Photo courtesy of Zola Jesus

The frigid, rural winters of Zola Jesus’ childhood inspired her new, whitewashed image.

Just before taking the stage in Asheville, N.C., classically trained singer-songwriter, Nika Roza Danilova (a.k.a. Zola Jesus), spoke with The Metropolitan over the phone about her new image — one that coincided with the release of her latest album, Conatus. Although Danilova is goth at heart, she has started to embrace the bright, etheral side of her songwriting. She’s also gotten better at dealing with all of life’s little hiccups, including a crippling case of stage fright. Now on a worldwide tour, Danivola is looking forward to playing Feb. 25 at the Larimer Lounge.

WR: Did changing your hair and attire from black to white permeate into your music?

ZJ: I’m always trying, in everything I do — in my music and in my life. What I think is ideal, I’m constantly trying to push what that is. So that [mentality] just kind of permeates into everything. Whether it’s the color of my hair or what I’m wearing or what I’m singing about, or what I am appreciating. It’s just all kind of connected like that.

WR: You grew up in rural Wisconsin, do you prefer a “small-town” life?

ZJ: I went from being someone that wanted to travel to being someone that traveled exclusively. You know, [someone that] does not spend time at home, ever. It has been this evolution, this change in my life. It just changes the way you see the world because you accrue so many experiences around the world. I always wanted this to be my career and now it is.

WR: Is it hard traveling so much?

ZJ: I really, really enjoy it. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to make this my career. However, I’m kind of a loner and I don’t like to be around people all the time [but] that’s what touring is. So that is something I struggle with. You have to make compromises to do what you love, you know?

WR: Being a young musician, do you feel any disconnect from your earlier material?

ZJ: Because I have evolved so much and because I am just a different person now, the songs are still very much a part of me, and they’re part of my past, but it feels very strange. That’s why I don’t sing songs from before Stridulum; it is such a different time in my life. But songs on Stridulum feel very different and even songs on Conatus feel different. I’ve grown so much since making those [records] — everyday they feel more and more alien to me.

WR: It looks like you wont be playing smaller venues for much longer. Are you glad?

ZJ: The things that I really want are to be able to have in-ear [monitors] so I can sing better when I’m performing live and things like that. That stuff comes with bigger venues and that’s why I look forward to playing bigger venues. I haven’t really thought about it though, I’m just kind of going day-by-day here.

WR: Do you ever consider yourself a “pop” star?

ZJ: I do have an interest in speaking to a lot of people, because I think I maybe have some ideas and I have questions too, just like everyone else, and I have several answers. They may not be right, but I feel like it would benefit for me to have a conversation with other people. I think right now, pop-stars aren’t saying anything. I don’t think that I have anything really final to say, but it’s at least worth it for someone to be in that position to poke people a little bit and sort of wake them up.

WR: Are you excited to play in Denver for the first time?

ZJ: I’m really excited. The owner of the label that I’m on, Sacred Bones, he is from Denver, so he is going to come and we’re going to try and see [writer] Philip K. Dick’s grave, which is right near there.

Tags: Conatus, Larimer Lounge, Sacred Bones, Stridulum, Zola Jesus

People: Nika Roza Danilova, Phillip K. Dick, Zola Jesus