October 15 interview with PEOPLE, the daughter of late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington credited doctors, therapy and medication with helping her feel healthier after treatment.
The project, planned for 2027, includes "Follow Your Heart," a song co-written with Cass Dillon about embracing her identity. Bennington hopes its message of self-acceptance will connect with listeners beyond the LGBTQ community.
Her latest chapter follows a public announcement on Valentine's Day in 2025, when she shared that she was transgender. In that earlier statement, Bennington described years of trying to live in a way that did not reflect how she felt inside. She explained that she had begun transitioning the previous year and thanked those who had supported her, including her mother, Samantha.
Music was already becoming an important part of her public life before that announcement. In April 2023, she released "F W/ Me" under the artist name RVRND, working with producer Manny the Drummer. The track introduced a rap-focused direction and gave listeners an early opportunity to hear her developing musical identity.
That release also carried a connection to her father's recording history. Jay Baumgardner, whose credits include work with Linkin Park and Grey Daze, mixed and mastered the single. The collaboration linked an emerging artist's first steps with a producer familiar with Chester's work.
Bennington also appeared in the Paramount+ series "Family Legacy," which explored the experiences of children of prominent musicians. Its opening episode, "Dads Who Rock," gave her an opportunity to reflect on Chester's influence and revisit archival footage of him. Her participation offered audiences a more personal introduction alongside the release of her own music.
For fans who first encountered her through those earlier projects, Dead Name Draven represents another stage in a career that has developed alongside significant personal change. The forthcoming album now places her own experiences at the center of the story, bringing renewed attention to the artist behind a famous family name.
