By Noe Gutierrez
There are enigmatic artists and then there are paradoxical ones. The ultimate of the outliers is Jesika von Rabbit. JvR is the desert’s kaleidoscopic mortal. Look through her lens and you will fall through the rabbit hole of artistic expression; the writing and performance of her music and the presentation of her visual concepts will mobilize you to join the ‘Jesikult’.
JvR has two shows this weekend, Friday 11/22 at The Alibi 369 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA and Saturday 11/23 at Pour House in Oceanside, CA performing for the first time with ‘Retro Psychedelic Quality Boogie’ Rockers Black Magic Flower Power.
Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with JvR to seek an update.
CVW: What’s new with JvR? New music? Shows and beyond?
JvR: “I’m really excited about some singles I have coming out. I just shot a Christmas video by multi-award winning director, writer producer Jessica Janos (Prettyface, Suburban Swingers Club, Seduced) for my cover of Elvis’s Blue Christmas. This is a trippy one with a psychedelic dreamscape, adorned with hand-selected and authentic Joshua Tree weirdos. I haven’t released a Christmas song/video since Gram Rabbit’s California Christmas in 2009 and it feels great to finally follow that up.”
CVW: You are celebrated for your visual concepts as well as your music and you seem to continuously stretch out of your artistic comfort zone.
JvR: “I’m also sitting on a couple of other videos/singles. One is a duet with singer-songwriter Kirkpatrick Thomas of Los Angeles-based Psychedelic Rock group, Spindrift. We’re performing Don’t Fence Me In for a documentary that’s being produced about the life of Cole Porter.”
CVW: You’re doing a fundraiser through your website
jesikavonrabbit.com. Tell us about that.
JvR: “The fundraiser is called ‘Fund-a-bunny’ and it is meant to raise money to make a video for my popular and fun-loving dance anthem, Dog at a Human Party. People lose their minds when I play this song and I am itching to get it out there. There’s plenty of fun perks for people that contribute, such as advanced download, t-shirt, a chance to be in the music video and a performance at your private party!”
CVW: You’ve cultivated so much success in your career. How have you been able to actualize your goals since you started this JvR journey?
JvR: “Goals? Goals are a bit of a trap. I work hard when I’m inspired and follow the ‘white rabbit’. I feel like Americans put a lot of pressure on themselves to always be accomplishing something, which I am guilty of, and yes, it does make you feel good but when something doesn’t pan out it can also make you feel like a failure. As I get older, I see the importance of stopping to smell the roses and enjoying life. Life is meant to be enjoyed! I love performing, writing and shooting videos and will continue to, but also let myself off-the-hook for not meeting certain expectations put on myself in the past.”
CVW: What more is in store for JvR in 2020? Do you even plan that far ahead?
JvR: “More shows, more videos, more hijinks!”
CVW: You and Jason Nutter recently released a great ‘wide open space’ Americana song called Joshua Tree that you collaborated on. The video is mysteriously conceptive too. Tell us about your musical bond with Jason Nutter?
JvR: “Jason is a really great human and our voices harmonize beautifully together. I helped arrange Joshua Tree. Jessica Janos shot the video and it just won ‘Best Music Video’ at the Yucca Valley Film Festival. When Jason asked me to collaborate, of course, I said yes without any grand expectations, but magic happened and the song came out like a ‘Deserty Velvet Cake’!”
CVW: Will we see more joint efforts from you two?
JvR: “You can expect to see more collaborations from us in the future and we have two upcoming shows. We will be singing some Christmas songs, other covers and originals on Friday, Dec. 13th at The Reef in Palm Springs and on Friday, Dec. 20th at Taylor Junction in Joshua Tree.”
CVW: You’ll be performing with Black Magic Flower Power this Friday at The Alibi and Saturday in Oceanside. What do you know about their sound? It seems like a match made in heaven when I think further about it.
JvR: “I have yet to see BMFP but yes I agree, this is a good match, we both seem to have a fun and freaky sensibility. This will be our premiere performance at a new venue, The Alibi in downtown Palm Springs on a Friday night. More shows are in the works with BMFP and JvR for 2020!”
Keep up to date on JvR at her website
Upcoming Shows
Fri. 11/22 – The Alibi – Palm Springs, CA (w/ BMFP)
Sat. 11/23 – Pour House – Oceanside, CA (w/ BMFP)
Fri. 12/13 – Christmas show with a special set by Jesika, Jason Nutter and friends, The Reef – Palm Springs, CA
Friday, 12/20 – ‘A Very Deserty Christmas Potluck’ show with Jesika, Jason Nutter and friends – Taylor Junction – Joshua Tree, CA
