It’s early on Monday morning right now, so early as to effectively still be Sunday night. Speaking of Sunday night, I missed three (count ‘em — three!) shows last night that I would like to have checked out, because of a flat tire (don’t have a spare anymore, not smart). The rim’s messed up because I think my pickup truck makes me (and it) indestructible; this means money… And, I have to do some stuff I’d rather not later on today. So, you get the idea. And I’m sure you have your own list of why Monday mornings are not so great. But I’m not writing all of this to be an emo grouch (emouch? — ohhhh, why doesn’t the Internet give me a photo of Oscar with Wentz hair?) and try to bring you down. I’m not Ziggy.

I write because I have good news! I just listened to some amazing, Goth-y, depressing electronical music and now I feel all better because it was all pretty and cathartic. Spooky and pretty has always been a swell combination when done just right. Nika Roza Danilova AKA Zola Jesus is so good at this thing, it’s kind of scary. Her jams are home recorded and traverse the darkwave, industrial, post-whatever realms with a deliberately strained, vaguely operatic flair. Thus far, she has a single on Die Stasi, a 12” EP on Troubleman, and a single on Sacred Bones — not to mention splits with other people, including a collaboration with Dead Luke who backs her up live, and a band she just formed with the guy from Xiu Xiu. In an interview she recently gave, she declared that she wants to “be the gothic Barbra Streisand” — how can you not love that? See, I’m feeling better already. Also, she is pretty and stuff, and that never hurts when you’re all feeling bummed about Monday. I’m really psyched about her forthcoming LP The Spoils, on one of my favorite record labels, the Brooklyn -based Sacred Bones.

—DJ Yeti