Zola Jesus Quotes

The real exertion in the case of an opera singer lies not so much in her singing as in her acting of a role, for nearly every modern opera makes great dramatic and physical demands.

To sing opera, one needs two things: the voice and the passion - and above all, the passion.

I'm not a pop singer; I'm not a jazz singer. And I know I sing like not a whole lot of people do; I also know that a lot of other people act like I do. And better than I do. But what informs the singing is the acting. They're not separate from each other.

You know, when I did 'American Idol' the three times, I tried to tell these kids you have to tell the story of the lyric.

I'd love to have the time to learn to sing opera properly rather than bellowing half-formed fragments of melody in exuberant moments.

The beauty of it is when you can just show up and hit the notes.

'Down on Me' can't showcase my true talent. 'Birthday Sex' was robotic. When I perform it, I can't give you this church feeling I know I can give.

I change the language with which I use my voice. In opera, I know I have an orchestra behind me; I have to communicate to people very far from me.

I find a similarity between performing music onstage and acting - a reality of emotion.

I never felt I left the stage.

I just love the thrill of performing on stage. I believe that singing is something I was put here to do.

Acting is great. You spend your whole life trying to get it right.

But the throat just kind of falls into line once you realize in your head what it is. You got to remember the musicality of a character you're going to do.

I have never been too concerned about things you're supposed to be concerned about as a singer. Pitch is important, and so is sounding good. But I think there's something underneath all that.

As a singer, you have to bring the soul to the song.

I got very addicted to performing. I just want to do that more.

I know it's cliche, but after the first show, I knew I liked singing, being on stage, making people happy. It just felt natural.

Acting seems much easier than singing, in fact, because you are putting on a costume - whereas here you are taking everything off.

Once you are in the character, you should let your inner actor take over you.

Theatre taught me to convert a scene into a vision.

I sing 'Nessun Dorma' when I warm up backstage.

All my vocal coaches have been pretty great. Thank God.

Performing is fine.

It's important to me to be able to hit the notes and just be able to fly when I sing.

Musicals are not something I have had vigorous training in. But it's definitely something that I want to do. I don't like to be afraid of anything. I don't want to feel like there's something that I can't do.