Zola Jesus
Zola Jesus
Nika Roza Danilova, known by her stage name Zola Jesus, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. She has released three EPs and five full-length albums that combine electronic, industrial, classical, goth...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMusician
Date of Birth11 April 1989
CountryUnited States of America
reflection synthetic duality
Everything I do is a reflection of the duality within me. Musically, I really love things that are very synthetic and unnatural. And I also like the organic and human... the intrinsic, I guess.
stupid littles musician
It sounds kind of stupid, but I've never not wanted to be a musician. It's been inside me since I was little so I don't know what else I would do.
jesus years zola
I started performing opera when I was 10 years old. I didn't perform as Zola Jesus until I was probably 18.
opera different influence
I don't find much influence in opera. It was such a different part of me.
falling-in-love fall love-you
When you fall in love, you become weak.
children emotional voice
As a child, I was always making sound; it was a compulsion. I loved to scream and yell and sing; it freed me from all the thoughts in my head. I begged for opera lessons because opera singing is the most formidable, most emotional way to use your voice.
humble artist keys
I guess something people wouldn't expect me to listen to are artists like Alicia Keys. But she is so incredibly talented. She has this huge voice and great work ethic, which I really respect in an artist. She is also very humble and gracious and devoted to her skill.
expression vocabulary pieces
True expression is hard when performing opera. The problem is that opera relies on the dramatic context of the piece. It can be interpreted and represented, but there are guidelines; there is a vocabulary within the pieces that you must know objectively and reflect.
important world
The most important thing for us to do as beings is to be aware of our position in the world on a micro and macro level.
break-out want born
You are born and then you die, but in between you can do anything you want. It's society that creates rules for us, but you can break out of that.
queens
There can only be one Queen Bey.
song writing people
The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.
I feel like I am alone when I am in the presence of those I love. It is so freeing and comfortable, you become one with them.
song war writing
A lot of times I have the song inside of me and I have to fight to get it out. I'm a very visual person, so I can see the song but I can't hear it. But I think that if your music becomes a war for it to happen, in the end there's a certain kind of aggression in the music. And I think that's a lot more interesting.