Lola Blanc

Lola Blanc

Blanc in 2015
Background information
Birth name Kandice Melonakos
Born (1987-12-20) December 20, 1987
Augsburg, Germany
Origin Fremont, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • writer
  • model
Years active 2011 – present
Website lolablanc.com

Kandice Melonakos (born December 20, 1987), better known by her stage name Lola Blanc, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, writer, and model. She has been declared a “rising star” and “boudoir beauty” by Playboy,[1] a "funky pop songstress" by Vibe.com,[2] "one badass chick" by Refinery29,[3] and "one to watch" by Ladygunn Magazine.[4] Blanc co-wrote Britney Spears' top 40 single "Ooh La La" in 2013 and reached number 3 as an artist on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart in 2014.[5]

Blanc has appeared on such television shows as American Horror Story: Hotel; she is also a contributing writer for Vice.com, having written about a number of topics including ageism in the music industry and her experience with believing in a cult leader.[6]

History

Blanc was born in Bavaria, Germany and raised primarily on a farm in Fremont, Michigan. Brought up Mormon by a Greek-American father who was in the CIA and a motivational speaker mother,[7] she spent much of her childhood writing songs and performing as a ventriloquist and auctioneer[8] with her mother and brother, who performed magic and escape art.[9]

When Blanc was a pre-teen, her mother was targeted by a religious impostor posing as a true LDS prophet who played on her beliefs and lured her into his web. Blanc found their letters and believed in him too; she was temporarily separated from her mother, who was coerced into human trafficking until an accomplice who had a change of heart saved her. They were promptly reunited.[10] Eventually Lola moved to Los Angeles, where she now resides, to pursue music full-time.

Music and career

Lola Blanc has written songs alongside producers and songwriters such as Sophie, Ammo, Fernando Garibay, Jimmy Harry, Jon Levine, and more.

Blanc originally co-wrote Britney Spears' single Ooh La La with Fransisca Hall and producer Ammo for her own project; the title was intended to be a play on her name. When Dr. Luke heard it, he thought it'd be perfect for Spears and brought in songwriters Bonnie McKee and J. Kash to rewrite the lyrics so they would better suit Spears and The Smurfs 2.[11]

Acting

Blanc has made appearances on television shows such as American Horror Story: Hotel and Life in Pieces on CBS; she has also acted in several indie features and shorts. In 2011, she played Green-Eyed Girl in filmmaker Joshua Leonard's movie, The Lie. In 2015, she played The Undertaker in controversial filmmaker Max Landis' online short, "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling."[12]

Collaborations

Blanc has been photographed and filmed for a number of fashion and beauty brands, including Vera Wang Princess, Make Up For Ever, Pinup Girl Clothing, and Lime Crime Makeup. YouTube celebrity makeup artist Michelle Phan has used several of Blanc's songs (Shangri-La, April Fools, and Bad Tattoo) in her tutorial videos.[13][14]

Blanc has also starred in a number of music videos; she plays the lead role in the Interpol music video for "Lights"[15] and the Tiger Army video for "Prisoner of the Night,"[16] among others; she is also featured in the LMFAO music video for "Sexy and I Know It",[17] as well as the Lifehouse music video for "Halfway Gone."[18]

References

  1. ↑ Butler, Vanessa. "Femme on Fire: Lola Blanc". Playboy.com. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  2. ↑ "Lola Blanc Has The Perfect Song For Broke People Who Want To Be 'Like Beyoncé'". Vibe.com. 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  3. ↑ Manders, Hayden. "Lola Blanc's New Video is Sweeter Than Candy". Refinery29. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  4. ↑ "We're Looking at You Kid! Ones to Watch". Ladygunn. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  5. ↑ "Next Big Sound: April 19, 2014". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  6. ↑ Blanc, Lola. "Apparently, 27 Is Too Old to Be a Woman in the Music Industry". Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  7. ↑ Lazarte, Kalvin (November 11, 2013). "Ooh La Lola". MilkMade.com. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  8. ↑ Frederick, Brittany. "Music Talk: Get to Know Lola Blanc". StarPulse.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  9. ↑ "The Extraordinary Life of Lola Blanc". Ladygunn Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  10. ↑ Blanc, Lola (2015-02-06). "I Grew Up Believing in a False Prophet". Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  11. ↑ "Lola Blanc Recommends Living "Like Beyonce"". Idolator.com. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  12. ↑ "Lola Blanc - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  13. ↑ "Soho Glam". YouTube channel: Michelle Phan. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  14. ↑ "Color Explosion: Party Makeup". YouTube channel: Michelle Phan. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  15. ↑ Woo, Kin. "Interpol – Beneath the Lights". Dazed Digital. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  16. ↑ Handley, Gen. "TIGER ARMY'S NICK 13 TALKS ABOUT 'V •••–,' THE BAND'S FIRST ALBUM IN NEARLY A DECADE". Noisey.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  17. ↑ Rogers, Mandy. "EQ Discovery: Lola Blanc". EQ Music Blog. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  18. ↑ "'Halfway Gone' music video". Retrieved 2009-11-27.
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