Zola Jesus— “Sia gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its strait jacket.”
zola-jesus-sia-gives-me-hope-that-pop-music-is-ready-to-loosen-its-straight-jacket
December 11, 2014
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# Zola Jesus— “Sia gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its strait jacket.”
## The elegant alt-pop singer filled out our latest ABC column with wise maxims about death, nose jobs, and the mainstream music industry.
For Nika Roza Danilova, creating Zola Jesus was a way of coming to terms
with quitting the opera training she'd undertaken between the ages of
seven and seventeen. While the project came to life as a lo-fi affair,
Danilova's gravitation towards pop became apparent on her second album,
2010's *Stridulum II* (Souterrain Transmissions). There, cavernous space
and a fondness for gloomy power ballads inspired some corners of the
music press to label her sound "goth"---a categorization that was
underscored to a certain extent by last year's *Versions* (Sacred
Bones, 2013). With her fourth album *Taiga* (Mute) under her belt, the
former philosophy student tells us what's playing in her mind.
## A
...as in **ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER**. Favorite Schopenhauer quote: "After
your death, you will be what you were before your birth."
## B
...as in **BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP**. When I was doing a Maida Vale
session for Rob da Bank's Radio 1 show, I made someone at the studio
show me the room the BBC Radiophonic Workshop used to work out of. It's
no longer used for the same purpose, but I could still smell old tape
reels and Delia Derbyshire's perfume.
[][1]## C
...as in **CONRAD SCHNITZLER**. *Conrad & Sohn* is the best
father/son record I've ever heard.
## D
...as in **DEATH**, the greatest motivator.
## E
...as in **EMPIRES**. Genghis Khan, all the way.
## F
...as in **FRENCH**. "Il faut cultiver notre jardin," as Voltaire wrote
at the end of *Candide*.
## G
...as in [**GOTH**][2]{: target="_blank"}. Lazy journalism.
[][3]## H
...as in **HATERS**. Haters love to hate on my nose, yet accuse others
of being vain and insecure for getting plastic surgery. Make up your
mind, because I have: the nose is staying.
## I
...as in **INDEPENDENT**. If you were the last person on Earth, could
you get on?
## J
...as in **JESUS**, a figure that holds all the power for some, and
nothing for others.
## K
...as in **KINDNESS**. It's one of the few things that separates us from
the savage.
## L
...as in **LIBERTARIANISM**. Harm principle!
## M
...as in [**MUTE**][4]{: target="_blank"}, a legacy I'm proud to be a
part of.
## N
...as in NO FUTURE. *No future for you/No future for me*.
## O
...as in **OPERA**, an art form on the edge of becoming obsolete.
Microphones killed the opera star.
## P
...as in **PHILIP GLASS**. I recently saw *Einstein on the Beach*, and
it was one of the most transcendental live experiences I've ever had.
His work puts the listener in a trance and pushes you further inward
with each repetition.
## Q
...as in **QUASAR**. The only thing cooler than a black hole is a
quasar.
## R
...as in **RUSSIA**, my ancestors, deeply familial. Frustratingly
troubled.
## S
...as in **SIA**, who is responsible for some of the best pop songs on
the radio. For someone as uncompromising and unique as her to have a hit
record in the States gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its
strait jacket.
## T
...as in **TRAPPED**. It's easier to feel trapped than to feel free.
Humans thrive in structure but that can quickly imprison us if we're not
careful.
## U
...as in **UNDERWHELMED**. I'm allergic to it. If you can't poke and
prod people and incite strong feelings, do nothing.
## V
...as in **VOID**. Fear of the void keeps me awake at night.
## W
...as in **WISCONSIN**. Snow. Birch forest. Deer. Wolves. Ginseng
fields. Home.
## X
...as in **THE XX**, an extremely sweet & hard-working bunch with a
solid vision.
## Y
...as in **YOUTH**. *I fed into the ego/I fought what brought me closer
to my youth.*
## Z
...as in **ZOLA**. Harsh realist.
