Alexandria “Zandi” Holup: The Quiet Storm of Song

The Whisper That Became a Song

Alexandria “Zandi” Holup didn’t chase music—it found her in the stillness. Raised in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania, her primary motivator was introspection. A shy dreamer, she turned to melodies as a teenager, scribbling lyrics to process a world that felt too loud. The guitar became her confessor, her voice a soft rebellion against the ordinary, pulling her into a career of raw, rootsy storytelling.

A Life Crafted in Shadows and Light

Zandi’s biography unfolds like a folk tale. Born in the late 1980s or early ‘90s (exact dates elude the spotlight), she grew up in a tight-knit family, steeped in Americana and country traditions. She studied at Belmont University in Nashville, sharpening her songwriting among Music City’s hopefuls. A private soul, she’s kept romance off the radar, though her lyrics hint at love’s tender ache. By her 20s, she was a fixture in Nashville’s underground, her pseudonym “Zandi” a nod to mystery.

A Career Woven with Roots

Zandi’s no bandleader, but her solo path shines. She’s collaborated with acts like The Lone Bellow and John Paul White, co-writing with a quiet intensity. No fixed bandmates—she’s a lone wolf—but her work with producer Dave Cobb ties her to a crew of folk luminaries. Her friendship with Kacey Musgraves sparked buzz after a 2019 co-write surfaced. TV? She’s stayed off-screen, save for a CMT Campfire Sessions cameo in 2022. Awards are scarce—her 2020 SESAC Nashville nod for songwriting’s her crown jewel so far.

Her biggest songs: “I Don’t Wanna Take the Medicine” (Holup), a haunting 2018 cut; “Don’t Tell Our Friends About Me” (Holup/The Lone Bellow), a heartbreak hymn; “Riverbed” (Holup), all moody twang; and “Old Soul” (Holup/Cobb), a 2021 gem. Controversy? She’s dodged it—her low profile’s her shield, though whispers of a scrapped major-label deal in 2017 tease a untold tale.

The Legacy Still Unfurls