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.
Hunger
Zola Jesus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I got the hunger
It moves but won't lose it
I'm not gettin' younger
I use it, abusively
[Chorus:]
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
I won't surrender, still it takes me away
[Verse 2:]
It's been five years waitin' around for
Crooks that will swallow gold
Sick of being seen, tired of these?
It won't save me, it won't please(?) me, no
I got a hunger, it will not let go
I got too many roads to know
[Chorus:]
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
It's takin' me under till it takes me away
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
I won't surrender, still it takes me away
[Verse 3:]
It's been too many times, I've tested myself
Waiting up on Nemo, absolute you [?]
Mother Lung, gimme a heart shake
Suffer, this maze I gotta break
It won't let up, it won't save me, no
I got a hunger that will not let go
I got too many roads to know
[Chorus:]
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
It's takin' me under till it takes me away
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
I won't surrender, still it takes me away
[Bridge:]
(Takes me away)
(Takes me away)
(Takes me away)
There is something I want
I long for, I need
There is something I want
I long for, I need
[Chorus:]
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
It's takin' me under till it takes me away
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
I won't surrender, still it takes me away
The song Hunger by Zola Jesus showcases the singer's relentless drive and desire to attain what she wants. The repeated refrain of "I got the hunger in my veins" emphasizes just how insistent this drive is. The first verse talks about the hunger in abstract terms, as something that "moves but won't lose" and that the singer uses "abusively." The second verse hints at the hunger's origin, suggesting that it's been brought on by years of waiting for something that hasn't come yet. The singer describes feeling trapped and hopeless but unable to give up because of the hunger driving her forward. The third verse continues in this vein, with references to testing oneself, waiting for something or someone, and feeling trapped in a maze. Ultimately, however, the song is still an optimistic one, with the singer stating that she won't surrender, even though the hunger is "taking her away."
The song's lyrics, therefore, are fairly straightforward and revolve around the theme of desire and determination. There is, however, ample room for interpretation, especially as the lyrics themselves are somewhat cryptic in places. For example, what exactly is the "gold" that the crooks are swallowing in the second verse? What does "Mother Lung" refer to in the third verse? These questions add an air of mystery to the song, but ultimately, the focus is on the feeling of hunger, the driving force that propels the singer forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I got the hunger
I have an insatiable desire or craving for something
It moves but won't lose it
The desire is constantly present and does not diminish
I'm not gettin' younger
I am aging and time is running out
I use it, abusively
I rely on the desire excessively, even if it may be harmful
I got the hunger, I got the hunger in my veins
The desire is deeply ingrained in me
It's takin' me under till it takes me away
The desire is overwhelming me to the point of losing control
I won't surrender, still it takes me away
I am trying to resist the desire, but it is still taking over me
It's been five years waitin' around for
I have been waiting for a long time for something to happen
Crooks that will swallow gold
I have been waiting for people who can be corrupted by money
Sick of being seen, tired of these?
I am tired of being judged and tired of these circumstances
It won't save me, it won't please(?) me, no
Even if I get what I want, it may not bring me happiness or relief
It's been too many times, I've tested myself
I have challenged myself many times
Waiting up on Nemo, absolute you [?]
I am waiting for something that may not exist, or for someone who is unreliable
Mother Lung, gimme a heart shake
I need a jolt or a wake-up call to make a change
Suffer, this maze I gotta break
I am in a difficult situation that I must find a way out of
I got a hunger that will not let go
The desire is persistent and unrelenting
I got too many roads to know
I have many paths to choose from and decisions to make
There is something I want
I long for, I need
I have a deep desire for something that I feel is missing
Takes me away
(Takes me away)
(Takes me away)
The desire is overpowering and can transport me to another state of being
Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@melihkep9385
Oh I got the hunger
It moves but won’t lose it
I’m not getting younger
I use it abusively
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
I won’t surrender
Until it takes me away
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
It’s taking me under
Until it takes me away
It’s been five years waiting for the unfold
Throat sore on swallowed gold
Sick of being sick
Tired of these wired ways
It won’t save me
It won’t replace me no
I got the hunger it will not let go
I got too many worlds to know
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
I won’t surrender
Until it takes me away
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
It’s taking me under
Until it takes me away
It’s been too many times I’ve tested my cells
Waiting on point nemo
Absolute zero
Mother lung give me a hard shake
Self-abuse maze I gotta break
It won’t let up
It won’t save me no
I got the hunger it will not let go
I got too many words to sew
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
I won’t surrender
Until it takes me away
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
It’s taking me under
Until it takes me away
And it’s all that I want
All that I need
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
I won’t surrender
Until it takes me away
I got the hunger
I got the hunger in my veins
It’s taking me under
Until it takes me away
@patricialsiva
Maravilhosaaa S2
@CaveSoundMeister
That's what I f*ckin mean by DANCE! Thank you Zola for defining what true pop should sound (and look) like and for pointing me towards Sia (in an interview). This week it was only pop-with-soul for me and I'm lovin' it! Also, Taiga has that 80s New Wave vibe that I love. I didn't like Hollow that much but the rest is ultra-awesome, my fav track – Lawless.
@bishythebish728
This is real art
@andreaseckhardt4659
...great song, great video - powerful - perfect...
@queniffr278
I had this playing in the background while working on something else. I closed that window and this one came to the top at about 2:55. WHOA! Decision time: Finish listening or replay? How about both? Don't mind if I do. This is stunning in every way. Now pardon me; I have some Tunes to go i, if you know what I mean.
@eva-mariaehlert9124
Just saw you live in Dornbirn/Austria yesterday - loved your performance and love your music. Thank you!
@akracion
I love this song and I love her trumping really fits the video
@mtank30
Was this video shot at The Ice House in Phoenix? Because it sure looks like it. p.s. Zola Jesus is an amazing artist that deserves every accolade that comes her way. I love everything she does.
@user-ph2ru9bz6l
Taiga is the best collection of songs I've ever heard. Hunger stuck out to me early; I'm not surprised she made a video for it. Good video, but I think it could have been better. The day shots weren't as visually appealing as the night shots, and I think they made less sense too. Sadly they seemed like the majority of the video. I love the way that the scenes changed more rapidly as the song built up though, and her actions got a bit more violent. :) She's so beautiful too, was nice to see (essentially) 3D stills of her.
@CodyChromeBand
Love the aesthetic and your moves!