*This article originally appeared in the [Fall 2014 issue][5]{:
target="_blank"} of*Electronic Beats Magazine*. Keep an eye out for the
next edition, as it will arrive soon!*
[1]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/app/uploads/2014/12/b-image-940.jpg
[2]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/category/features/columns/audiocccult/
[3]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/app/uploads/2014/08/goth.jpg
[4]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/slices/feature/daniel-miller/
[5]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/news/the-fall-2014-edition-of-electronic-beats-magazine-is-out-now/
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title: 'Zola Jesus— “Sia gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its strait jacket.”'
date: 2014-12-11T16:33:38+01:00
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<h2>The elegant alt-pop singer filled out our latest ABC column with wise maxims about death, nose jobs, and the mainstream music industry.</h2><p>For Nika Roza Danilova, creating Zola Jesus was a way of coming to terms with quitting the opera training she’d undertaken between the ages of seven and seventeen. While the project came to life as a lo-fi affair, Danilova’s gravitation towards pop became apparent on her second album, 2010’s <em>Stridulum II</em> (Souterrain Transmissions). There, cavernous space and a fondness for gloomy power ballads inspired some corners of the music press to label her sound “goth”—a categorization that was underscored to a certain extent by last year’s <em>Versions</em> (Sacred Bones, 2013). With her fourth album <em>Taiga</em> (Mute) under her belt, the former philosophy student tells us what’s playing in her mind.</p><h2>A</h2><p>…as in <strong>ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER</strong>. Favorite Schopenhauer quote: “After your death, you will be what you were before your birth.”</p><h2>B</h2><p>…as in <strong>BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP</strong>. When I was doing a Maida Vale session for Rob da Bank’s Radio 1 show, I made someone at the studio show me the room the BBC Radiophonic Workshop used to work out of. It’s no longer used for the same purpose, but I could still smell old tape reels and Delia Derbyshire’s perfume.</p><a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/app/uploads/2014/12/b-image-940.jpg"></a><h2>C</h2><p>…as in <strong>CONRAD SCHNITZLER</strong>. <em>Conrad & Sohn</em> is the best father/son record I’ve ever heard.</p><p><!--
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--></p><h2>D</h2><p>…as in <strong>DEATH</strong>, the greatest motivator.</p><h2>E</h2><p>…as in <strong>EMPIRES</strong>. Genghis Khan, all the way.</p><h2>F</h2><p>…as in <strong>FRENCH</strong>. “Il faut cultiver notre jardin,” as Voltaire wrote at the end of <em>Candide</em>.</p><h2>G</h2><p>…as in <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/category/features/columns/audiocccult/" target="_blank"><strong>GOTH</strong></a>. Lazy journalism.</p><a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/app/uploads/2014/08/goth.jpg"></a><h2>H</h2><p>…as in <strong>HATERS</strong>. Haters love to hate on my nose, yet accuse others of being vain and insecure for getting plastic surgery. Make up your mind, because I have: the nose is staying.</p><h2>I</h2><p>…as in <strong>INDEPENDENT</strong>. If you were the last person on Earth, could you get on?</p><h2>J</h2><p>…as in <strong>JESUS</strong>, a figure that holds all the power for some, and nothing for others.</p><h2>K</h2><p>…as in <strong>KINDNESS</strong>. It’s one of the few things that separates us from the savage.</p><h2>L</h2><p>…as in <strong>LIBERTARIANISM</strong>. Harm principle!</p><h2>M</h2><p>…as in <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/slices/feature/daniel-miller/" target="_blank"><strong>MUTE</strong></a>, a legacy I’m proud to be a part of.</p><h2>N</h2><p>…as in NO FUTURE. <em>No future for you/No future for me</em>.</p><h2>O</h2><p>…as in <strong>OPERA</strong>, an art form on the edge of becoming obsolete. Microphones killed the opera star.</p><h2>P</h2><p>…as in <strong>PHILIP GLASS</strong>. I recently saw <em>Einstein on the Beach</em>, and it was one of the most transcendental live experiences I’ve ever had. His work puts the listener in a trance and pushes you further inward with each repetition.