My first introduction to the enigmatic Zandi Holup was an Instagram reel of Zandi playing pool in a bar and almost shouting into the lens that she's way better than the shit she's dating. Go Find Less was an eye opener. It's always the lyrics that interest me in the end, but her voice! There's a #ZFG attitude. She's sad, the song is wistful. She wishes it wasn't like this. But in the end she knows she's not wrong. The trouble is on the other side. If you can't let me do me then this won't work.
Go Find Less
This song is so good I wrote a whole article about it after I saw that reel. I sent it on June 1st, exactly two months ago!
PAUL DETTMANN
Dirty Wings
This was my second piece about Zandi. It really does help when the artist appreciates my words. Zandi was kind enough to say that the Dirty Wings piece "seems to understand my art at a deep level" which is all the reward I ever wish for. The video is a short motion picture, and very sad.
PAUL DETTMANN
Gas Station Flowers
Even flowers from the gas station are still flowers. Isn't it the thought that counts?
Mountain Man
I don't know if I will ever understand the attraction towards wild, hairy men. I just don't get it. But this weirdo from the mountain appears to be Zandi's cup of tea. Is it his lack of words, the mystery that silence creates? I find it unlikely that she will find the sort of emotional intelligence she craves in such a body.
He smells of woodsmoke and needles of pine
There's dirt on those hands that'll hold me all night
I run my cold fingers slow through his beard
And I wonder if while he's dreaming he hears
The wolf crying at that yellow moon
'Cause if he does he'll be leaving me soon
Mary Jane
I just love Zandi's songs more with every single. I understand Mary Jane is one of her favourite songs she has ever written. I defy you to watch the video and not find out there's some dust in your eye.
I think that some of Zandi's presence comes from the conflict between the dark, stormy seas of her imagination and the calm, tranquil facade that she presents on stage and in her videos. She conceals layers of unexpected complexity that feels addictive: she contains multitudes. I think I have also unlocked the reason why Mary Jane hits so hard. In her other hits, Zandi is the I, the singer is the person at the root of the story. In this one, she is singing about someone else, a boy. Is he still alive, even? The tension is higher.
Goodness me, Zandi has frightening levels of talent. I thought I had her understood after Go Find Less and Dirty Wings but this one is desperately tragic. It's not quite as tragic as I feared but I believe the story involves someone she knew IRL. It's about addiction and recovery and, being Zandi, so deep that it is about a lot of other things too. I really believe Zandi Holup has the most enormous future and I am dying with excitement to see what happens next.
Wildflower is out now. I have heard all of the other songs and Zandi Holup has the most amazing future. You can get in on the ground floor today. She is selling merch and tickets on her own site.
