zola jesus | Concrete Opinions

Make Music Pasadena is this Saturday (6/18), and in honor of this fantastic (AND FREE!) event, this week’s mix features all the artists i’m most excited about.

For those of you not familiar with the event, Make Music Pasadena is a FREE musical celebration throughout Pasadena. This Saturday, sidewalks, parks, courtyards, alleys, building lobbies and other unconventional performance spaces will become spontaneous musical stages and social gathering places. This year’s line up includes Best Coast, Ra Ra Riot, Morning Benders, Carla Morrison, Hello Seahorse!, Saint Motel, and much, much more.

For more info, be sure to visit MakeMusicPasadena.org.

♫ Carla Morrison – Yo Sigo Aqui ♫
2pm at the Luckman “World Music” Stage

♫ Saint Motel – Butch ♫
2pm at the Indie Rock Stage

♫ The Morning Benders – Excuses ♫
3pm at the Indie Rock Stage

♫ NewVillager – Rich Doors ♫
4:15pm at the Indie Rock Stage

♫ Best Coast – When I’m With You ♫
5pm at the Indie Rock Stage

♫ Ra Ra Riot – Can You Tell ♫
6:15pm at the Indie Rock Stage

♫ Jenny O – Well Okay, Honey ♫
8pm at the Emerging Artists Stage

♫ Seasons – Lights, Lost ♫
8:30pm at the Majestical Roof Stage

♫ Kisses – Bermuda ♫
9pm at the Emerging Artists Stage

♫ Zola Jesus – Night ♫
10pm at the Emerging Artists Stage

♫ Robotanists – Exiled State of Mind (Jay-Z Rework) ♫
11pm at the Majestical Roof Stage

Zola Jesus is the stage name of Russian American singer/songwriter, and Former Ghosts member, Nika Roza Danilova. Over the past 2 years or so, she’s released 7 records (4 albums, 3 EPs) and last year she supported Fever Ray on her 2010 European tour. Needless to say, this rising goth-pop siren has been busy.

I really dig her sound. It’s easy to compare her to Fever Ray, but just as easy to differentiate. There is a determination in her music that really shows, and probably stems from her musical background. She trained as a opera singer from a young age and applied to Juliard at 10 years old. Even though she wasn’t accepted, she was still able to complete high school in three years and is set to graduate from university with a double major in French and philosophy in the same amount of time…no easy task.

My favorite tracks include Lightsick, Night, I Can’t Stand, Poor Animal, and Sea Talk, but I really haven’t heard a song be her that’s not worth a listen. If you want more Zola Jesus, purchase some of her tunes (via iTunes) and/or catch a live show (dates below).

Zola Jesus – Lightsick
Zola Jesus – Night

02/26 Los Angeles, CA – Skybar @ Mondrian
03/12 Mexico City, Mexico – Indie-O Festival
04/14 St. Louis, MO – Billiken Club (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/15 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/18 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/19 Buffalo, NY – Mohawk (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/20 Toronto, Ontario – The Garrison (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/21 Montreal, Quebec – Il Motore (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/22 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall (w/ Cult of Youth)
04/23 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (w/ Cult of Youth & Naked on the Vague)
04/25 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas (w/ Naked on the Vague)
04/26 Washington, DC – Red Palace (w/ Naked on the Vague)
04/27 Grantham, PA – Messiah College (w/ Naked on the Vague)
04/29 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon (w/ Naked on the Vague)
04/30 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry (w/ Naked on the Vague)
05/03 Vancouver, British Columbia – Biltmore (w/ Naked on the Vague)
05/04 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Lounge (w/ Naked on the Vague)
05/05 Portland, OR – Holocene (w/ Naked on the Vague)
05/06 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw (w/ Naked on the Vague)
05/07 Los Angeles, CA – The Satellite (w/ Naked on the Vague)