This weekend as I was updating tracks on Strawberry Tongue Radio, I was shocked and disappointed with myself that I had not included any Zola Jesus. I was lucky to see her perform live a number of years ago at Pitchfork. She was simply brilliant.
Zola Jesus, born Nika Roza Danilova, is a musician originally hailing from Merrell, WI. She recorded her first album, The Spoils, while attending college at the University of Madison, WI in 2009.
Her music is swooping, dark and mercurial, combining the sensibilities of Electronic, Industrial, Classical, Goth, and experimental Rock. Massive and intense is how she describes the work and she summons comparisons of Kate Bush, Joy Division, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Lisa Gerard of Dead Can Dance and Elizabeth Frasier of Cocteau Twins. She credits The Residents, Throbbing Gristle and Karlheinz Stockhausen for helping her discover the fine line between noise and melody.
As a philosophy major, her art is directly affected by the works she has read, many of which are darkly tinged. Like a sorceress summoning up ancient spirits, set amidst a backdrop of tribal drums and angelic wailing, Zola Jesus is definitely a divine creature.
Strawberry Tongue Radio is pleased to be featuring her song Night from her 2010 EP Stridulum.
Learn more about Zola Jesus and keep updated on her releases and upcoming tours at her official website.
Find more Zola Jesus on iTunes.