Nika Roza Danilova was raised in Merrill, Wisconsin, on over 100 acres of forest. Danilova started singing early on, buying voice lesson tapes and opera sheet music at the age of 7; soon she began working with a vocal coach. It was not her parents' idea: "I begged them to do it. For some reason, I really wanted to sing opera even though I wasn't really exposed to it as a kid. I think my little baby toddler mind heard some opera song and then became fixated on how powerful it sounded," she later remembered. Danilova started performing opera when she was 10 years old, but experienced serious psychological difficulties. "I would too often lose my voice before performances due to anxiety, and was so hard on myself. I would beat myself up about any imperfections or flaws in my voice. I was such a perfectionist, and my voice was still so young so it couldn't do everything I wanted it to, and I resented myself for that. But since performing as Zola Jesus it's been getting easier," she later recalled.
In her teens, Danilova started to experiment in a more rock-orientated format. By naming her alter ego after Jesus Christ and the French writer Émile Zola she said she consciously wanted to alienate peers. "It worked perfectly – a lot of people wouldn't even say Zola Jesus because they thought it was sacrilegious", she said in an interview. "Using Jesus in my name isn't necessarily supposed to be a strong statement. I respect religion and I know people do need it, but it's a weird phenomenon in our world. It's so weird," she later commented. Inspired by favorites like Ian Curtis, Lydia Lunch, Diamanda Galás, Throbbing Gristle and Swans (but also bubblegum pop and classical aria), she started to record at home, using keyboards, drum machines and "anything else she had on hand". In 2008 she debuted with singles "Poor Sons" on Die Stasi and "Soeur Sewer" on Sacred Bones Records.
In 2009, while still studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zola Jesus recorded (in her apartment) and released her debut full-length album The Spoils. The sound was in a certain way dependent on her surroundings. "I usually record in the winter because I am holed up. It's cold outside but warm inside with the heater and blankets. A lot of the songs are cold but in the coldness you find warmth. Winter has a lot to do with it.
Zola Jesus released an EP titled Stridulum in 2010, described as her most melodic work to date. Inspired by the Giulio Paradisi 1979 film of the same name, it marked "a huge leap forward in terms of fidelity and accessibility." After the release Zola Jesus performed at the SXSW festival, for her second time. Her second full-length album Stridulum II, which was an extension of the EP regarded as a debut in the UK, received 8/10 from NME which praised Danilova's classically trained voice as "the deadliest weapon in her arsenal" and called the album a "dark masterpiece."
Zola Jesus' third full-length Conatus was 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.
Zola Jesus has played with Former Ghosts and toured in support of Fever Ray and The xx. She also provides guest vocals on "New France" from their 2012 album Wonky.
Exhumed
Zola Jesus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open the jaw and sink in deep
Force it open and claw the grip
Down throat, you let it slip, slip, slip, slip, slip
In the static you are reborn
In the white nights, what you asked for
Give you the marks of a lost war
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Cut knife, deep in, spit down, swallow
Sword up, nock in, and turn the bow
Sever in two and fuse to gold
Down throat, you let it go
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
The lyrics of Zola Jesus's song Exhumed depict a sense of control and power. The opening lines "Bury the tongue between the teeth, Open the jaw and sink in deep, Force it open and claw the grip", suggests a sense of taking charge by mastering oneself. The lines create a visual of taking control of one's own voice and not letting it get away. It's almost like forcing your own voice to follow your own will.
The chorus, "Let it sink, Don't let it hold you down" repeats several times, suggesting that the singer is asking the listener to let go of whatever it is that is causing them to feel held back. The line "In the static you are reborn" suggests that the static noise represents internal darkness, and by listening to it, one can reemerge transformed.
The second verse "Cut knife, deep in, spit down, swallow, Sword up, nock in, and turn the bow, Sever in two and fuse to gold, Down throat, you let it go" can be interpreted as taking in hurt and transforming it into something stronger, something worthwhile. The singer is suggesting that by taking in pain, one can become more powerful and be able to transform themselves into something new.
