Talking to The Velveteers: Inside Their Sophomore Album ‘A Million Knives’

The Velveteers are anything but your typical rock band. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist and guitarist Demi Demitro, the trio is backed by two drummers, Baby Pottersmith and Jonny Fig, who play on a conjoined kit, creating a thunderous and electrifying sound that’s been shaking up the rock world. With their sophomore album A Million Knives set to drop on Valentine’s Day, the band is turning heartbreak into anthems and breaking barriers along the way.

Before the holidays, the band released their single “On and On,” a scathing critique of the misogyny entrenched in the music industry. The track earned high praise from Rolling Stone as a “Song You Need to Know” and landed on “best of” lists from Guitar World to GLAAD. Paste Magazine has even deemed Demitro “one of the most exciting front people in rock ‘n’ roll.”

Speaking with Demitro ahead of the album’s release, it’s clear that A Million Knives is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a deeply personal, cathartic experience. The album was written after a grueling tour schedule left the band feeling drained, exposing the often-unspoken tolls of navigating an industry that can be unkind, especially for a non-binary, queer, and woman-led rock band.

“I think the moments of feeling not super confident came before we even recorded anything,” Demitro shared. “The second album is the one that people put so much pressure on. But now that it’s done and we’re in the process of releasing it, I feel mainly just excited to get it out there.”

While the album’s February 14 release date wasn’t intentional, it aligns perfectly with its themes. “I love Valentine’s Day,” Demitro said. “It’s a super consumeristic holiday, sure, but I love the cheesiness of it. I’ve always celebrated it, whether I have a partner or not. The aesthetic is one of the cutest, for sure.”

The themes of A Million Knives explore the different forms of heartbreak—romantic, friendship, and even the struggles that come with pouring your soul into music. The album’s inception came after a long stretch of touring, which brought its own unexpected challenges. “I knew it would be hard, but until you’re in that position, you don’t fully realize the trade-offs,” Demitro admitted. “There are a lot of things in the music industry that need to change.”

Despite the challenges, writing the album was a healing process. “The easiest part for me is creating,” Demitro said. “That’s why we do what we do. Writing is like a religious thing for me—I need to be alone, I can’t have anyone around. Touring made that really hard, so when we finally got home, we had this small window to write and record everything.”

When asked why they chose to release “Go Fly Away” as the first single, Demitro explained, “It had such a feel-good energy that felt like a fresh contrast to our previous work. We liked the idea of surprising our fans and keeping them on their toes. The song’s theme of escaping reality and drifting into dreamland fit perfectly with the broader emotions of the album.”

The album itself showcases an impressive range of sounds, moods, and influences. All These Little Things opens with a hard-hitting grunge riff and old-school wailing guitar, evoking a classic rock spirit. “Suck the Cherry” is a cheeky, fun pop-infused track, while “See Your Face” leans into a riot grrrl whine that adds grit and attitude. Bound in Leather is drenched in ‘90s nostalgia, while “On and On” delivers one of the album’s catchiest and most fun moments.

As the album progresses, it takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster. “Sweet Little Hearts” is a blast of energy, and the title track, “A Million Knives,” slows things down with a sweet acoustic moment. “Moonchild” turns up the heat with a fun and sexy groove, while “Take It From the Top” introduces slight electronic elements alongside a garage rock feel, featuring the standout lyric, “you gotta be a player if you wanna play the game.”

The second half of the album offers some of its dreamiest and most introspective moments. “Go Fly Away” carries a cute and dreamy atmosphere, “Up Here” is softer and romantic with more acoustic elements, and “Heaven” feels celestial. “Fix Me” closes things on a haunting note, resembling a lullaby with a sound reminiscent of a baby mobile, enhanced by the heartbreaking refrain, “do you love me every day?”

The band recorded A Million Knives in just under two weeks with Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) at the helm. “Dan always likes to do things fast, which I think is a good thing,” Demitro said. “If you spend too long on something, it can just get difficult. But yeah, after that initial week and a half, we went back to Nashville to add some things.”

As for live performances, The Velveteers are gearing up for a headlining West Coast tour following massive opening slots for Guns N’ Roses and Smashing Pumpkins. “Opening for Guns N’ Roses was terrifying,” Demitro admitted. “It was one of our first shows post-COVID, and we had just added our second drummer. Their crew was definitely eyeing us, like, ‘Who is this band?’”

While The Velveteers have played in front of massive crowds, Demitro is eager to see how fans react to the new material in an intimate headlining setting. “I’m excited to see how people respond to these songs,” she said. “We haven’t played most of them live yet, but I know our fans love to mosh.”

From the sonic shifts in A Million Knives—which leans heavier and more hardcore compared to their psychedelic debut—to their immersive DIY aesthetic, The Velveteers are carving out their own lane in rock music. The band’s visuals, from their Instagram to their music videos, are just as integral to their artistry as the songs themselves. “When we’re creating music, we see a whole visual world with it,” Demitro said. “We take inspiration from glam rock icons like Bowie and Marc Bolan—anything dramatic and sparkly is my favorite.”

Demonstrating full creative control, Demitro and bandmate Baby directed their own music videos, a process that, surprisingly, she described as “more stressful than making music.” “We do everything ourselves out of necessity, and sometimes we’re working with insane deadlines. But in the end, it’s always worth it.”

With A Million Knives, The Velveteers are proving that they’re not just another band in the rock revival—they’re a force redefining what rock ‘n’ roll looks and sounds like today. Whether it’s their searing anthems about the industry’s pitfalls, their high-voltage live shows, or their striking visuals, The Velveteers are here to shake things up—and they’re just getting started. Celebrate heartbreak in all its forms this Valentine’s Day by listening to A Million Knives and immersing yourself in its visceral, captivating energy.

A Million Knives drops tomorrow.