Zola Jesus has never been one to follow the rules. Her music isn’t just something you listen to—it’s something you feel. With hauntingly raw vocals and emotionally charged lyrics, she creates sonic landscapes that pull you in, leaving you lost somewhere between beauty and chaos.
In this conversation, we got real about her creative process, the struggles and triumphs of being an independent artist, and the deep emotions that shape her music. We also talked about artistic identity, inspiration, and how music can be a form of survival.
Cultures or mystical elements influenced you?
Turkiye is one of the most mystical places on Earth.
Zola Jesus
You’ve mentioned that your last album “Arkhon” helps listeners emotionally and spiritually. How did you aim to create that sense of healing in your music, and what impact did it have on you personally? I also noticed you used elements of Tibetan music in your track “The Fall.” Could that be one of the healing elements too?
Zola Jesus: Making that album was healing for me on a whole new level. It was a utility to help me overcome a very hard time in my life. I had gone through a divorce, meanwhile a person very close to me was dying of cancer, and the pandemic and election in the US had created a psychic turmoil that was crazy-making. It was a very chaotic time. I didn’t know how to put that all into music, but I knew I needed to make music to make sense of it.
I collaborated with Randall Dunn, who was like a doula in this whole process. We connected on a spiritual level, which really helped me overcome the stress of it all. During this time I also deepened my Buddhist practice. It was a very hard record to make, as it was all made during the pandemic and hard to travel… I’ll never forget flying to New York after being sequestered in my woods for so long… even just seeing sidewalk freaked me out. I hadn’t seen sidewalk in so long, let alone tall buildings, and so many people. I felt feral. It was a wild time. But the music brought me back to myself and into the world. It was so vital. The most important part of this record was the experience making it… which is why I’d say it was my first “mystical” record. It had nothing to do with the outcome or finished product. The process was paramount. It was very special.
