Jessicka

Jessicka Addams (born Jessica Fodera on October 23, 1975) is an American singer and visual 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.

Early life
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. After high school Jessicka had immersed herself in music, the Goth subculture, gay iconography, all things John Waters and feminist literature. At 17, she decided that she wanted to start her own band.

Jack Off Jill (1992–2000)
Jessica Fodera met Tenni Arslanyan while attending high school in Sunrise, Florida. She added the "K" to the original spelling of her first name and dropped her surname, paying homage to Magick (Book 4), by Aleister Crowley. 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 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). In 1993, JOJ released their first recording titled, "Children 5 And Up", produced by Marilyn Manson. In early 1993, Jessicka performed with Manson's ephemeral side project, Mrs. Scabtree and shared vocal duties with then boyfriend Jeordie White. In December 1994 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. They both spent one night in jail. Charges were dropped.

Before her 21st birthday, Jessicka's record label, Rectum Records, had released several independent JOJ records and several 7" singles. 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.

JOJ officially went on hiatus in late 2000, after playing a 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.

Reunion
On April 7, 2015, Bust.com announced a Jack Off Jill reunion show at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on July 18 as well as a Pledgemusic campaign offering "Golden Tickets" and other Jack Off Jill rarities related to the show. The 2015 lineup consists of Jessicka, Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha, Michelle Inhell and Helen Storer.

Jack Off Jill is referred to by several publications as "Riot Goth Legends" and "Cult Heroes"

Singer Jessicka Addams stated that their show at Heaven in London on October 23, 2015 (her birthday) would be Jack Off Jill's final show.

Scarling. (2002–present)
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 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.

In the autumn of 2004, Jessicka was featured on the cover of ROCKRGRL vocalist issue. 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. Three weeks before joining the tour, drummer Samantha Maloney filled in and was soon replaced by Beth Gordon.

Smith described the band's music as "dark, desperate, chaotic, gorgeous pop music, the sound of the end of the world", and Scarling.'s Sweet Heart Dealer was nominated for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize.

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.  Alternative Press' Jason Pettigrew gave the album a 5 out of 5 rating. 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." The song Bummer a track from SLS was featured on Showtime's The L Word season 3 episode "Latecomer". 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. 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.

On May 13, 2014, Mark Ryden released an album entitled 'The Gay Nineties Old Tyme Music: Daisy Bell,' that features Scarling. along with other artists all giving a different rendition of the same song, 'Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two).'The album, printed on 180 g red vinyl, was limited to 999 copies, all hand-numbered and signed by Ryden. Half of the records were to be sold at the Michael Kohn Gallery. The proceeds from the record, will benefit Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit that supports musical education in disadvantaged elementary schools.

Between bands
After JOJ Jessicka worked with Kevin Haskins and producer Chris Vrenna on American McGee's Alice soundtrack, and with drummer Samantha Maloney. She also made a cameo appearance in Ellie Parker.

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. In April 2009, Jessicka modeled for photographer Austin Young for the Bettie Page Heaven Bound art show.

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.

Jessicka and Christian were featured on an episode of Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis which aired August 20, 2013

Released March 10, 2014, Jessicka makes a small cameo in Placebo's "Begin the End" video, directed by Los Angeles photographer Piper Ferguson.

On July 22, 2014, Jessicka wrote the essay titled "Coming Full Circle with Fat Phobia, Anne Wilson, & Self Hatred" that was published online in Bust. It discusses the singers' experiences with being overweight in the music industry.

Art
On April 25, 2008, at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery in Los Angeles, California, Addams was in her first group artshow curated by actor Daniel Franzese called depARTed.

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. Adams' show was titled "What's Behind the Bunny" and featured collaborations with artists Mark Ryden, Elizabeth McGrath, Morgan Slade, Louis-Marie de Castelbajac, Joshua Petker, Tarina Tarantino, Jared Gold, Austin Young, and Janine Jarman. On April 1, 2011, her website JessickaAddams.com launched featuring a gallery of her artwork.

On April 9, 2011, Addams participated in Tara McPherson's "Tiny Trifecta" in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York and LeBasse Projects inaugural exhibition "Momentum" in Chinatown, Los Angeles, California.

On August 5, 2011, Addams' show "Little Grey Secrets" opened at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles.

Addams is listed in several art publications as one of artist Mark Ryden's muses. On November 2, 2013, she was part of a four-woman show in Los Angeles called "Black Moon" with fellow female artists, Elizabeth McGrath, Camille Rose Garcia and Marion Peck.

January 2014, The LA Art Show had over 18,000 items on display from over 135 dealers, Addams was recognized by the Huffington Post Arts & Culture, "Jessicka Addams, who could be related to the real Addams Family and creates self-portraits that reference near death personal experiences with a witty, macabre slant."

Curator
Addams has curated two different art shows under the name Dark Dark Science. The first was on November 13, 2010, the show was collectively entitled 'Smile Even if it Hurts', a joint exhibit with friend and fellow artist Lindsey Way. The second show was on August 4, 2012, and ran until August 28, 2012. The show was called 'MiXTAPE'. Artists were asked to pick a song and create art inspired by that song. 24 artists participated in the show including Mark Ryden, Frances Bean Cobain, Camille Rose Garcia, Fairuza Balk, Aaron Smith, and Tara McPherson. The eclectic mix of songs chosen were featured for digital download on iTunes.

