Success happened little by little for me. I tasted the flavor of fame in small doses: I started at 10 years old when I won a music contest; I was performing at birthday parties, company meetings.

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

I was five years old; I got addicted to being on stage. I felt like it was the most wonderful place on Earth, performing in front of an audience, who in this case were a bunch of classmates, kids my age.

I was unaware of the dispute in Brooklyn, ... I would never knowingly wear any clothes or support any company who produced clothing with alleged wage and labor violations.

I have 'Happy Birthday' in multiple languages on my iPod - I like to play it at company birthday parties.

I started writing music when I was around twelve. My current record company saw a video of me performing at my school's talent show.