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Jessica Fodera (born October 23, 1975) is an American singer and artist. Best known by her stage name Jessicka, she fronts two bands, Jack Off Jill and 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. While attending elementary school Jessicka was placed in the school's gifted program, where she excelled in theatre, art, and creative writing. After high school Jessicka had immersed herself in music, Goth-culture, gay iconography, and feminist literature. At seventeen she decided that she wanted to start her own band.

Music career

Jack Off Jill 1992-2000

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 long time friend Marilyn Manson and his band, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids at a Davie, Florida nightclub called The Plus 5 Lounge. Before advertisements for the show were printed, Manson suggested a name change to Jack Off Jill, which the foursome accepted. In 1993, Jack Off Jill 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 . He and Jessicka met while working at a Florida based record store called CD Exchange.

In late December 1993 while on tour, Jessicka spent a night in jail when she and Manson were arrested after a concert in Jacksonville, Florida, after being arrested for breaking the town's adult entertainment codes. Both singers were charged with misdemeanors.

Jack Off Jill released several independent records and several 7" singles on Jessicka's own label Rectum Records, before her 21st birthday. Jack Off Jill signed with Los Angeles based Risk Records, in January 1997. The band released their first full-length Sexless Demons And Scars, on September 9, 1997, then hit the road on several tours in the United States and Canada.

On July 17, 2000, JOJ released their second full-length CD, Clear Hearts Grey Flowers, just as their label was preparing to close its doors. Due to pressure, poor publicity for C.H.G.F, several line up changes, tension between founding members Jessicka and Robin, and management problems, Jack Off Jill played its last show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in April 2000. They were joined onstage by guitarist Helen Storer of the UK band Fluffy and producer Chris Vrenna on drums. JOJ officially called it quits in late 2000.

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 perform guest vocals on his solo album. The pair had only met a few months earlier through their mutual friend Lisa Leveridge at a Los Angeles night club. 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. In early 2002 Jessicka was introduced to Long Gone John, owner of Sympathy for the Record Industry, by mutual friend Mark Ryden. On March 19, 2003 Scarling.'s debut single, "Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole", was released on John's label. Its cover featured an illustration entitled "Wound 39" by artist Mark Ryden. In April 2004, Scarling released their first album, the seven-song, thirty-three-minute 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 magazine's 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, The Cure. Three weeks before joining the Curiosa 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 on August 23, 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 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, creating a buzz for themselves and selling out most venues. While in Europe, Jessicka attended long-time friend Manson's wedding to burlesque performer Dita Von Teese on December 3, 2005, in a non-denominational ceremony at Gottfried Helnwein's castle in County Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 Jessicka continued to tour in the US and Europe with Scarling, touring with such bands as UK shoegaze outfit 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 potrait of Jessicka done my Los Angeles photographer Piper Ferguson.

Between bands

Post-Jack Off Jill Jessicka worked with Kevin Haskins , producer Chris Vrenna on American McGee's Alice soundtrack, drummer Samantha Maloney , and horror comic and magician Roman Dirge. Fodera also made a cameo appearance in the film Ellie Parker.

In 2008 Jessicka was one of the contributors to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb. She gave tips on how to start a band.

In April 2009, Jessicka was shot by photographer Austin Young for the Bettie Page "Heaven Bound" art show.

Personal life

Jessicka purports to be bisexual and has discussed sexual experiences with both men and women.

On February 14, 2006, (Valentine's Day) while on a break from touring, she and guitarist 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. Ryden's wedding gift was a miniature portrait of the couple, a faithful adaptation of Jan Van Eyck's "Arnolfini Portrait," that was reproduced on the invitations.

Discography

Jack Off Jill

Cassette demos

• 1993: "Children 5 And Up" (Seven songs)
• 1994: "Boy Grinder Session" (Five songs)
• 1995: "Cannibal Song Book" (Eleven songs)
• 1996: "Cockroach Waltz" (Seven songs)

indicates un-released demo.

Albums and EPs

• 1997: Sexless Demons And Scars (Risk Records)
  • 1998: EP, Covetous Creature (Risk Records)
• 2000: Clear Hearts Grey Flowers (Risk Records/404 Music Group)
• 2003: Humid Teenage Mediocrity (Sympathy for the Record Industry - U.S., Livewire/Cargo Records - Europe)

Scarling.

