Arrica Rose’s efforts as an artist have been fostered since birth. I mean Arrica did come from quite the family of performers. Her great uncle was signed to Reprise by Frank Sinatra and was a huge star in the Italian-American community. Rose’s father was also an actor perhaps most notably known for dying in a montage sequence in The Godfather. Arrica always would sing Frank Sinatra records to family and gravitated towards musical theatre early on. It was from there though that Arrica began drifting towards punk rock.
Arrica’s time in the all girl punk band UXBY proved hugely influential in her life. The DIY minded scene was intimate and interconnected with many shows held at venues like libraries and people’s houses. The local bar scene was something they played a bit but as UXBY were still teenagers, they would be rushed from the bar right after the set wrapped up. UXBY would get opening slots for bands like Jimmy Eat World and Hoobastank with the band eventually disintegrating.
Arrica’s journey then took her to film school where she set her mind on plying her trade in the world of cinema. Eventually it became obvious that many filmmakers were in need of music for their films. They would have to go to the music school kids for help in this area. The quandary though was that music kids were too busy with their own projects. Arrica stepped up in a big way to create music the music and it all culminated in a nerve wracking theatere showing. Rose carried in anxieties about the sound being poor at the venue but the film was received positively all around. Getting reacquainted with composing music and the positive reaction set Arrica’s sights less on filmmaking and more so on being a career musician.
Multiple recordings with her backing band “The …” (The Dot, Dot, Dots) have resulted in Arrica’s most recent offering. Low as the Moon came at a time of personal chaos but there was no rush getting the final product out there. The circumstances at play here created a varied, authentic album that Arrica can take great pride in. Arrica’s guitar rig and also her omnichord work were in top form on Low as the Moon.
Arrica utilizes a Guild, Dove, Gibson Semi-hollow 135, Telecaster, and Jazzmaster depending on what sonic textures are needed, guitar-wise. Her pedal board/ effects include tremolo, delay, blackstone subtle overdrive, and reverb on the amp. Rose’s sonic arsenal is complimented by a Fender Blues Jr Amp and an array of vintage amplifiers that were used on the last album. New Monkey was a studio that they recorded at. A boutique studio that Elliot Smith had a hand in building. One major departure with the last album was the fact that they did not utilize analog tape recordings.
Still though, Arrica doesn’t like too many takes and sees perfection as overrated. That mindset also materializes itself in how Arrica collaborated with the string and horn players. Strings and horns added many beautiful layers to the last record with Arrica maintain a certain confluence. To allow the players a free form element all while adhering to what she had in mind with each composition proved to be a bit of a balancing act. I found it fascinating that Arrica tended to write songs in threes but she isn’t sure if that’s grounded in anything tangible. Rose wonders if she’s just convinced herself of this notion over time. Inspiration is a captivatingly nebulous sort of thing.
Arrica’s aforementioned leader qualities also can be seen with her I Heart Inc efforts. It’s an organization she founded providing creative ways to give back and presenting artists with opportunities to enact change. Arrica’s selfless mindset of wanting to give back has attracted a lot of celebrity support, has resulted in multiple girls rock camps, and has helped foster an even more fruitful surrounding California art community.
Arrica continues to put the onus on herself to create positive outcomes. Not just for her own efforts but for the greater good of sparking local artistic expression overall. Arrica’s tasteful use of omnichord and textured reverb create dreamy vibes but Rose has proven time and again she turns her dreams into reality.