Nika Danilova, of Zola Jesus fame, may not have been what people in her classes here at UW imagined the next indie darling would look like.
"In the beginning [of my career] it was terrifying. I didn't have very much confidence in myself and the idea of becoming a spectacle to a crowd was really daunting," Danilova confessed via email.
Though this is somewhat hard to believe after listening to her numerous albums and EPs in which she boldly taps into far-from-mainstream musical territory. After hearing her exercise her powerful set of vocal chords, it becomes difficult to imagine her singing coming from a woman so afraid to be the center of attention, however, this glam darkling remains far from ordinary and certainly knows how to grab attention.
Dark synth sounds and tragic wails cascade over listeners in the popular song, "Night," while words of "I am not your savior," break through the perhaps almighty façade a name like Zola Jesus may induce in "Poor Animal."
Influenced by experimental and electronic composers such as Aphex Twin and Stockhausen, Danilova has created a sound all her own and continues to give it form in her upcoming album Conatus.
The single "Vessel," released from the forthcoming album, has a slightly more poppy sound than some of her former work but, in the end, a more commercial sound is the goal.
"Conatus was a great effort to destroy everything that comes naturally to me creatively," Danilova said. "The last records have [all] been so dense that this one I wanted to have a lot of space, room to breathe."
It appears that Danilova taking the room to flex her creativity as a songwriter has done well for her so far. Zola Jesus will return to the Midwest from her L.A. home to play Pitchfork Music Festival on July 16 before continuing on to an international tour.
Not bad for being just over a year out of college. Danilova is, in fact, a recent graduate of this very University.
Yet despite her youth, Danilova waxes intense wisdom and eloquence beyond her years. Her approach to songwriting serves as a way to unburden feelings of alienation, anxiety and disorder.
"In a way the music is a vehicle to release my neurosis and try to be productive about things that never seem to leave my head," she said.
This release also comes with the rush of performing.
"[It's] like I have this ability to say my piece," she explained when discussing getting on stage. "When I get up there I feel brave, and maybe the people in the audience will see that and they will feel braver too."
And despite her initial feelings of uneasiness, Danilova has embraced the life of performing with grace and poise.
She's faint to forget her roots though. Fond memories of UW include working for the student radio group WSUM, Madison's avant-garde film series, Starlight Cinema and art history professor Narciso Menocal.
It is unlikely the UW will forget her either. Fellow Badgers should appreciate Nika Danilova as another gem of this fine university as she continues to garner accolades from the likes of National Public Radio's KEXP, Pitchfork and SPIN magazine.
Even though she comes from a small town just outside of Wausau, this Wisconsinite is going big places and contrary to her dark sounds, things are looking bright for the budding starlet. Danilova is living the dream.
"Zola Jesus turned into a career because as soon as I had the opportunity to make a life out of what I love I took it," she asserted. "There's nothing else I've ever wanted to do."
