Swahili Blonde

Band

Swahili Blonde

Origin| Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres| Alternative rock, experimental rock, art rock, afrobeat, worldbeat
Years active| 2009–present
Labels| Manimal Vinyl
Neurotic Yell
Members| Nicole Turley
Laena Geronimo (Myers-Ionita)
Dante Adrian White-Aliano
Arianna Basco
Heather Cvar
Website| www.neuroticyellrecords.com/artists/swahili-blonde/
www.myspace.com/swahiliblonde

Swahili Blonde is an experimental musical project formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009. Founded by former WEAVE! drummer and vocalist Nicole Turley, violinist and bassist Laena Myers-Ionita, Duran Duran bassist John Taylor and multi-instrumentalists Stella Mozgawa and Michael Quinn. Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and Turley's now ex-husband, John Frusciante, performs guitar on the band's recordings, and did perform alongside the group at their debut performance, while he was briefly a full-time band member.[1]

Swahili Blonde is signed to Manimal Vinyl. They made their live debut at The Echo Club in Los Angeles on July 10, 2010.[2] The band utilizes disorientating chord progressions and obscure rhythms, with songs featuring a variety of instruments. The live band line-up features Nicole Turley, Laena Geronimo (Myers-Ionita), Dante Adrian White-Aliano, Arianna Basco, and Heather Cvar. The band also included Laena's father, former Devo drummer Alan Myers, until his death in 2013.

Swahili Blonde's first digital single, entitled "Elixor Fixor" was released on iTunes on December 13, 2009, with a second, "Dr. Teeth", released in March 2010. The project's debut album, Man Meat, was released on August 3, 2010, mastered by Aaron Funk.[3] Frusciante had previously worked with Funk in the collaborative group Speed Dealer Moms along with Chris McDonald.

In 2014, members Nicole, Laena, John, and Dante released a 4 track digital EP in collaboration with Bosnian Rainbows members Teri Gender Bender and Omar Rodríguez-López under the name Kimono Kult. Nicole wrote and arranged all the music and Teri wrote and performed all vocals, with backing vocals provided by Turley.

Although originally planned for a January, then November 2013 release, the group's third album, Deities in Decline was pushed back until March 2014, two weeks after Hiding in the Light by Kimono Kult, but has been delayed again until later in 2014.[4][5]

## Live line-up

[edit]

* Nicole Turley – vocals, percussion, drums, keyboards, omnichord
Man Meat recordings: cr-8000, handsonic, xylophone, bass, sitar, guitar, organ, mini-moog, string synth
Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink recordings: cr-78, handsonic, bass, sitar, omnichord, dx-7, mini-moog
* Heather Cvar – backing vocals (recorded "Watch That Grandad GO" and "Etoile De Mer")
* Arianna Basco – backing vocals (recorded "Watch That Grandad GO" and "Etoile De Mer")
* Laena Geronimo – violin, bass
* Dante White-Aliano – bass, guitar

### Other studio performers / former guests

[edit]

* John Frusciante – guitar, also backing vocals on "Red Money" David Bowie/Carlos Alomar cover, co-wrote "Tigress Ritual" (2009–2015 in studio, 2010 live)
* Stella Mozgawa – drums, bass, minimoog, string synth, also backing vocals on "Red Money" (2009–2010 in studio)
* Michael Quinn – cello, trumpet, drums (2009–2010 in studio), guitar (2010 live)
* John Taylor – bass and co-wrote "Tigress Ritual" (2009–2010 in studio)
* Alan Myers – drums, percussion, recorded "Watch That Grandad GO" Bauhaus cover for Man Meat bonus tracks (2010–2013 live)
* Brad Culkins – saxophone on "Zelda Has It", "Scoundrel Days" a-ha cover
* Adam Payne – drums, percussion
* Viv Albertine – guitar on "The Golden Corale [VAGENDA remix]"

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

* Man Meat (2010)
* Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink (2011)
* Deities in Decline (2015)
* And Only the Melody Was Real (2016)

### Singles

[edit]

* "Elixor Fixor" (December 2009)
* "Dr. Teeth" (March 2010)

### EPs

[edit]

* Covers EP (March 2012)
* VAGENDA Vol. 1 (May 2012) {Nicole Turley remixes}

### Kimono Kult

[edit]

* Hiding in the Light (2014)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Swahili Blonde Videos". www.neuroticyellrecords.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
2. ^ "Swahili Blonde (Nicole Turley and John Frusciante) to release a digital single later this month! - John Frusciante unofficial – Invisible Movement". invisible-movement.net. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
3. ^ "Man Meat out on 06th July, Dr. Teeth single out now on iTunes - John Frusciante unofficial – Invisible Movement". invisible-movement.net. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
4. ^ "Swahili Blonde". www.neuroticyellrecords.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
5. ^ "Deities in Decline | Swahili Blonde". swahiliblonde.bandcamp.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Myspace

