Chester Bennington’s daughter Violet addressed comparisons between her voice and that of her late father, the Linkin Park singer, during an interview with People. Violet Bennington is preparing to release her debut album under the name Dead Name Draven.
Violet discussed how people have noticed similarities between her singing voice and her father’s distinctive sound. She explained that she did not pursue music until after Chester’s death.
“I definitely don’t think that I hear it (vocal similarities) as much. I’m a little higher pitched than him,” Violet said. “I guess I do sound like him a little bit. I didn’t even really get into music until after his passing.”
When asked about how her father might have responded to her music career, Violet reflected on what his reaction would likely have been.
“At first he’d be like, ‘Why are you in the music industry?!’ He would be protective because he knows the music industry and how crazy it can get,” she said. “But then, I think he’d be supportive in the fact of, like, ‘You’re creating art. Let’s do this.’ He would be very supportive, but at the same time, he would be like, ‘Let’s take this at a right angle.'”
Violet’s comments came as she discussed her upcoming debut album and her career in music.
Chester Bennington was the lead vocalist of Linkin Park and was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California on July 20, 2017. The Los Angeles County Coroner concluded that his death was the result of suicide by hanging. He had six children.
Violet publicly came out as transgender in 2025, and her music began to flow after her transition. Before her transition, she said she was “playing this version of myself that I didn’t want to be, and it was coming off in my music.” Her debut album, planned for 2027, includes the single “Follow Your Heart,” which she co-wrote with Cass Dillon and is about embracing her identity. Jay Baumgardner, whose credits include work with Linkin Park and Grey Daze, mixed and mastered the single.
Violet appeared in the Paramount+ series “Family Legacy,” which explored the experiences of children of prominent musicians. The show’s opening episode, “Dads Who Rock,” gave her an opportunity to reflect on Chester’s influence and revisit archival footage of him. Through the series and her music, Violet continues to process her relationship with her father and honor his legacy while building her own career.
