| Jessicka | |
|---|---|
Jessicka 2004, Los Angeles, California |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jessica Fodera |
| Also known as | Jessicka Addams |
| Born | October 23, 1976 Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Origin | Miami, Florida |
| Genres | Alternative rock, goth rock, noise pop, alternative metal |
| Occupations | Artist, musician, songwriter, and singer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Associated acts | Jack Off Jill Mrs. Scabtree Honey to Ash Messy Scarling. The Ingenues |
| Website | www.Jessicka.com |
Jessicka Addams (born Jessica Fodera on October 23, 1976) is an American singer and artist. Best known by her stage name Jessicka, she was the front woman of Florida based band Jack Off Jill and current front for the Los Angeles based band Scarling.
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Jessicka grew up in the town of Sunrise, Florida. She was raised as an only child by her mother Nancy after her mother divorced her husband, Joseph. While attending elementary school Jessicka was placed in the school's gifted program, where she excelled in theatre, art, and creative writing.[1] After high school Jessicka had immersed herself in music, Goth-culture,[2] gay iconography, all things John Waters and feminist literature. At seventeen she decided that she wanted to start her own band.[3]
Jessicka met Tenni Arslanyan while attending high school in Sunrise, Florida. They had begun writing songs, but had not yet formed a complete band when Robin Moulder and Michelle Oliver joined them to create the band Jack In Jill. In 1992, Jack In Jill got their start when they were asked to open for fellow Floridian and friend Marilyn Manson and his band, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids at a Davie, Florida nightclub called The Plus 5 Lounge. Manson suggested a name change to Jack Off Jill (JoJ).[4][5] In 1993, JOJ released their first recording titled, "Children 5 And Up", produced by Marilyn Manson.[6] In early 1993, Jessicka performed with Manson's ephemeral side project, Mrs. Scabtree and shared vocal duties with then boyfriend Jeordie White.[7] White was given the Manson band member name Twiggy Ramirez, much of Twiggy's early look from the multi colored dreadlocks down to the dress style was taken directly from Gidget Gein and Jessicka.[1] In December 1993 while on tour, Jessicka spent a night in jail when she and Manson were arrested after a concert in Jacksonville, Florida, for breaking the town's adult entertainment codes.[8]
Before her 25th birthday, Jessicka's record label, Rectum Records, had released several independent JOJ records and several 7" singles.[9] Jack Off Jill signed with Los Angeles based Risk Records in January 1997. The band released their first full-length album, Sexless Demons And Scars, in September 1997 then toured in the U.S. and Canada. In July 2000 JOJ released their second full-length CD, Clear Hearts Grey Flowers, just as their label was preparing to close down.[10] JOJ played its last show at Los Angeles' The Troubadour in April 2000. They were joined onstage by guitarist Helen Storer of the UK band Fluffy and producer Chris Vrenna on drums.[11] JOJ officially disbanded in late 2000.[12]
After taking a break from the music industry and making Los Angeles her permanent residence, Jessicka was invited in 2001 by guitarist Christian Hejnal to be a guest vocalist on his solo album. The pair had only met a few months earlier through a mutual friend, Lisa Leveridge. They began recording and rehearsing together and eventually recruited the musicians who would form the first and very short-lived lineup of Scarling. in 2002.[2] In early 2002 Jessicka was introduced to Long Gone John, owner of Sympathy for the Record Industry, by mutual friend Mark Ryden. In March 2003 Scarling.'s debut single, "Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole", was released on John's label. The cover featured an illustration entitled "Wound 39" by artist Mark Ryden. In April 2004 Scarling. released their first album, Sweet Heart Dealer, which again utilized the team of Ryden and Vrenna.[13]
In the autumn of 2004, Jessicka was featured on the cover of ROCKRGRL's vocalist issue.[14] Scarling. was invited to join the lineup of the Robert Smith-curated Curiosa Festival, performing on select West Coast dates alongside Jessicka's long-time favorite band The Cure.[15][16][17] Three weeks before joining the tour, drummer Samantha Maloney filled in and was soon replaced by Beth Gordon.[18]
