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Zola Jesus

Zola Jesus is Nika Roza Danilova. Born and raised  in the rural town of Merill, Wisconsin (1989), her beginnings were as an opera singer, buying her first sheet music and vocal exercise tapes at the age of seven, and working with a vocal coach to hone her singing ability. After distancing herself from opera due to anxiety and the art form’s competitive nature, she shifted focus to her own original ideas, creating music at home using keyboards and drum machines. While studying French and Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she released two EPs in 2008 entitled “The Poor Sons EP” and “Soeur Sewer” making her the subject of extensive discussion in the underground community in 2009. The release of her debut full length “The Spoils” (2009),  which she recorded at home, was followed by the release of two EPs (“Tsar Bomba EP” and “New Amsterdam”)  and a split with Burial Hex. 2010 saw the release of “Stridulum EP” as well as two others (“Valusia EP” and “LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus” . Her second full-length album, “Stridulum II” received a rating of 8/10 from NME.

Her third full length album “Conatus” (Sacred Bones Records), is set to include strings and is co-produced by Danilova.

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News about Zola Jesus

  1. Listen to a new Orbital song featuring Zola Jesus, "New France"

    UK dance duo Orbital are getting set to release their first album in eight years, Wonky, on April 3. The title track will feature a collaboration with Lady Leshurr, and "New France" features the vocal work of Zola Jesus. Her contribution is minimal but distinct. Pitchfork has a stream of the single, and you can hear it right here.
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  2. Listen to David Lynch's remix of Zola Jesus' "In Your Nature"

    For her upcoming "In Your Nature" single, due out digitally and on seven-inch on February 21, Zola Jesus took David Lynch up on his offer to do a remix, even though she's turned down every other offer she's ever received. "I feel like reinterpreting something can remove its context," she told Pitchfork recently. "But when David Lynch asks to remix your song, you let him." The remixed track features new instrumentation from (filmaker AND musician) Lynch and his engineer Dean Hurley, and Zola, aka Nika Roza Danilova, an Eraserhead obsessee since childhood, admits she harbours dreams of a possible video collaboration as well. "I don't ask those questions, I'm too afraid. I don't want to set myself up for some crushing disappointment, but there are dreams, of course." Listen to the David Lynch remix and read more over at Pitchfork.
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  3. New genres people invented out of thin air in 2011

    Every year, desperate critics, creative weirdos, and people who probably work for Apple invent new ways to describe bands that all sound like Zola Jesus or Squarepusher anyway. What were the hottest new genres of 2011 that no one will ever talk about again? Glad you asked, because we made you this whole post about it. These are all real terms that more than one person used this year to describe some music. Google it. What a mad, mad world. Witch House Trollgaze Moombahcore Luxury Rap Bubblegrunge Future Garage PBR&B Noh Wave Thugstep Swag Pop Britstep
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  4. Best of 2011: Anthony Gonzalez of M83

    AUX is in the habit of ranking what we thought were the best of the respective genres we cover -- Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, Metal, Punk, and Electronic. This year, we also reached out to as many of the artists featured on our lists as we could -- our best-of the year's best-of the year's. Anthony Gonzalez of M83 1. I Break Horses - Hearts 2. EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints 3. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues 4. Bon Iver - Bon Iver 5. Zola Jesus - Conantus
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  5. Watch M83 and Zola Jesus perform "Intro"

    At a show at Los Angeles’ Music Box last night, M83 and Zola Jesus got on stage together to perform Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming‘s beautiful opening track, “Intro.” The audio on much of the second half of this video is very muddy, but seeing this collaboration is a special thing to behold. Watch the video above. [via Cmosequence of Sound]
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