6 Questions with...Jesika Von Rabbit
The Queen of the High Desert shares her Green Bay origin story, the truth about those cheeky Grundles, and how she keeps her buzz going
This is the first in a series of pithy interviews with artists you need to know.
Suffice it to say, Jesika Von Rabbit is a one-of-a-kind artist who defies categorization.
The singer/keyboardist emerged from the Joshua Tree, California, music scene as the frontwoman of the acclaimed indie rock band Gram Rabbit, which released six studio albums from 2004 to 2013.
Keeping the Rabbit in her name, Jesika broke out on her own in 2015 to release her debut album, Journey Mitchell, a collection of dance-friendly electro-pop. She followed this up with 2018’s equally quirky Dessert Rock and numerous singles, from “Bombay Beach Bunny” to “Dog at a Human Party.”
“I love to entertain and get a rise out of people. I love the art of spectacle.” - Jesika Von Rabbit
JVR recently released the first single from her third album, due out in 2025, and has been making the rounds with shows in San Diego and Los Angeles. Trust me: You haven’t truly lived until you’ve witnessed Jesika Von Rabbit perform live. It’s like watching a scene in a David Lynch movie while on psychedelics.
Don’t believe me? You can see for yourself on Halloween night (a holiday custom-made for Von Rabbit) when she plays the Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown, California. Billed as “a night you will never forget,” you can enter for the devilishly good $6.66.
With that, let’s dive in:
What is your origin story? How did a choir girl from Green Bay evolve into Jesika Von Rabbit?
I came out of the womb loving music. My mom started me on piano lessons when I was six years old. I grew up as a child of MTV, and my mother was a professional singer. She played Mary Magdalene in a local production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and was in a rock 'n' roll cover band. They rehearsed in our basement. My dad would take me out on Saturday nights to see her perform. It all looked very glamorous. I moved to Minneapolis in 1994 and formed my first all-girl punk band; then I joined an electro-pop/rock band called The Minx. I was the bass player and lead singer. We were pretty great, actually, and made a small splash in the Minneapolis music scene. I moved to LA in the late '90s to continue my musical journey, and then to Joshua Tree. The rest is history.
Your music is quite eclectic. How does living in the high desert influence your art?
While living in the desert is a great place to write music and get inspiration, I believe my music would be eclectic no matter where I lived. I can't see a situation where I'd be producing innocuous, vanilla mainstream. I've always been a little different and still feel the outside perplexion of being slightly misunderstood, and so is the plight of many artists.
Your dancers, The Grundles, emit a cheeky, ‘American Horror Story’ vibe. Is that what you were aiming for?
I wouldn't pinpoint it to something as specific as ‘American Horror Story’ but definitely cheeky. I love to entertain and get a rise out of people. I love the art of spectacle, and my influences regarding the dancers run through a vast filter of different creators, from Fellini to Jodorowsky to Willy Wonka.
What’s the story behind your new single “Gotta Keep My Buzz Going”?
It’s about my beloved cat Buzz, who was hit by a car a couple of years ago. We were very close, and his death affected me profoundly. I'm sure many people can relate to the sadness the loss of a pet can generate. This song is about keeping his spirit with me and honoring his life, but it can also translate to whatever the listener needs it to be for them; something positive that keeps them going is the hope.
How will your third album, due out next year, differ from your previous work?
The lyrical content in this next album is extremely honest. It contains admissions of personal struggles, loss, and views of the world, but not to sound too heavy, it's still wrapped in whimsy and catchy hooks. I don't think I've strayed too far from my last album. I would say this album is a good mix of Electronic and Americana, and it works together because it’s coming from the same storyteller. My bass player, Lee Joseph, has contributed a slew of soulful bass and guitar riffs, from pretty acoustic to Sex Pistols-style electric.
Many ordinary people love Halloween because it allows them to get their freak on one night a year. Every day you're a colorful character who wears outlandish stage outfits. I'm curious: what does Halloween mean to you?
Halloween definitely brings out my witchy side. I binge watch the ‘Ghost Adventures’ TV show. I dig out my long black wig. I light pumpkins and burn sage. I ponder death and the dark side a bit more than usual and concoct some gothic black and white costume to don at my Halloween shows while performing an electro, Nina Hagen-esque version of Donovan’s ‘Season of the Witch’ or Warren Zevon’s ‘Werewolves of London.’ It's a wonderfully poetic time of year when the veil is thin and the spooks got you spookin’.
Great article! I didn’t really know her too well but now certainly intrigued!
Great article, Donovan. I've always enjoyed JVR's shows, and now I appreciate them even more. Jesika and Lee are an amazing creative team.