Zola Jesus sticks with you. - Oh My Rockness

Rockness Recommends

Zola Jesus sticks with you.

July 26, 2010
There's something about Zola Jesus' music that entirely freaks me out. Listening to this gives me an undeniable urge to curl up in a fetal position in a bathtub, hoping to find comfort in a hot stream blasting my face off. I'm realizing that's not so comforting. There's just something super haunting going on here amongst all the slow, sparse drone and it crawls its way under my skin (but at least it is clean skin).

Sheesh, you wouldn't think someone born in 1989 would have this hex effect on me. Zola Jesus is the young Nika Roza (live, she has a full band) who, above anything else, has undeniable vocal talent. Her cavernous alto can keep even the roaming gypsies tethered in their place.

This powerful voice is probably where most of the haunting vibe comes in, but the eerie accompaniment that moves at a languid, serpent's pace doesn't exactly scream "good times!" either. But sometimes dark and mysterious is just what you want. And at those times, you should tentatively reach for Zola Jesus. She'll put a spell on you, for better or for worse.

Zola Jesus plays The Echo, on Sunday, August 1st.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!

Get new Los Angeles announcements, free show info, ticket giveaways and more...