Unwavering in the face of painful topics, Big Loud Records singer-songwriter Zandi Holup’s pen both cuts like a knife and soothes the wound, brave with her point-blank, raw emotional delivery on first-ever label release, “Gas Station Flowers,” out now.
“Gas station flowers are my metaphor for love. Not a love that you deserve, but a love that you only accept because an afterthought is better than nothing at all,” explains Holup. “Wilting, barely hanging on, stems that are so devoid of life, yet you tend to them in hopes that they survive. And somehow, you still find shreds of beauty in the withered state.”
“As human beings, I feel like we all find ourselves in a place where we accept gas station flowers,” she continues. “This song is my expression of emotion from a place of not feeling worthy in my own life.”
The astute confession about settling for the bare minimum, written by Holup, Stefanie Joyce, and Bryan Alexander showcases keen observation woven with poiandi Holupgnant transparency – like calling a lover’s hollow gesture “a cellophane wrapped afterthought.” Recorded at Music Garden Studios, the song was produced by Al Torrence, producer and guitarist in Charles Wesley Godwin’s backing band, The Allegheny High, who also played on the recording.
Raised in a family of musicians, Holup learned colloquial six-string fingerpicking from her father and aunt and developed a passion for poetry that transformed into the lyrics she puts to her original music. Her songwriting leans into the ugly truth, a quality reminiscent of her musical heroes, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Dolly Parton.
On “Gas Station Flowers,” Holup sings:
“I’ll be the welcome mat you need
To wipe all that bullshit off your feet
I know it’s sick, I know it’s weak
But it’s been too long, I’m in too deep”
The Pennsylvania native has grown an organic following of over half a million fans on social media by sharing unreleased songs and demos that are vignettes of life’s difficulties, not its picturesque triumphs: “I find that the more honest I am, the more people want to hear what I have to say,” Holup admits.
Last month, Holup’s signing to Big Loud Records’ roster of recording artists was announced. An avid writer, penning over 150 songs in the past two years, she signed a publishing deal with Arthouse Entertainment and TurnTable Music in partnership with Universal Music Publishing.
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