* v
* t
* e

John Frusciante

Albums|

* Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt
* Smile from the Streets You Hold
* To Record Only Water for Ten Days
* Shadows Collide with People
* The Will to Death
* Inside of Emptiness
* A Sphere in the Heart of Silence
* Curtains
* The Empyrean
* PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone
* Enclosure
* Maya
* I and II

EPs|

* Estrus EP
* Going Inside
* DC EP
* Letur-Lefr
* Outsides
* Foregrow

Internet releases|

* From the Sounds Inside
* 4-Track Guitar Music
* Renoise Tracks 2009–2011

Trickfinger|

* Sect In Sgt
* Trickfinger
* Trickfinger II
* Look Down, See Us
* She Smiles Because She Presses the Button

Ataxia|

* Automatic Writing
* AW II

Collaborations|

* Speed Dealer Moms EP
* Hiding in the Light

Red Hot Chili Peppers|

* Mother's Milk
* Blood Sugar Sex Magik
* Californication
* By the Way
* Live in Hyde Park
* Stadium Arcadium
* Unlimited Love
* Return of the Dream Canteen

The Mars Volta|

* De-Loused in the Comatorium
* Frances the Mute
* Amputechture
* The Bedlam in Goliath
* Octahedron

Omar Rodríguez-López|

* A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume One
* The Special 12 Singles Series
* Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo
* Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far)
* Omar Rodriguez Lopez & John Frusciante
* Sepulcros de Miel
* Arañas en la Sombra

Related articles|

* Discography
* Josh Klinghoffer
* Flea
* Chad Smith
* Swahili Blonde
* Black Knights
* Stuff
* The Brown Bunny OST
* The Sentimental Engine Slayer

* v
* t
* e

Duran Duran

* Nick Rhodes
* John Taylor
* Roger Taylor
* Simon Le Bon

* Stephen Duffy
* Simon Colley
* Andy Wickett
* Alan Curtis
* Jeff Thomas
* Andy Taylor
* Warren Cuccurullo
* Sterling Campbell

Studio albums|

* Duran Duran
* Rio
* Seven and the Ragged Tiger
* Notorious
* Big Thing
* Liberty
* Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)
* Thank You
* Medazzaland
* Pop Trash
* Astronaut
* Red Carpet Massacre
* All You Need Is Now
* Paper Gods
* Future Past
* Danse Macabre

Live albums|

* Arena
* Live at Hammersmith '82!
* A Diamond in the Mind: Live 2011

Compilations,
EPs and remixes|

* Carnival
* Master Mixes
* Decade
* Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran
* Greatest
* Strange Behaviour
* The Essential Collection
* Singles Box Set 1981–1985
* The Singles 1986–1995
* From Mediterranea with Love

Singles|

* "Planet Earth"
* "Careless Memories"
* "Girls on Film"
* "My Own Way"
* "Hungry Like the Wolf"
* "Save a Prayer"
* "Rio"
* "Is There Something I Should Know?"
* "Union of the Snake"
* "New Moon on Monday"
* "The Reflex"
* "The Wild Boys"
* "A View to a Kill"
* "Notorious"
* "Skin Trade"
* "Meet El Presidente"
* "I Don't Want Your Love"
* "All She Wants Is"
* "Do You Believe in Shame?"
* "Burning the Ground"
* "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)"
* "Serious"
* "Ordinary World"
* "Come Undone"
* "Too Much Information"
* "Perfect Day"
* "White Lines (Don't Do It)"
* "Out of My Mind"
* "Electric Barbarella"
* "Someone Else Not Me"
* "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise"
* "What Happens Tomorrow"
* "Nice"
* "Falling Down"

Videography|

* Duran Duran Video 45
* Duran Duran
* Dancing on the Valentine
* Sing Blue Silver
* Arena (An Absurd Notion)
* 6ix by 3hree
* Decade
* Greatest
* Live from London
* Live at Hammersmith '82!
* A Diamond in the Mind: Live 2011

Related artists|

* Arcadia
* Neurotic Outsiders
* The Devils
* The Power Station
* Swahili Blonde
* TV Mania
* John Frusciante
* Dominic Brown

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Reportage
* Tours
* All You Need Is Now
* Duran Duran's charity concert at Villa Park 1983
* Making Patterns Rhyme
* Drum
* Eilean
* Yasmin Le Bon
* Amber Le Bon

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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