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.
Night
Zola Jesus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's getting dark
In the end of the night I can feel your warmth
Come up close
Close to me
'Cause in the end of the night I can feel you breathe
Don't be afraid
Don't be alarmed
I'm on my bed
My bed of stones
But in the end of the night we'll rest our bones
So don't you worry
Just rest your head
'Cause in the end of the night we'll be together again
You don't need to worry
I'll make your bed
And in the end of the night I can hold your hand
So come close, close to me
And I'll come closer to you
'Cause in the end of the night when all we have is gone
Yes in the end of the night when I can be with you
The lyrics of Zola Jesus's song, Night, depict a sense of comfort and longing. The first verse mentions that it is late and getting dark, but the singer can feel the warmth of someone else's presence. The second verse reassures the listener not to be afraid or alarmed, as they will be held close in the end of the night. The third verse conveys a sense of finality as the singer says they are on a bed of stones, but "we'll rest our bones" in the end of the night.
The chorus emphasises the intimacy of the night, with repeated references to "the end of the night" and the idea of coming close and holding hands. The lyrics suggest a desire for closeness and companionship, with the end of the night symbolising a place of safety and comfort.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing and a desire for closeness and emotional connection. The repeated emphasis on the end of the night suggests a temporary, fleeting quality to these feelings, but they are nonetheless powerful and meaningful in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
It's getting late
The night is progressing towards its end
It's getting dark
The darkness is enveloping the surroundings
In the end of the night I can feel your warmth
At the brink of night, the singer feels the warmth of their loved one
Come up close
The artist invites their loved one to approach them
Close to me
The artist desires the company of their loved one near them
'Cause in the end of the night I can feel you breathe
At the end of the night, the singer can sense the breathing of their loved one
Don't be afraid
The singer reassures their loved one that they have nothing to fear
Don't be alarmed
The artist alleviates their loved one's worries and concerns
In the end of the night you're in my arms
At the conclusion of the night, the artist holds their loved one in their arms
I'm on my bed
The artist is lying on their bed
My bed of stones
The singer's bed is uncomfortable and unforgiving
But in the end of the night we'll rest our bones
Despite the hardships faced during the night, the artist and their loved one will find solace in their rest
So don't you worry
The singer urges their loved one to not be anxious or fretful
Just rest your head
The singer assures their loved one to relax and lay their head down
'Cause in the end of the night we'll be together again
By the end of the night, the singer and their loved one will reunite
You don't need to worry
The artist comforts their loved one by emphasizing they have no cause for concern
I'll make your bed
The artist takes responsibility for providing their loved one a comfortable sleeping arrangement
And in the end of the night I can hold your hand
During the latter moments of the night, the singer has the opportunity to hold their loved one's hand
So come close, close to me
The singer once again beckons their loved one to be nearer to them
And I'll come closer to you
The artist reciprocates and draws nearer to their loved one
'Cause in the end of the night when all we have is gone
At the end of the night, when they have nothing else, the artist and their loved one still have each other
Yes in the end of the night when I can be with you
By the end of the night, the artist and their loved one will be reunited and can be together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SEBASTIAN AKCHOTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elizabeth Lara
It’s getting late
It’s getting dark
In the end of the night I can feel your warmth
Come up close
Close to me
Cause In the end of the night I can feel you breathe
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be alarmed
In the end of the night you’re in my arms
I’m on my bed
My bed of stones
But in the end of the night we’ll rest our bones
So don’t you worry
Just rest your head
Cause in the end of the night we’ll be together again
You don’t need to worry
I’ll make your bed
And in the end of the night I can hold your hand
So come close, close to me
And I’ll come closer to you
Cause in the end of the night when all we have is gone
Yes in the end of the night when I can be with you
Elizabeth Lara
It’s getting late
It’s getting dark
In the end of the night I can feel your warmth
Come up close
Close to me
Cause In the end of the night I can feel you breathe
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be alarmed
In the end of the night you’re in my arms
I’m on my bed
My bed of stones
But in the end of the night we’ll rest our bones
So don’t you worry
Just rest your head
Cause in the end of the night we’ll be together again
You don’t need to worry
I’ll make your bed
And in the end of the night I can hold your hand
So come close, close to me
And I’ll come closer to you
Cause in the end of the night when all we have is gone
Yes in the end of the night when I can be with you
Elizabeth Lara
Esta es una canción para escuchar con audifonos y así disfrutar de todos los matices que tiene 😍
Bluebirdfalling
This and Vessel were the first songs I heard of yours. I love your uniqueness, your edginess, your strangeness, your fearlessness and your sincerity. And I love the way you sound.
Rasputin E V I L
TOTALLY AGREE!!!
Desiree' Sala
love this... haunting and beautiful!
Victor
I've never had ecstasy, but I imagine it's like Zola Jesus' songs
Me Me
Totally agree! Her sound is quite unusual.
Matt Majors
I could listen to her every day
Sean White
Seen Zola Perform twice and both times where truly beautiful X such a Siren
Johmathan .B. Swift
Zola finally got some recognition.
Opening song to Into the Badlands
Season 2 Episode 4 .