If you're a football fan, please don't worry. This isn't a similar situation that England fans found themselves in when they discovered John Barnes was performing a rap with defunct band New Order. Chelsea fans might have sensed an awkward situation with their former Italian striker Gianfranco shunning sport completely and getting creative in the studio as opposed to the penalty area.
Also, before religious types get angry with us, Zola hasn't decided that he’s a demigod and gone swanning around West London dressed in a flowing robe. Well… not that we know of.
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth, as Zola Jesus isn't a religious nut job, but simply the stage name of Nika Roza Danilova, a performer with Russian and American roots. She's lumped in as a “singer/songwriter” but don't let this bland and patronising tag fool you, this lady will hit you with an array of sounds ranging from classical and electronic to more intense and harsh noises such as industrial and experimental rock.
Zola Jesus is almost like a bag of pick ?n mix, you don't what you're getting until it’s doing things to your mouth in a dark cinema.
Despite being twenty-one, Zola Jesus hasn't been patiently waiting for opportunities to come her way, instead, she's been the one creating music and is now on her third album. Released on Monday, her album ?Conatus? demonstrates an artist with a wide ranging musical pallet. From power electronics to Kate Bush-esque caterwauling, combined with dark and menacing tones.
Let’s face it, comparisons are boring as it's difficult to judge directly, instead we want you to listen to a ?Seekir? by clicking here and getting yourself on Soundcloud.
Yes it's electronic, but the production doesn't emphasise the music over the vocals like bubblegum electro does. This style and vibe often depicts the female singer as someone acting as the mouthpiece for a faceless bedroom musician who needs a pretty lady to flog his stuff. Zola Jesus is the complete package, who writes and records all of her own material.
Zola Jesus has made waves with her output and is set to appear on French electronica star M83’s next record that's set to be released in October. The future can only spell better things for this curious artist who?ll sooth your ears one moment before blasting them out with the droning sounds usually confined to nightmares.