Who: Zola Jesus
Classical
Nika began training as an opera singer at the age of 10. She dismantled that
training to deliver her breakthrough lo-fi record The Spoils in 2009, most of which she
recorded as an undergrad in her room at UW Madison. On the release of her following
EP, Stridulum, NME declared her “goth’s new figurehead.” A few years later, the LA
times described Zola Jesus as, “a focused, serious creator with a solid aesthetic,
breathtaking musical vocabulary and a confident vision.” Both publications turned out
to be right. Her unmissable voice is said to cut through the fascia of reality.