Zola Jesus

1989–2008: Early life

Hummel was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Merrill, Wisconsin.

She also goes by the name Nika Roza Danilova, claiming Russian heritage. In various interviews she has stated that her parents are American, with combinations of Russian as well as German, Slovenian, and Ukrainian descent. Inspired by singers and bands including Ian Curtis, Lydia Lunch, Diamanda Galás, Throbbing Gristle and Swans, she started to record at home, using keyboards, drum machines and other instruments.

In 2008 she debuted with singles "Poor Sons" on Die Stasi and "Soeur Sewer" on Sacred Bones Records.

Before transferring to University of Wisconsin-Madison to study French and philosophy, she attended University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where she began a business major. She graduated in 2010.

2009–present: Career

In 2009, while still studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zola Jesus recorded and released her debut full-length The Spoils. Then followed Tsar Bomba EP (on Troubleman), New Amsterdam compilation on Sacred Bones and an untitled, limited-edition vinyl split with Burial Hex (Aurora Borealis). For touring she recruited Dead Luke (synths), bassist Lindsay Mikkola and drummer Max Elliott. Later the line-up changed to: Shane Verwey and Nick Turco (synth), Alex DeGroot, and Nick Johnson, a drummer with metal band Jex Thoth.

Zola Jesus has also played with Former Ghosts. On Fever Ray's 2010 European tour, she performed as a support act and also toured with The xx. In the late 2009 collaboration between Zola Jesus and Rory Kane took shape (as Nika+Rory project), a demo being put out on MySpace.

In 2010, Zola Jesus released the Stridulum EP, inspired by Giulio Paradisi 1979 film of the same name, After the release Zola Jesus performed at the SXSW Festival, for her second time.

The Valusia EP was also released on Sacred Bones in 2010. LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus EP, the collaboration with Amanda Brown of Pocahaunted, presented "a dingy, lower-than-lo-fi sound and very little of what one would call traditional songwriting," according to Pitchfork review.

Zola Jesus's second full-length release was Stridulum II. Although regarded as her debut album in the UK, this album simply combines all six songs from the Stridulum EP (in different sequencing) with three of the four songs from the Valusia EP; the cover art is modified from the cover of Stridulum. It received 8/10 from the NME. Both NME and Q declared her one of the names to watch out for in 2011.

Zola Jesus's third LP, her second album of new material was Conatus, released in late September 2011 via Sacred Bones. The album's 11 tracks were produced by Brian Foote (aka Nudge: Jackie-O Motherfucker, Cloudland Canyon) and Danilova herself, including elements of cello, double bass, violin, and viola. She was featured on her first US magazine cover in October 2011, on Issue #76 of the Fader.

She provided guest vocals on the song "Intro" by M83 from their 2011 album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. She also sang on "New France" by Orbital, from their 2012 album Wonky.

On August 19 (20th in the US), 2013, Versions (Sacred Bones Records), the set of neo-classical reworkings of previous releases from Zola Jesus in a collaboration with producer JG Thirlwell, was released.

On June 18, 2014, she announced her fourth studio album, titled Taiga.

On June 9, 2017, Zola Jesus announced her fifth album, "Okovi", which was subsequently released on the 8th of September.

Musical style and influences

Her style has been described variously as "commanded by ominous lyrics and a sultry Goth delivery," According to the NME, Zola Jesus "wails like Kate Bush" on a music sometimes evoking Joy Division. For Q magazine, her "haunting vocals and swirling, electronic athmospherics are located midway between Florence Welch and Siouxsie and the Banshees." She has also been compared to Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance and Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins.

Touring band members

Discography