Zola Jesus

Zola Jesus
By Efren Martinez

During the month of October I’ve always turned my listening pleasure sites to more of a mysterious sound.

Just recently I found myself at Club Bimbo 365 in San Francisco enjoying a Zola Jesus show by invite. The venue was amazing and her performance was exciting, animated and mystifying. Nika is the 25-year-old behind Zola Jesus’ creative incarnations as the sole singer and songwriter that was influenced by her time in Iceland, Vermont, and British Columbia. Her new LP, TAIGA, was written on Vashon Island, WA and conjures all these places while creating a sonic space of its own that each listener can travel to, explore, hide in, and celebrate.

Nika tracked and mixed the album in Los Angeles with co-producer Dean Hurley (David Lynch, Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse). At once challenging and accessible, TAIGA is a transition for Zola Jesus. Undeniably branded with what Nika terms a “piercing ambition,” the album is best described by the artist herself: “The music on the record is massive, with big brass and beats, crystal clear vocals. It’s the most accessible music I’ve ever made, but also the most earnest and passionate. I gave everything for this record, more than ever before.”

Zola Jesus: Nika Vocals

TAIGA TRACKLISTING
Taiga
Dangerous Days
Dust
Hunger
Go (Blank Sea)
Ego
Lawless
Nail
Long Way Down
Hollow
It’s Not Over

Label Mute

LIVE DATES
10/8 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s
10/9 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey
10/16 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
10/17 – Washington, DC – Hirshhorn Museum
10/19 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
10/29 – Bristol, England – Colston Hall
10/30 – Leeds, England – Belgrave Music Hall
10/31 – Glasgow, Scotland – Stereo
11/1 – Manchester, England – Manchester Cathedral – Columns
11/4 – Paris, France – Badaboum
11/5 – Strasbourg, France – La Laiterie
11/6 St Gallen, Switzerland – Palace
11/7 Geneva, Switzerland – l’Usine
11/8 – Reims, France – La Cartonnerie
11/10 – Köln, Germany – Gebäude 9
11/11 – Berlin, Germany – Berghain
11/12 – Hamburg, Germany – Uebel and Gefährlich
11/13 – Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom
11/14 – Brussels, Belgium – La Nuit Botanique
11/15 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
11/18 – London, England – KOKO