Personal life
Addams identifies herself as bisexual. On February 14, 2006, 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 and was attended by numerous celebrities. The couple changed their surname to Addams.

On October 20, 2017, Addams wrote a Facebook post accusing her ex-boyfriend Twiggy Ramirez, bassist of Marilyn Manson, of raping her while they were a couple in the 1990s; she also accused him of subjecting her to domestic violence and emotional abuse. On October 24, 2017, Marilyn Manson posted on Facebook that the band had parted ways with Ramirez following allegations of sexual misconduct made against him, and announced that there will be a replacement for the upcoming tour.

Exhibitions

 * 2016 "Please Stop Loving Me" / "Shitty Teen" with Lindsey Way February 5–28, 2016 at La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
 * 2014 "That Which Does Not Kill You" May 9 to June 8, 2014" The Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NYC
 * 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:
 * 2018 LAST GASP group show MINNA GALLERY San Francisco
 * 2018 LA Art Show "Littletopia" Los Angeles, CA
 * 2017 "Friends with the Animals: And Other Tales in an Anthropomorphised World". Curated by Luke Chueh G R2 gallery, Santa Monica, California
 * 2016 Damien Echols - "Collaborations". Copro Gallery Santa Monica California
 * 2016 "Crime On Canvas" Las Vegas, Nevada
 * 2016 "My Blood Runs Yellow: A Tribute to Giallos" curated by Alix Sloan and Drew Fitzpatrick Los Angeles, California
 * 2016 "ARCANA" at Red Truck Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
 * 2015 "Dreamlands" Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City, CA
 * 2015 LA Art Show "Littletopia" Los Angeles, CA
 * 2014 "Black Moon NYC" Sloan Fine Arts, NY with Camille Rose Garcia, Elizabeth McGrath and Marion Peck
 * 2014 "Boxes of Death 5"
 * 2014 "Small Indignities" September 13 – October 5 at Red Truck Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
 * 2014 "Flannel and Glitter" opened September 13 The Rawk Show, Romani Gallery, Austin, Texas
 * 2014 "The Coaster Show" September 5–28, 2014 La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
 * 2014 "Fourth Annual Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
 * 2014 LA Art Show "Littletopia" Los Angeles, CA
 * 2013 "Black Moon" Sloan Fine Arts, LA, CA with Camille Rose Garcia, Elizabeth McGrath and Marion Peck.
 * 2013 "beer-is-art " Coaster Show at La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
 * 2013 "Third Annual Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
 * 2013 "Tentacles!" Ltd. Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington.
 * 2013 " Mark Ryden's YHWH Group Custom Show" @ Toy Art Gallery Los Angeles, CA
 * 2012 "AWAKENING" curated by Sloan Fine Arts, AFA gallery New York, NY
 * 2012 "MiXTAPE" at Dark Dark Science Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
 * 2012 "Second Annual Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
 * 2012 "Hey Geek Girl" LTD art Gallery Seattle, Washington
 * 2011 "Spread the Word" Mark Moore Gallery, Culver City, CA
 * 2011 "Plus 1" Sloan Fine Arts, New York, NY
 * 2011 "Momentum" at LeBasse Projects Chinatown Inaugural Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
 * 2011 "Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
 * 2011 "Everything But The Kitschen Sync 14" at La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
 * 2009 "Crusaders and Haters" RoyalT, Culver City, California
 * 2008 "2008 "DepARTed" World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

With Jack Off Jill

 * Children 5 And Up (1993)
 * Boy Grinder Session (1994)
 * Cannibal Song Book (1995)
 * Cockroach Waltz (1996)
 * Sexless Demons and Scars (1997), Risk Records
 * Covetous Creature EP (1998), Risk Records
 * Clear Hearts Grey Flowers (2000), Risk Records/404 Music Group
 * Humid Teenage Mediocrity (2003), Sympathy for the Record Industry – U.S., Livewire/Cargo Records– Europe

With Scarling.

 * Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole EP (2003), Sympathy for the Record Industry
 * Sweet Heart Dealer (2004), Sympathy for the Record Industry
 * "Crispin Glover" (2004), Sympathy for the Record Industry
 * So Long, Scarecrow (2005), Sympathy for the Record Industry
 * "Scarling. / The Willowz", (2005), Sympathy for the Record Industry
 * "Staring to the Sun" (2006), Sympathy for the Record Industry
 * " Who Wants to Die for Art" (2013), The Committee to Keep Music Evil

Guest contributions

 * "Last Day in June" (1999), for the band Honey to Ash
 * "Miss Ann Thrope" (2000), track seven on My Ruin studio album, A Prayer Under Pressure of Violent Anguish, Snapper/Spitfire
 * "Make You Believe" (2000), for the band Messy
 * "Iieee" (2001), cover duet with Meegs Rascón, guitarist of Coal Chamber, for Songs of a Goddess – A Tori Amos Tribute
 * "Happy for You" (2008), for The Ingenues
 * "Nothing at All" (2012) Chris Vrenna / Tweaker "call the time eternity" Metropolis Records
 * "Begin the End" Placebo (cameo) directed by Piper Ferguson
 * "Mark Ryden's Gay Nineties' Album (2014) with Scarling

Soundtracks

 * Wicked "When I Am Queen" & "Rabbiteen" (1998)
 * Soundtrack, American McGee's Alice (2001)

Filmography

 * Ellie Parker (2005)
 * Bettie Page Reveals All (2012) (documentary)