“I could see myself throwing myself into the monastic life.
It’s something that tempts me from time to time.”
Through six albums, Nika Roza Danilova, a.k.a.
Zola Jesus.Motormouthmedia
Her singing voice is a magisterial thing epic and portentous, even a little scary.
It’s as if she has seen beyond the veneer of life and is back to tell the tale.
“You’re always responding to criticism or feedback.
Zolas Jesus.Motormouthmedia
And that really is quite damaging for a lot of young musicians.”
Their creative alchemy makes for some of her most memorable music to date.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Your album titleArkhonreferences how power can be corrupt.
Has it taken on more meaning in recent weeks than you had foreseen?
I felt like this record was made in very Gnostic times.
There’s a lot of corrupted leaders, corrupted civilization.
We’re definitely being led by a flawed God, in a way.
Do you think the way political or social context comes into your music has changed over the years?
I can’t just pretend like nothing’s happening.
I think that’s important because we’re living in very unstable times.
To pretend that’s not happening is irresponsible in its own way.
You filmedArkhon’s “Lost” video in the 60-million-year-old caves of Cappadocia, Turkey.
How did you discover them?
The Gnostics actually hid there to avoid facing persecution from other Christians for their beliefs.
You might think an underground cave city would be creepy, but you make it sound quite reassuring.
[Laughs] Yeah.
I mean, caves have given us citadels and refuges for the entire history of our species.
Caves gave us shelter in the beginning of time, you know?
You recently moved back to Wisconsin, and you’ve become connected to the Zen Buddhist community there.
How did that come about?
That was a really incredible experience.
It taught me how to meditate, how important it is to meditate.
So I’d been practicing transcendental meditation for, like, 10 years.
And I think Westerners need Zen more than ever, myself included.
And it was a very healing experience for me.
I’m so glad there was a community here in Wisconsin.
It’s kind of crazy, but I lucked out.
Do you wish you’d discovered it earlier in life, given that you grew up nearby?
In some ways, yes.
[Laughs] I could see myself throwing myself into the monastic life.
It’s something that tempts me from time to time.
Did you get to meet David Lynch himself as part of your work with his foundation?
He was the one that actually offered the invitation to study it.
He’s really, really kind.
And this is back in 2012 I was 22 years old.
So then he extended that invitation to learn it.
But yeah, I’ve met him.
Do you feel like you’ve grown more intentional in what you say yes or no to?
In the video for “The Fall” you collaborate with Sigrid Lauren of the performance duo FlucT.
I love how they use movement as a language.
What drew you to them?
Well, I also am a huge fan of FlucT.
I love how they use their bodies and operate in this multidisciplinary space that I think is really special.
Working with her was incredible.
It’s totally that.
But then it’s also totallySuspiria.
I really like the idea of taking these very mainstream elements and then making them my own.
It’s a fun seed to build off of.
I was very confused, but it was so cool.
It made me want to dance more, for sure.
Did any of the choices surprise you?
Sometimes the deep cuts.
I’ll get a lot of people interested in hearing “Poor Animal” or “Skin.”
That’s actually something I was planning on doing for these upcoming tours to crowdsource a set list.
I’m always really curious to know what songs people want to hear live.
You’re playing festivals this summer as well as touring with the Cult.
When you’re on the road, how do you take care of your voice?
I usually lose my voice on tour.
It’s happened so many times.
And it’s the worst because all I have, really, is my voice.
Like, no one else can do it!
So I don’t really drink.
I can’t party.
I have to have really good sleep.
I have to take care of my body.
You’ve said that when you get to 666 followers on Patreon, you’ll cover a satanic song.
Do you have anything in mind?
I’m not so familiar with the satanic songbook.
Oh, me neither.
But I think there are some songs that have illicit feelings of satanic imagery or darkness.
I figured it’d be a good, reasonable goal to hit.
It’s up to Patreon to decide!
Does it also feel cathartic to make and perform?
It’s very cathartic.
Music for me is a way to let my soul speak.
It’s a way to channel deep parts of myself.
In doing that and externalizing it, it’s an venture to hook up with the outside world.
Like, I’m quite an introvert.
So it’s very vulnerable.
It’s not something I take lightly, I guess.
How does it feel after you finish a show?
If it was good, I feel tired but like I did my job.
I had that exorcism, and I went through it.
And I feel like I deserve at least a piece of cake.
Zola Jesus performs July 9 atSummerfestin Milwaukee.Arkhonis out now.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
