ZOLA JESUS LIVE | livemusic.fm

Miss Nika Roza Danilova aka Zola Jesus played a sold-out show on Wednesday at the Heaven club in London which this time, unfortunately, was everything but intimate. The venue was unbelievably packed and sweaty which made me nervy and uneasy for a good part of the gig.

However, I must say that Zola Jesus (whose name comes from the interesting and unusual union between Emile Zola and Jesus Christ), is blessed with possibly one of the most powerful voices I’ve ever had the luck to witness live. Clearly trained as an opera singer, she spent her childhood in freezing open spaces in Wisconsin, and that gloomy and lonely atmosphere is still preset when she performs.

Zola Jesus hit the stage at 9pm resembling (somehow) a rock and roll gothic princess: folded in a grey pleated dress, a pair of flats, her hair was almost whiter than the lights on the backdrop. She was as pale as a sheet but looked absolutely incredible. Zola Jesus is not your classic stage diva - she is dark, intense, vulnerable and strong at the same time. On stage, in contrast to her little gothic figure, three of the biggest leather-clad men I’ve ever seen took up synth and drum machine duties.

She opened the night with the theatrical Avalanche, and from the first notes her voice sounded absolutely gargantuan. I literally couldn’t believe that such sonic booms were coming from her small body.

Hikikomori, Stridulum and Collapse from her last album 'Conatus' followed promptly. Zola came into the crowd and danced wildly through the venue. Even while dancing and jumping furiously her vocals were utterly flawless. Sea Talk (my personal favourite) flew out like a beautiful dream. On Vessel, the incessant drum machine rhythm behind her voice made this song a standout on the night.

However, back to the ferocious nature of the setting, being awkwardly compressed somewhere in the back of the venue was uncomfortable. So much so that by the end of the night, seeing Nika leave the stage and coming back for the encore was almost a relief. On the final notes of the gloomy-pop masterpiece which is Night, while she was wailing “I’m on my bed”, I started thinking about my bed too.

Despite my reservation about the packed venue, the gig was wonderful. Why? Because Zola Jesus is a blessed singer and an absolutely huge performer. Her namesake would be proud.

/// Words - Alessia Parducci