Overall, the lyrics of Exhumed suggest that by taking control of oneself and transforming difficult emotions through willpower and perseverance, one can become a more powerful version of oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Bury the tongue between the teeth
Suppress your speech and refrain from talking about your problems.
Open the jaw and sink in deep
Consume your troubles and try to internalize your pain.
Force it open and claw the grip
Struggle to keep your issues from coming to the surface and avoid sharing them.
Down throat, you let it slip, slip, slip, slip, slip
Slowly and reluctantly, you allow your problems to escape and weigh on you.
In the static you are reborn
Amidst confusion and turmoil, you experience a metamorphosis and emerge as a different person.
In the white nights, what you asked for
In the lonely, sleepless nights, you yearn for a resolution to your problems.
Fire the cue, and I'll come for
Signal me and I'll be there for you when you need me.
Give you the marks of a lost war
I'll show you the scars of my own battles and the wounds that can come with confronting your problems.
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Allow your troubles to fade away over time and don't let them drag you down or define you.
Cut knife, deep in, spit down, swallow
When your problems resurface, it feels like a sharp and agonizing blow to your core that you try to ignore.
Sword up, nock in, and turn the bow
Stand your ground, aim your weapon, and brace yourself for the battle ahead.
Sever in two and fuse to gold
Break apart the negative aspects of your situation, and work to turn it into something positive or valuable.
Down throat, you let it go
You finally release your problems and move past them.
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Nika Roza Danilova
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melih Kep
Bury the tongue between the teeth
Open the jaw and sink in deep
Force it open and claw the grip
Down throat, you let it slip, slip, slip, slip, slip
In the static you are reborn
In the white nights, what you asked for
Fire the cue, and I'll come for
Give you the marks of a lost war
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Cut knife, deep in, spit down, swallow
Sword up, nock in, and turn the bow
Sever in two and fuse to gold
Down throat, you let it go
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Rowshan Ara
Exhumed
Zola Jesus
Bury the tongue between the teeth
Open the jaw and sink in deep
Force it open and claw the grip
Down throat, you let it slip, slip, slip, slip, slip
In the static you are reborn
In the white nights, what you asked for
Fire the cue, and I'll come for
Give you the marks of a lost war
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Cut knife, deep in, spit down, swallow
Sword up, nock in, and turn the bow
Sever in two and fuse to gold
Down throat, you let it go
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Songwriters: Nika Roza Danilova
Tyler James
When I heard this on The Act (great show) I spazzed out, and was like YAAAS ZOLA YAAAS!! More people deserve to know the dark magic that is Zola Jesus. I've been a fan for years. Props Nika! <3
oldlux
This track absolutely smacks, especially the second verse with those lyrics .... DAMN
Haliom Arcanjo
Que hino
Melih Kep
Bury the tongue between the teeth
Open the jaw and sink in deep
Force it open and claw the grip
Down throat, you let it slip, slip, slip, slip, slip
In the static you are reborn
In the white nights, what you asked for
Fire the cue, and I'll come for
Give you the marks of a lost war
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Cut knife, deep in, spit down, swallow
Sword up, nock in, and turn the bow
Sever in two and fuse to gold
Down throat, you let it go
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
Let it sink
Don't let it hold you down
N4m4ste
Guess I'm in the minority here, but I'm here because I like Zola Jesus...
Bœμ Cìþ
this track is so damn intense....love it...i wish the more harder stuff back...
MrHumanracin
Zola's new album definitely sounds like it's going to be in my Top 5 this year.... Amazing stuff, much better than the last album.
ciro m
taiga was such a letdown for me
Daniel Burahem
Oh my God, this is powerful!
This is very much to me, the way your spirit refuses to be in the grave, for it has not received the death sentence. She emerges from the earth as hope springs up everyday and once again she continues to fight. It's been through so many things, but it's still looking for life. Beautiful, congratulations to those involved. Good work!
Nathalie M
LOVE IT! I've been listening to her songs because I knew she had a potential do to so much better. This is something I had in mind when I was looking for her good songs.