Siphon

Album: Okovi (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Nika Roza Danilova, aka Zola Jesus, originally penned this song for a troubled friend and it wasn't intended for public consumption. She explained:

    "It was written for someone very close to me who had attempted suicide for the second time. In the weeks surrounding this tragedy, I desperately tried everything I could to convince them to stay alive. There is no greater horror than watching someone you love physically destroy themselves… not knowing if you would see them tomorrow. In the end, I decided this song needed to be heard, not only by this person, but by others as well."
  • Zola Jesus wrote the song with longtime live bandmate Alex DeGroot and producer/musician WIFE.
  • The video sees Zola Jesus singing naked while covered in blood. The clip was directed by Zia Anger, who also shot Jenny Hval's 2016 controversial clip for "Conceptual Romance." She commented: "It was a very sobering experience to be trusted with such visceral material."
  • Zia Anger's professional motto is "Whatever I'm going to make the artist do, I try to do it first." She explained to Billboard that for this song's video where it rains a lot on Zola Jesus, "I made sure that I experienced that before she did. It was cathartic."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.