</p><h2>Q</h2><p>…as in <strong>QUASAR</strong>. The only thing cooler than a black hole is a quasar.</p><h2>R</h2><p>…as in <strong>RUSSIA</strong>, my ancestors, deeply familial. Frustratingly troubled.</p><h2>S</h2><p>…as in <strong>SIA</strong>, who is responsible for some of the best pop songs on the radio. For someone as uncompromising and unique as her to have a hit record in the States gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its strait jacket.</p><h2>T</h2><p>…as in <strong>TRAPPED</strong>. It’s easier to feel trapped than to feel free. Humans thrive in structure but that can quickly imprison us if we’re not careful.</p><h2>U</h2><p>…as in <strong>UNDERWHELMED</strong>. I’m allergic to it. If you can’t poke and prod people and incite strong feelings, do nothing.</p><h2>V</h2><p>…as in <strong>VOID</strong>. Fear of the void keeps me awake at night.</p><h2>W</h2><p>…as in <strong>WISCONSIN</strong>. Snow. Birch forest. Deer. Wolves. Ginseng fields. Home.</p><h2>X</h2><p>…as in <strong>THE XX</strong>, an extremely sweet & hard-working bunch with a solid vision.</p><h2>Y</h2><p>…as in <strong>YOUTH</strong>. <em>I fed into the ego/I fought what brought me closer to my youth.</em></p><h2>Z</h2><p>…as in <strong>ZOLA</strong>. Harsh realist.</p><p><em>This article originally appeared in the <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/news/the-fall-2014-edition-of-electronic-beats-magazine-is-out-now/" target="_blank">Fall 2014 issue</a> of</em>Electronic Beats Magazine<em>. Keep an eye out for the next edition, as it will arrive soon!</em></p>
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# Zola Jesus— “Sia gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its strait jacket.”
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# Zola Jesus— “Sia gives me hope that pop music is ready to loosen its strait jacket.” . ## The elegant alt-pop singer filled out our latest ABC column with wise maxims about death, nose jobs, and the mainstream music industry. For Nika Roza Danilova, creating Zola Jesus was a way of coming to ...
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There, cavernous space and a fondness for gloomy power ballads inspired some corners of the music press to label her sound "goth"---a categorization that was underscored to a certain extent by last year's *Versions* (Sacred Bones, 2013). With her fourth album *Taiga* (Mute) under her belt, ...
Chunk #4 (Position: 3)
## A ...as in **ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER**. Favorite Schopenhauer quote: "After your death, you will be what you were before your birth." . ## B ...as in **BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP**. When I was doing a Maida Vale session for Rob da Bank's Radio 1 show, I made someone at the studio show me the room...
Chunk #5 (Position: 4)
[][1]## C ...as in **CONRAD SCHNITZLER**. *Conrad & Sohn* is the best father/son record I've ever heard. ## D ...as in **DEATH**, the greatest motivator.
Chunk #6 (Position: 5)
*Conrad & Sohn* is the best father/son record I've ever heard. ## D ...as in **DEATH**, the greatest motivator. ## E ...as in **EMPIRES**. Genghis Khan, all the way.
Chunk #7 (Position: 6)
## E ...as in **EMPIRES**. Genghis Khan, all the way. ## F ...as in **FRENCH**. "Il faut cultiver notre jardin," as Voltaire wrote at the end of *Candide*.
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## F ...as in **FRENCH**. "Il faut cultiver notre jardin," as Voltaire wrote at the end of *Candide*. ## G ...as in [**GOTH**][2]{: target="_blank"}. Lazy journalism. [][3]## H ...as in **HATERS**. Haters love to hate on my nose, yet accuse others of being vain and insecure for getting plasti...
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Haters love to hate on my nose, yet accuse others of being vain and insecure for getting plastic surgery. Make up your mind, because I have: the nose is staying. ## I ...as in **INDEPENDENT**. If you were the last person on Earth, could you get on?
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## I ...as in **INDEPENDENT**. If you were the last person on Earth, could you get on. ## J ...as in **JESUS**, a figure that holds all the power for some, and nothing for others.
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