Zola Jesus Lyrics

Zola Jesus Info:

Birth Name:
Nika Roza Danilova

Born:
April 11, 1989 (age )

Born In:
Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Raised In:
Merrill, Wisconsin

Genres:
Electronic, classical, art pop, industrial, dark wave, baroque pop

Occupations:
Singer-songwriter, musician

Instruments:
Vocals, piano, guitar

Years active:
2006–present

Associated acts:
Former Ghosts
Nika+Rory
LA Vampires
M83

Name Origin:
She named herself after Jesus Christ and the French writer Emile Zola. She said she "consciously wanted to alienate peers".

Touring Band Members:
Nika Roza Danilova – vocals, occasional synth
Alex DeGroot – electronics, programming
Nick Turco – synth
Kim Free - violin

Zola Jesus Quotes :
"I was delusional as a kid; I never spent a lot of time around other people my own age except for my brother, who's a year older"

"When you live around a lot of people in a city and that synthesized stimulation, you can get lost in the hustle and bustle. When you grow up in the country you have nothing to stimulate you but what you seek"

"My dad was a hunter so there would constantly be animal parts all over the place. He'd be out in the forest and bring back deer heads hoping that animals would eat the flesh and leave a skull. But it wouldn't happen. There would just be a deer head hanging from a tree branch you could literally bump into"

"Our milk was from the neighbor's cow. I am not a country bumpkin but this is how we live. We ate deer and pheasant and venison and all this meat that my dad would go out and kill"

"I begged them to do it. For some reason, I really wanted to sing opera even though I wasn't really exposed to it as a kid. I think my little baby toddler mind heard some opera song and then became fixated on how powerful it sounded"

"I studied opera on and off for about 10 years. I wasn't in any operas, though, it was always really private and individual...I kept stopping because I was like, I'm not good enough, I suck, this is awful, and then I'd start again. I could never practice singing if anyone was home"

"Using Jesus in my name isn't necessarily supposed to be a strong statement. I respect religion and I know people do need it, but it's a weird phenomenon in our world. It's so weird,"

"I try to create songs that are really massive and intense, but at the same time remaining honest and raw. I love the feeling when you hear a song that is so overwhelming and powerful it makes your veins hurt. I'd like to write one of those songs one day. I keep the lyrics simple, no nonsense. I've always enjoyed the way old folk songs say what they need to say without becoming convoluted or ostentatious. Just words of wisdom straight from the heart of a little midwestern girl"

Tour Dates: