Hailing from Los Angeles, CA, (by way of Tennessee) this post-mod quartet formed in August 2007 and consists of Jay Dawson (synth/piano/guitar), Frankie Siragusa (bass/vocals), and brothers, Aaron (vocals/guitar/piano) and Josh Ficchi (drums).
Born to a pair of traveling gospel singers, the brothers Ficchi spent much of their youth in churches across the mid-west. Living out of a 1948 Flexible Motorcoach, their family performed for years until finally settling in Tennessee. Upon being introduced to T.Rex, Pulp, and The Smiths; the brothers ventured into the secular world of nightclubs and honkytonks. After years of active involvement in the bible-belt’s less than thriving music scene, a decision to move to Los Angeles was prompted. It was there that they befriended Jay Dawson, who had recently moved from Tennessee as well. Having grown up just miles from the brother’s hometown, a bond was cemented and the three began searching for a bass player to complete the line-up.
By the suggestion of a friend, the three went to see a local musician, Frankie Siragusa, performing at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. Quite impressed by his ability and through a mutual love of Bowie’s ‘Low’ LP, the four became fast friends and the decision to move forward was in place.
Within a couple months, the newly formed ACTRESS began writing material for what was to become their self-produced EP titled, ‘It’s Not Like You’d Even Notice’.
Relying only on the trained ear of Frankie (having studied music engineering at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences in Mesa, AZ) and Jay (having worked at now defunct, Extacy Studios in Hollywood) the group cut the EP in a West Hollywood garage. The record was well received, quickly opening doors to many venues including the infamous Viper Room and Roxy.
Here's What People Are Saying About ACTRESS:
"Unless you had their bio right in front of you, you'd never peg impressive four-piece Actress as being from anywhere other than the U.K. And you'd have to be cheating to guess they're from Tennessee (Chattanooga, to be exact). The band's music has the stylized swagger of the BritPop biggies, sounding like a blend of Muse and Suede, with a little dance-floor verve bubbling underneath for good measure...if they are not already signed, with a sound this accomplished and charismatic it should only be a matter of time before you find 'em at your favorite record store." -Cincinnati Beat
"...Actress professes a love for keyboards unlike most bands since, well, those acts whom the group most closely resembles. Which bands, you ask? In lighter moments (of which there are few), Actress brings to mind the synth-heavy, Notorious-era style of Duran Duran; at darker times, the nihilistic, acerbic rock of New Order...proof positive that not everything from Tennessee is banjos and dirt roads." -Mark Sanders (Creative Loafing, Atlanta)