• 2003: EP, Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• 2004: Sweet Heart Dealer (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
  • 2004: Single, Crispin Glover (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• 2005: So Long, Scarecrow (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
  • '2005: Single, Scarling. / The Willowz (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
  • 2006: Single, Staring to the Sun (Sympathy for the Record Industry)

Guest contributions

• 1999: Last Day In June, an independent track from the band Honey To Ash.
• 2000: Miss Ann Thrope, Track 7 on My Ruin studio album, A Prayer Under Pressure of Violent Anguish (Snapper/Spitfire).
• 2000: Make You Believe, an independent track from the band Messy.
• 2001: Iieee, song Jessicka and Meegs Rascón bassist of band Coal Chamber contributed a duet cover on "Songs Of A Goddess - A Tori Amos Tribute".
• 2008: Happy For You, The Ingenues iTunes single

Soundtrack

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

Filmography

• Ellie Parker (2005)

References

1. Chicago Music Guide Scarling. Interview -Noreen Sobczyk
2. Pelletier, George."Paying The Rant" Miami New Times feature, November 27, 1997.
3. Kissel, Ted. Manson: The Early YearsMiami New Times, January 21, 1999.
4. MTV.com1:MTV news March 22, 1999". URL accessed June 18, 2007.
5. Anthony, Todd. Miami New Times, July 07, 1993.
6. Baker, Greg. Program Notes 48 Miami New Times March 16, 1993
7. Henriques, Christina. "Big Things in Store" Miami New Times, July 07, 1993.
8. Baker, Greg. Miami New Times, January 5, 1995.
9. MTV news June 8, 1999
10. MTV news March 04, 2000
11. ^ The OFFICIAL Jack Off Jill - Website :: Archive :: Store
12. Chicago Music Guide Scarling. Interview -Noreen Sobczyk
13. Morrissey, Callye. Venus Magazine Issue# 26, December 1, 2005
14. ROCKRGRL magazine Vocalist issue featuring Jessicka
15. Curiosa Festival 2004 JULY 9, 2004
16. Hochman, Steve. Los Angeles Times -August 30, 2004
17. MTV news July 7, 2004
18. Vernon, Rebecca. Slug Magazine, February 2, 2005
19. BBC Norfolk review Amusement Parks On Fire/Scarling.December, 5, 2006
20. MTV news August 28, 2004
21. Finalists For The Shortlist Music Prize 08.24.2004
22. Shortlist Listmakers Longlists Listed August 5, 2004
23. Seaver, Morley. Scarling - So Long Scarecrow Review
24. Tucker, Carrie. Filter Magazine So Long, Scarecrow review
25. Scene Point Blank Review
26. Pettigrew, Jason."Less screamy, more dreamy."
27. Latecover, The LWORD music
28. Maeve Quigley, "Rocker ties Knot with Dita", Sunday Mirror, UK, December 4, 2005
29. BBC.co.UK Gig List
30. MessyMusic.com July 25, 2000
31. Chris Vrenna American McGees Alice MP3Download
32. The Ingenues
33. Dirge, Roman. Lenore: Wedgies. ISBN 0943151317. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
34. Ellie Parker cast & crew
35. LA WEEKLY July 30, 2008
36. "WHO SAYS COOLNESS CAN'T BE TAUGHT?". skope mag.com. 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
37. Wolfson, Julie. LAist.com "Lenora Claire on her 'Bettie Page: Heaven Bound' Art Show"April 30, 2009
38. Outstanding Bear Antichrist of MarkRyden Artwork June 12, 2009
39. Riotgrrrlonline Jessicka quotes
40. Rice, Boyd (1997), "Interview with Jessicka", Seconds Magazine, Los Angeles, California, p. 23,24 {{citation}}: Text "issuse#44" ignored (help)
41. "This bride definitely wears black"Los Angeles Times October 28, 2007
42. bridezilla "Weird Wedding Photo #5: "Amore A La Addams Family"

• Jessicka FAQ 2003
• Chicago Music Guide Scarling. Interview 2005
• JACK OFF JILL.com

External links

• Jessicka (Official Website)
• Jessicka @ Allmusic.com
• Jessicka at IMDb

• Living people
• 1975 births
• American female singers
• American rock singers
• Female metal singers
• Female post-grunge singers
• Female punk rock singers
• Feminist artists
• Musicians from Florida
• American indie rock musicians
• Italian-American musicians
• Riot grrrl
• Sicilian-Americans
• LGBT musicians from the United States
• Sympathy for the Record Industry artists