Today, Wisconsin’s own Violet Palms have released “True Love Counterfeit,” the first single from their highly anticipated second album, By Design and Accidental. The single is available everywhere today, Friday, June 27, 2025, ahead of the full-length record’s debut on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Emerging from late-night songwriting sessions at a dimly lit kitchen table, Marcus Truschinski (vocals) and Ben Feiner (guitar/vocals) laid the groundwork for what would become Violet Palms’ signature blend of early-2000s nostalgia, modern rock heft, and irrepressible funk. They were soon joined by veteran local engineer-turned-drummer Michael Mertens, funk-fiend bassist and actor/advocate Tim Gittings, and Craig Benzine, YouTube icon and frontman of Driftless Pony Club, whose synchronised guitar interplay with Ben gives the band its dual-attack punch.
Violet Palms made their live debut in early 2022 at a beloved Spring Green venue, selling out the room and earning more tip money than they ever imagined—proof that their tight riffs and playful spirit had struck a chord. Encouraged by that rush, they entered Madison’s Blast House Studios with engineer Dustin Sisson to record their 2023 debut, Compassion Fatigue, living by the motto “don’t think about it too much.” The resulting record invited listeners to settle into its grooves like an old armchair; honest, occasionally goofy, and undeniably catchy.
On By Design and Accidental, however, the band tempered spontaneity with deliberate craft, adopting a new mantra: “Maybe think about it a little.” Throughout fifteen tracks, Violet Palms balances their trademark immediacy with finely honed arrangements. Basic tracks were laid down in a single whirlwind weekend at Blast House (mixed and mastered by head engineer Landon Arkens), while vocals and overdubs were completed at Ben’s own Black and White Pets studio.
“True Love Counterfeit” captures that spirit of reflective urgency. Guitarist and Vocalist Ben Feiner explains, “This song is an ode to weird love triangles—occasions that feel perfect in the moment but were never meant to last. You’re left years later wondering how it all just played out so casually. It’s about choosing to remember the good parts and finding sunlight in the mess.”
Vocalist Marcus Truschinski adds, ”’ True Love Counterfeit’ was almost fully formed the first time I heard it. The chorus is so powerful—upbeat yet tinged with sadness. It’s a blend of emotions that feels both strong and poignantly simple.”
