Purple Gas


"Purple Gas" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Noeline Hofmann. She recorded the track with American singer-songwriter Zach Bryan. The song was included on Bryan's 2024 album The Great American Bar Scene.

Background

wrote "Purple Gas", taking inspiration from the "tax-dedicated fuel" for farmers in Alberta, her time working on a ranch in western Manitoba, and her own rural upbringing. She posted a clip of the song on TikTok in late 2023, and the video caught the attention of Zach Bryan, who initially invited Hofmann to record a video of her performing the song for his series called "The Belting Bronco". Afterwards, Bryan asked Hofmann to record a duet of the song with him. The song was later included on his album The Great American Bar Scene, marking the first time Bryan recorded another artist's song for one of his albums. Bryan compared Hofmann to Gillian Welch, calling her one of his favourite artists.

Critical reception

Alli Patton of Holler referred to the track as a "simple song" that "never really deviates from its delicate pattern" which "perfectly mirrors the lyrics," adding that it is "a simple sound for some simple words that make for an impactful listen".

Music video

The music video for "Purple Gas" premiered on July 8, 2024, and solely features fan-sourced content, which Zach Bryan called for after the release of the song.

Charts

Chart Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles 17

Certifications

Solo version

In August 2024, Hofmann released a solo version of "Purple Gas". This version was included on Hofmann's 2024 debut extended play Purple Gas, serving as the title track. She released "Purple Gas" simultaneously with her song "Lighting in July ". Hofmann won Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 Country Music Alberta Awards for the solo version.

Track listing

Digital download – single
  1. "Purple Gas" – 3:24
  2. "Lightning in July " – 4:02