The Blue Dahlia

The Blue Dahlia, pioneering world-reggae band from New York City, blending reggae with French chanson, ska, tango, dancehall, and samba. Music where the TexMex diatonic button accordion sings, cries and grooves right alongside the French and English lyrics, which tell provocative and deeply intimate truths about life and love. Dahlia Dumont, Brooklyn girl with roots in the Middle East, has been songwriting since she was a little girl. Growing up amidst the cultural diversity of New York City, and with a growing fire inside her burning to experience the rest of the world, she went to live for years in Senegal and in France. There, her curiosity grew for modern-day struggles within Francophone communities, and for the music coming out of them. As a young woman, after working as a nurse for one year, she decided to drop everything and embrace what she loved and did best - writing and playing music. Dahlia's international past plus her own private inner loves and wars are the inspirations behind the music for her first major album, self-titled: The Blue Dahlia. “Dahlia’s music is charmingly French with a uniquely modern feel that can feel simultaneously fresh and vintage...It’s the perfect mix, just enough of the reggae rhythms, just enough of the allure of the accordion and Dahlia’s lilting and somehow also boisterous voice bringing it all together.” - Tim Daoust, Media Operations Coordinator at CNN, Composer and Voice Over Artist. From article in South Slope Times by Donny Levitt, July 14th 2015. The four other band members are, likewise, from around the world, and they bring their own history and culture to the music: Yoshiki Yamada, from Japan, plays bass, George Saenz, from the TexMex border, plays accordion and trombone, Diego Cebollero, from Argentina, plays guitar and Chris Hansen, from California, plays drums. Dahlia Dumont is the lead singer and ukulele player. There is so much meaning to the name, 'The Blue Dahlia,' it's impossible to say it all here. You'll have to ask Dahlia in person... Some of the French is incorrect. It is not on purpose, but it is true to Dahlia's French. Album recording credits: Previous band members/Featured recording artists: Hayden Gandolfi (cello for tracks 2 and 9), Gabriel Richards (background vocals for tracks 4 and 6), ElaNEF (beatbox for track 10), Translucent (emcee for track 10), Octavia Romano (guitar for track 10). George Saenz: Co-arranger and musical director. Background vocals on tracks 3, 5 and 11. Keys on tracks 1, 3, 10 and 11. Acoustic guitar on tracks 4 and 8. Yoshiki Yamada: Co-Musical director. Daniel Alba: mixing and recording engineer (for only vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar, trombone, upright bass and keys) for tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8. Mixing and partial vocal recording for track 5. Jason Ewald: mixing and recording engineer for tracks 2, 7, 9 and 11. Partial vocal and full instrumentation recording for track 5. Recording engineer (for only drums, electric bass and electric guitar) for tracks 1, 3, 4 and 6). Kevin Augsburg: recording engineer for track 10. Luis Herrera of Masterhead Lab Mastering: mixing for track 10; Mastering for all tracks (1-11). Vocal producers: Daniel Alba (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8); Jason Ewald (tracks 2, 5, 7, 9, 11); Kevin Augsburg (track 10) Erica Mancini (track 1). Producer: Dahlia Dumont. *The Blue Dahlia band members each made essential creative contributions to every track on this album. Thomas Javery: Cover photo, artwork, graphic design. ElaNEF: Graffiti text. Rosemary Lussier: Hair and make-up.