Lola Blanc | |
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 Blanc in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kandice Marie Melonakos[1] |
| Born | (1987-12-20)December 20, 1987 (age 37) Augsburg,West Germany |
| Origin | Fremont, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
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| Years active | 2009–present |
| Website | lolablanc |
Kandice Marie Melonakos (born December 20, 1987), better known by her stage nameLola Blanc, is an American singer, songwriter, director, writer, podcaster, and actress. As a musician, she has been declared a "rising star" byPlayboy,[2] and "one to watch" by Ladygunn Magazine.[3] Blanc co-wroteBritney Spears'top 40 single "Ooh La La".[4]
Blanc has appeared on such television shows asAmerican Horror Story: Hotel; she has also contributed writing forVice.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-foundedFatale Collective, an all-female horror filmmaking collective.[6] Their debut anthology short film, "Bleed", went toFantastic 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]
Blanc was born in Bavaria, Germany but raised primarily on a farm inFremont, Michigan. Brought up Mormon by aGreek-American father who was in theCIA and a motivational speaker mother,[9] she spent much of her childhood writing songs and performing as aventriloquist 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 trueLDS 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.
Lola Blanc has written songs alongside producers and songwriters such asSophie,Ammo,Fernando Garibay,Jimmy Harry,Jon Levine,TheFatRat and more.
Blanc originally co-wroteBritney Spears' singleOoh La La with Fransisca Hall and producerAmmo for her own project; the title was intended to be a play on her name. WhenDr. Luke heard it, he thought it'd be perfect for Spears and brought in songwritersBonnie McKee and J. Kash to rewrite the lyrics so they would better suit Spears andThe Smurfs 2.[13]
Blanc has made appearances on television shows such asAmerican Horror Story: Hotel andLife in Pieces onCBS; she has also acted in several indie features and shorts. In 2011, she played Green-Eyed Girl in filmmakerJoshua Leonard's movie,The Lie. In 2015, she playedThe Undertaker inMax Landis' online short "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling".[14] In 2021 she appeared in the feature filmVenus as a Boy starringTy Hodges andOlivia Culpo.[15]
Blanc appears as a "Former Cult Member/ Podcaster" on several episodes ofNetflix'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]
Blanc co-hosts a podcast called "Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation."[18]
Blanc has been photographed and filmed for a number of fashion and beauty brands, includingVera Wang Princess,Make Up For Ever, Pinup Girl Clothing, and Lime Crime Makeup. YouTube celebrity makeup artistMichelle 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 theInterpol music video for "Lights"[21] and theTiger Army video for "Prisoner of the Night",[22] among others; she is also featured in theLMFAO music video for "Sexy and I Know It",[23] as well as theLifehouse music video for "Halfway Gone".[24]
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