Song of the Day: Zola Jesus - Exhumed

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Exhumed” by Zola Jesus, from the forthcoming full-length Okovi out September 8th on Sacred Bones.

Zola Jesus - Exhumed (MP3)

For Zola Jesus (real name: Nika Rosa Danilova), the forthcoming full-length Okovi is a homecoming in more than one way. The album marks her return to Sacred Bones Records, following her 2014 LP Taiga, which was released via Mute. The Brooklyn-based label discovered the young artist via MySpace, if that tells you how far back the two go. Since 2008, they've released "three LPs, two EPs, two 7”s, a CD-R, and even a DVD." In a press release, Danilova describes them as "the closest group of people I’ll ever have to blood-bound family."

The album also found the Seattle resident returning to her physical home of Wisconsin. She explains: "I built a little house just steps away from where my dilapidated childhood tree fort is slowly recombining into earth. Okovi was fed by this return to roots and several very personal traumas." She continues, "This album is a deeply personal snapshot of loss, reconciliation, and a sympathy for the chains that keep us all grounded to the unforgiving laws of nature."

Zola Jesus heads out on a 26-date tour in September, and in a final homecoming, returns to Seattle on Thursday, October 19th at The Crocodile. In the meantime, you can keep up with her on Facebook and Twitter.