If there ever was a Cinderella tale in the music business, the story of Lola is it. Lola from Toronto, grew up knowing she always wanted to be on stage. Lola explains, "Unlike some, I wasn't born with a silver spoon or raised within a wealthy family and got it easy. I basically worked very hard and believed in myself and grew into being an artist all on my own."
Lola's magic and beauty is obvious - she is the genuine article, the real deal and she writes what she knows about and writes all her own music as well as Co-Produces. At 23, Lola's talent is already clear!
When Lola was 4 years old she would sing and dance around the house all day, she was in every school choir from kindergarden all the way to grade 8 then in High School she performed in every talent show there was.
She grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Celine Dion, Salt and Pepper, New kids on the Block, SWV, Madonna, LL Cool J etc
When Lola was 10 years old she started writing poetry and by the age of 14 she turned her poetry into Music and wrote and recorded her first song.
She is the embodiment of the twitter generation.
Lola gets the point across simply, gracefully, and most importantly, succinctly.
Her first single says it all - "Got my high heels on and my black mini skirt/ work it ladies, work it ladies/ flirt, flirt, flirt!"
Growing up with her number 1 fan, mom and her older brother, tragedy struck the family when she was 14. Teresa, her mother, took ill and Lola became her principal caregiver until her mother's ultimate demise, 9 years later,
March 8, 2009.
As could be expected, Lola was devastated and over the 6 months prior, she gradually receded into full time care for her mom, putting her budding music career on hold.
Her song "High Heels" was making the rounds among the urban scene and she was being wooed by two major independents. "I wasn't really in the headspace because it was just weeks after the funeral. I asked a friend to take care of it and they said I needed a lawyer."
Lola's signing to Universal is now quickly becoming legend, but its all true: Exactly one month after the death of her number 1 fan, mom she was signed to universal music within 24 hours. Shalinsky said, "While every deal is different its never this fast and I doubt it ever will again. This one will go down in history. Lola has the magic." Whether it was her mom divinely intervening, pure luck, or amazing talent, sometimes dreams can come true, and this one seems to be.
Lola is also proud to acknowledge she is the 4th generation Granddaughter of Josiah Henson who was the first black man to feature on a Canadian stamp he helped free thousands of slaves through the underground railroad he was also honoured by the government in 1999, there was erected a plaque designating Henson as a Canadian of National Historical Significance.
Lola is a special artist, who everybody can feel good supporting!
