The word "theatrical" makes me cringe, because it suggests a performance is staged, put on, rehearsed. And while all this is true for an opera, I believe the act of singing and performing should always be honest, raw, guttural.

I started performing opera when I was 10 years old. I didn't perform as Zola Jesus until I was probably 18.

There can only be one Queen Bey.

You are born and then you die, but in between you can do anything you want. It's society that creates rules for us, but you can break out of that.

I think I'm making music that's pretty universal.

The greatest benefit of being a solo performer is that it is seriously frightening, but at the same time very empowering. It's just you and the audience. All the weight is on you to deliver the songs.

I like to remind myself that everything is meaningless.