Kandice Marie Melonakos (born December 20, 1987), better known by her stage name Lola Blanc, is an American singer, songwriter, director, writer, podcaster, and actress. As a musician, she has been declared a "rising star" by Playboy,[2] and "one to watch" by Ladygunn Magazine.[3] Blanc co-wrote Britney Spears' top 40 single "Ooh La La".[4]
Lola Blanc | |
|---|---|
 Blanc in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kandice Marie Melonakos[1] |
| Born | December 20, 1987 Augsburg, West Germany |
| Origin | Fremont, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Website | lolablanc |
Blanc has appeared on such television shows as American Horror Story: Hotel; she has also contributed writing 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.[5]
In 2019, Blanc co-founded Fatale Collective, an all-female horror filmmaking collective.[6] Their debut anthology short film, "Bleed", went to Fantastic Fest and a number of other genre film festivals, also winning the Director's Award for Cinematic Achievement in a Short Film at FilmQuest.[7][8]
Early life
editBlanc was born in Bavaria, Germany but 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,[9] she spent much of her childhood writing songs and performing as a ventriloquist and auctioneer[10] with her mother and brother, who performed magic and escape art.[11]
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.[12] Eventually Lola moved to Los Angeles, where she now resides, to pursue music full-time.
Music and career
editLola Blanc has written songs alongside producers and songwriters such as Sophie, Ammo, Fernando Garibay, Jimmy Harry, Jon Levine, TheFatRat 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.[13]
Acting
editBlanc 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 Max Landis' online short "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling".[14] In 2021 she appeared in the feature film Venus as a Boy starring Ty Hodges and Olivia Culpo.[15]
Documentary
editBlanc appears as a "Former Cult Member/ Podcaster" on several episodes of Netflix's 2023 documentary "How to Become a Cult Leader."[16] Although her specific experience is not mentioned, she provides insights and analyses of famous cult leaders.[17]
Podcast
editBlanc co-hosts a podcast called "Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation."[18]
Collaborations
editBlanc 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.[19][20]
Blanc has also starred in a number of music videos; she plays the lead role in the Interpol music video for "Lights"[21] and the Tiger Army video for "Prisoner of the Night",[22] among others; she is also featured in the LMFAO music video for "Sexy and I Know It",[23] as well as the Lifehouse music video for "Halfway Gone".[24]
References
edit- ^ "ANGRY TOO". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Butler, Vanessa. "Femme on Fire: Lola Blanc". Playboy.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "We're Looking at You Kid! Ones to Watch". Ladygunn. January 25, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ "Next Big Sound: April 19, 2014". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- ^ Blanc, Lola (June 3, 2015). "Apparently, 27 Is Too Old to Be a Woman in the Music Industry". Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ Blanc, Lola. "Review: Fatale Collective's BLEED Is Proof That The Future Of Horror Is Female". Retrieved September 24, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Fatale Collective: Bleed". Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "2019 AWARD WINNERS & NOMINEES". Filmquest.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ Lazarte, Kalvin (November 11, 2013). "Ooh La Lola". MilkMade.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ^ Frederick, Brittany. "Music Talk: Get to Know Lola Blanc". StarPulse.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ "The Extraordinary Life of Lola Blanc". Ladygunn Magazine. October 28, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ^ Blanc, Lola (February 6, 2015). "I Grew Up Believing in a False Prophet". Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Lola Blanc Recommends Living "Like Beyonce"". Idolator.com. February 5, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Lola Blanc". IMDb. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ Venus as a Boy (2021) - IMDb, retrieved September 19, 2021
- ^ "How To Become a Cult Leader". IMDb. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "How To Become a Cult Leader: Everything You Need to Know About the Series". Netflix. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "Trust Me Podcast". Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "Soho Glam". YouTube channel: Michelle Phan. March 2, 2014. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- ^ "Color Explosion: Party Makeup". YouTube channel: Michelle Phan. March 23, 2014. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- ^ Woo, Kin (July 23, 2010). "Interpol – Beneath the Lights". Dazed Digital. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
- ^ Handley, Gen (March 14, 2016). "TIGER ARMY'S NICK 13 TALKS ABOUT 'V •••–,' THE BAND'S FIRST ALBUM IN NEARLY A DECADE". Noisey.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ Rogers, Mandy. "EQ Discovery: Lola Blanc". EQ Music Blog. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ "'Halfway Gone' music video". YouTube. Retrieved November 27, 2009.[dead YouTube link]
External links
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