Holly Clausius shines a light in the darkness with her beautifully bittersweet single and EP Sunflower — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
“I wrote Sunflower a couple of years after one of my friends, Scott, took his own life,” the Toronto folk-pop singer-songwriter says. “I couldn’t put anything on the page that was directly about him… It was too much. Instead, I took something I love — sunflowers — and used it as a symbol. I wrote Sunflower as what I wish I could have said before he passed, and the EP Sunflower became a reality after I continued to write songs like this, from my heart.”
With a passion and talent that spans genres — from jazz, blues and soul to folk, rock and alternative — Clausius swirls acoustic melodies together with her raspy cause-for-pause vocals and lyrics rife with honesty and insight.
“I cover topics from love and loss, to Tinder and Disney Channel stars,” she adds with a grin and a wink. “I use my acting background to play with comedy and seriousness all at once. Sunflower includes stories of all kinds, including more love and loss. Yellow Dress takes you on an emotional rollercoaster about a closeted girl who develops feelings for a friend who’s straight, and Fast Forward is a big-room ballad about wanting to get over someone who doesn’t like you back. Safe is my thank you to everyone who has supported me and made me feel comfortable enough to be myself around them.
“There’s even a song written from the perspective of my cat wanting food at three o’clock in the morning, though… It could pass as a love song if you didn’t know! That’s Leo’s Song and it has hidden cat purrs throughout it. Short and sweet, Sunflower showcases heart, with deepness and lightness, and a sense of humour below the surface,” she concludes. “Looking back, I’ve released seven singles so far, but this album finally feels like home.”
Listen to Sunflower below, and keep up with Holly Clausius on her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
