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.
I Can't Stand
Zola Jesus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But if you're lucky, you just might find someone
So don't let it get down
No, don't let it get you down
Cause in the end
You're only one
Yes in the end you're on your own
But if you're lucky, you might find someone
So don't let it get you down
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's not easy to let it all go
But once in a while, it's good for your soul
So don't let it get down
No, don't let it get you down
'Cause in the end, you're on your own
Yes in the end you're on your own
It's not easy to let it all go
But once in a while, it's good for your soul
It's good for your soul
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
I can't stand to see you this way
I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
The lyrics to Zola Jesus's song 'I Can't Stand' talk about the hardships and struggles of love and relationships. The opening lines set the tone for the song with the singer acknowledging that falling in love is not easy, and the implication is that it is even rarer to find someone suited to you. The song then shifts into a slightly different direction, with the singer changing from advice-giver to concerned friend. They express their discomfort with seeing their friend in a low emotional state and repeat multiple times that "it's gonna be alright."
The song can be interpreted in multiple ways, but a common interpretation is that the singer is trying to help their friend who is struggling with a romantic relationship. The repeated phrase "I can't stand to see you this way" suggests the friend is dealing with heartbreak or distress, and the singer is assuring them that things will get better. The lyrics also hint at the idea of letting go and accepting that ultimately, we are all responsible for our own happiness.
Overall, the song is an emotional ballad that touches on the complexities and difficulties of relationships, and the importance of supporting friends during tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not easy to fall in love
Falling in love can be difficult
But if you're lucky, you just might find someone
There's a chance you may find someone special
So don't let it get down
Don't let it bring you down
No, don't let it get you down
Stay positive, don't be discouraged
Cause in the end
Ultimately
You're only one
You are alone
Yes in the end you're on your own
Ultimately, you are responsible for yourself
It's not easy to let it all go
Letting go of things can be hard
But once in a while, it's good for your soul
Occasionally, it's healthy to let go
'Cause in the end, you're on your own
You are responsible for yourself
It's good for your soul
It is beneficial for your well-being
I can't stand to see you this way
I hate to see you in this state
It's gonna be alright
Things will get better
Contributed by Nolan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.