Smith described the band's music as "dark, desperate, chaotic, gorgeous pop music, the sound of the end of the world",[19] and Scarling.'s Sweet Heart Dealer was nominated for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize.[20][21][22]
After a series of 7" singles on Sympathy, Scarling. announced in early 2005 that their second album, So Long, Scarecrow, would appear later that year; it was preceded by the single "We are the Music Makers" and was released in August 2005. So Long, Scarecrow was co-produced by Rob Campanella and received several favorable reviews.[23][24][25]Alternative Press Jason Pettigrew gave the album a 5 out of 5 rating[26] Simon Price from The Independent said, "Fodera has always had a knack for acronyms and catchphrases,'Manorexic' is one which will be lapped up by the goth kids, but her intriguing lyrics, sung in a voice pitched midway between Kate Bush sweetness and Siouxsie Sioux stridency, cut deeper than mere punning.[27] The song Bummer a track from SLS was featured on Showtime's The L Word season 3 episode "Latecomer."[28] In December 2005, Scarling. embarked on its first UK tour. In 2006 Jessicka continued to tour in the US and Europe with Scarling., touring with such bands as UK shoegaze band Amusement Parks on Fire and opening for The Wedding Present and Depeche Mode.[29] In 2006, Scarling. released their fourth single Staring to the Sun. The album cover featured a portrait of Jessicka done by Los Angeles photographer Piper Ferguson.[30]
After JOJ Jessicka worked with Kevin Haskins, producer Chris Vrenna on American McGee's Alice soundtrack,[31] and drummer Samantha Maloney.[32][33] Fodera also made a cameo appearance in Ellie Parker.[34]
In March, 2009, Jessicka appeared as a special guest in an episode of the reality television series Germany's Next Topmodel, hosted by Heidi Klum.[35] In April 2009, Jessicka modeled for photographer Austin Young for the Bettie Page "Heaven Bound" art show.[36]
Jessicka contributed quotes to Girls Against Girls by author Bonnie Burton.[37], I Love Geeks by author Carrie Tucker[38][39] and Cherry Bomb by author Carrie Borzillo.[40]
Jessicka and her husband Christian performed with their band Scarling. at the wedding of Bravo's Shear Genius finalist Janine Jarman and Matthew Wolcott at the Houdini Mansion in Hollywood on June 26, 2010.[41]
On April 25, 2008 at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery in Los Angeles, California, Jessicka was in her first group artshow curated by actor Daniel Franzese called depARTed.[42][43]
On November 13, 2010, she presented her artwork collectively entitled 'Smile Even if it Hurts' at the Dark Dark Science Gallery (Atwater Village, California) in a joint exhibit with friend and fellow artist Lindsey Way. Jessicka's show was titled "What's Behind The Bunny" and featured collaborations with artists Mark Ryden, Elizabeth McGrath, Marion Peck, Morgan Slade, Louis-Marie de Castelbajac, Joshua Petker, Tarina Tarantino, Jared Gold, Austin Young, and Janine Jarman.[44] On April 1, 2011, her website JessickaAddams.com launched featuring a gallery of her artwork.[45]
On April 9, 2011 Jessicka participated in Tara McPherson's "Tiny Trifecta" in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York[46] and LeBasse Projects inaugural exhibition "Momentum" in Chinatown, Los Angeles, California.[47]
On August 5, 2011 Jessicka's show "Little Grey Secrets" opened at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles.[48][49][50]
Jessicka identifies herself as bisexual.[1] On February 14, 2006, (Valentine's Day) while on a break from touring, she and Scarling colleague Christian Hejnal were engaged. Their wedding took place on October 13, 2007 at the Oviatt Penthouse in Los Angeles. The couple changed their surname to Addams.[51]
Solo shows:[52]
2011 " Little Grey Secrets" La Luz de Jesus Los Angeles, CA -
2010 "Smile Even If It Hurts" at Dark Dark Science Gallery, Los Angeles, CA -
Selected group shows:
2011 "Plus 1" Sloan Fine Arts, New York, NY
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2011 "Momentum" at LeBasse Projects Chinatown Inaugural Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
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2011 "Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
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2011 "Everything But The Kitschen Sync 14" at La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
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2009 "Crusaders and Haters" RoyalT, Culver City, California
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2008 "2008 "DepARTed" World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
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