9/25/2023 0 Comments Jessi zazu caringNo one wanted to force a continuation and wind up in a disastrous end later. We wanted to preserve the relationships we’d made with one another, and also all we’d built together. I will say that once actually had the conversation, we unanimously agreed that ending it was the right thing to do. It took a while to figure out if this was really what needed to happen. Was the decision to call it quits a difficult one to make? I feel pretty good I haven’t really thought about the tour too much, as far as what the actual experience will be like. Louis/Those Darlins history, and what it’s like to be movin’ on: Before hitting the road, Zazu took time to speak with IWTAS about overcoming self-doubt, St. Louis one more time as part of their farewell tour. This Thursday, the band will play Off Broadway in St. Ten years later, Jessi, Nikki, and longtime band member Linwood Regensburg announced an “indefinite hiatus”, leaving behind a trail of memorable work, unforgettable live shows, and a legion of loyal fans across the country. She never stopped loving and comforting and encouraging her friends, her family, and her fans.Jessi Zazu was still a teenager when she buddied up with Nikki Kvarnes and Kelley Anderson back in 2006 to form Those Darlins. She encouraged all of us to stay strong with her, to love each other “real hard,” and to “welcome the coming storms.” She never stopped smiling. She posted beautiful portraits of herself during chemo, and candid shots of herself in her hospital bed, in her home, with her therapy dog. In continuing Facebook posts, she kept her friends and fans up to date on her battle. She announced on Facebook that she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer, and declared that she “Ain’t Afraid.” This phrase, “Ain’t Afraid,” became her mantra, and she incorporated this defiant statement of courage into her art. And she continued her work with SURJ, serving on the steering committee, managing their social media, and creating compelling art to promote their mission and their events. She painted and created art for two public art installations. She recorded an album with her friend Linwood Regensburg. Planned Parenthood, with its policy of offering free health care to any who need it, became her health care giver.ĭuring Jessi’s 18-month struggle with cancer, she painted, wrote, built, and created constantly. Like many artists, she did not have health insurance, making it difficult to get the care she needed. Prior to diagnosis, Jessi had not seen a doctor in several years she had not had a pap smear nor had she taken the Gardasil shot designed to prevent infection due to HPV. One month later, she received a diagnosis of stage 4 cervical cancer caused by exposure to Human Papillomavirus (HPV). While on the band’s farewell tour, Jessi fell ill with alarming symptoms. She mobilized other artists and musicians to support grassroots activist groups like Black Lives Matter, Workers' Dignity, and the Fight for $15 campaign.Īfter ten years of touring and recording, Those Darlins announced in 2016, that they were going on hiatus indefinitely. As a member of the steering committee, she brought a creative eye to activism - making posters and building puppets for protests, meetings and rallies. In 2015, Jessi helped launch the Nashville chapter of the national organization, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). They recorded and received critical acclaim on three albums. They took the Nashville music scene by storm and were soon touring both nationally and internationally for a large and ardent fanbase. While attending and working with Southern Girls Rock Camp, Jessi began to play music with her friends, Kelley Anderson and Nikki Kvarnes, eventually forming Those Darlins. As a volunteer she taught guitar to campers, helped them manage their own bands, and encouraged them to pursue their own passions. Southern Girls Rock Camp became a passion for her when she aged out as a camper, she returned to the camp each summer to volunteer and teach. When Jessi was 12 years old, she attended Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, thus beginning her journey toward becoming an acclaimed professional performer. When she needed resources for her art, her energy and drive and confidence in herself made those resources happen. She painted and created puppets and collaborated with and performed with her brothers they wrote songs and made art of all kinds. As a child, Jessi was a naturally gifted visual artist and musician, learning to play guitar from her grandfather at the age of 8.
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