Lola Black
Jet black hair, black-rimmed eyes, sleek black dress, Lola Black is every bit as gothic as her name suggests. With a dark and compelling aura, she belts out metal melodies ferociously, a wild and sexy front-woman with a killer voice. And her name really is Lola Black.
(To avoid confusion, I will—from here on out—refer to the lead singer by Lola, and the band itself by Lola Black.)
Lola, a self-taught singer, has epic vocal prowess, and her stage presence is both charming and menacing. Lola Black has three guitarists, and together they interweave the bass line, melody, and harmony.
(To avoid confusion, I will—from here on out—refer to the lead singer by Lola, and the band itself by Lola Black.)
Lola, a self-taught singer, has epic vocal prowess, and her stage presence is both charming and menacing. Lola Black has three guitarists, and together they interweave the bass line, melody, and harmony.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Lola and her husband, guitarist Crispy Chris, a seasoned musician who has played in several bands in his time, before they performed at Rocklahoma. They were stoked to play, and couldn’t wait to get in the crowd for Slayer and Ministry.
Music is a big piece of their family; their fourteen-year-old daughter has already established herself as a drummer, and Lola sees her eight-year-old son possibly becoming a front-man for his own band.
Lola and Chris collaborate on lyrics for Lola Black, and Chris handles a majority of writing for the instruments.
Being married partners and band mates can sometimes prove a challenge for them, explains Lola. “The band will bleed through into our married life, and our married life will bleed into our band life.”
Chris adds, “We drive the rest of the band crazy!”
However, this is not a bad thing for this band, which has a notorious reputation as a party band. In fact, the very night before we spoke, Lola and Chris pulled a nasty prank on their band mates.
“So we got to the hotel first before [the rest of] the band,” begins Lola. “We went into their hotel room and took out all the toilet paper, all the pillows, all the towels. They had just gotten done with a ten-hour drive, so all they wanted to do was use the restroom, which they couldn’t do.”
Music is a big piece of their family; their fourteen-year-old daughter has already established herself as a drummer, and Lola sees her eight-year-old son possibly becoming a front-man for his own band.
Lola and Chris collaborate on lyrics for Lola Black, and Chris handles a majority of writing for the instruments.
Being married partners and band mates can sometimes prove a challenge for them, explains Lola. “The band will bleed through into our married life, and our married life will bleed into our band life.”
Chris adds, “We drive the rest of the band crazy!”
However, this is not a bad thing for this band, which has a notorious reputation as a party band. In fact, the very night before we spoke, Lola and Chris pulled a nasty prank on their band mates.
“So we got to the hotel first before [the rest of] the band,” begins Lola. “We went into their hotel room and took out all the toilet paper, all the pillows, all the towels. They had just gotten done with a ten-hour drive, so all they wanted to do was use the restroom, which they couldn’t do.”
In 2012, Lola Black released an album called Día de Los Borrachos, which translates to Day of the Drunks. Lola has a Hispanic heritage, and the band is considering recording a few songs in Spanish. “I am the most white-washed Hispanic I know,” laughs Lola, but she thinks it would be fun to explore that alleyway.
Having some Latin-influenced songs on their new album is something they’re considering when they work in the studio this fall and winter. They will be recording with the influential Bob Marlette (Rob Zombie, Seether, and Alice Cooper, to name a few), and can’t wait to set to work on a fresh record.
“It’s not titled yet,” says Lola, “[but] we’ve got three singles that we’re hoping to release soon. As soon as we get through the festival season, we’ll get with [Marlette] to finish up the songs.”
I look forward to hearing their new album and watching the world discover Lola’s epic vocals.
Having some Latin-influenced songs on their new album is something they’re considering when they work in the studio this fall and winter. They will be recording with the influential Bob Marlette (Rob Zombie, Seether, and Alice Cooper, to name a few), and can’t wait to set to work on a fresh record.
“It’s not titled yet,” says Lola, “[but] we’ve got three singles that we’re hoping to release soon. As soon as we get through the festival season, we’ll get with [Marlette] to finish up the songs.”
I look forward to hearing their new album and watching the world discover Lola’s epic vocals.
Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future. |