Dahlia Dumont On The Gutsy Journey Of A Chanteuse With Her Band, The Blue Dahlia

The Blue Dahlia, left to right: Chris Hansen, Yoshiki Yamada, George Sáenz, Dahlia Dumont, and Diego Cebollero. (Photo courtesy of Dahlia Dumont)

Dahlia Dumont is sitting cross-legged on the grass at J.J. Byrne Playground in Park Slope. While she discusses her musical background and her band’s upcoming album release, her eyes dart to the left. She’s keeping a watchful eye on her 8-year-old daughter, Ayo, who’s playing quietly a few yards away. This is one of their local stomping grounds, as Ayo attends school at nearby P.S. 133.

Such is the multi-tasking life of this up-and-coming chanteuse.

Dumont was raised in Marine Park and Midwood but spent time in Senegal and France before returning to Brooklyn and setting up camp in South Slope. Her band, The Blue Dahlia, is weeks away from launching their eponymously named album and beginning a European tour. Dumont plays with The Blue Dahlia and her smaller Trio du Monde many times a week in local venues throughout New York and, particularly, South Slope.

Dumont’s musical style is challenging to categorize, which makes her music that much more intriguing. She draws her influences from around the globe, including Parisian cabaret, reggae, ska, Colombian and Mexican cumbia, and tango. Dumont sings in both French and English.

Her band members are as diverse as the sounds you’ll hear on their new album. Bass player Yoshiki Yamada hails from Japan, South Texan George Sáenz plays accordion and trombone, guitarist Diego Cebollero is from Argentina, the drummer is Californian Chris Hansen, and, of course, singer/ukulele player Dumont is our Brooklyn local.

The diversity makes for a unique sound. South Slope resident and musician Tim Daoust has seen The Blue Dahlia and Trio du Monde perform in different venues around the neighborhood. “Dahlia’s music is charmingly French with a uniquely modern feel that can feel simultaneously fresh and vintage,” he tells us. “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.”

In advance of the new album, we asked Dumont to share some background about the band, her world travels, and her Brooklyn roots.

Dahlia Dumont and George Sáenz in performance. (Photo courtesy of Dahlia Dumont)

SSN: What originally led you to Senegal?

Dahlia Dumont: I’ve always had a passion for travel. I studied there with the School for International Training and was exposed to the French language. Between Senegal and France, French became my adopted second language. Francophone culture and the sound of the language is a large part of what has influenced the band’s style.

What brought you back to Brooklyn?

After I gave birth to my daughter, I wanted to be closer to my family. There was stress involved with the move. I was in a relationship at the time where music became a wedge between us. My transition into a music career became a source of tension. But Brooklyn is my home, and my daughter loves it here. I began working as a school nurse with children who have developmental delays.

What about your native Brooklyn background? Has that provided an influence for your music as well?

Definitely. My family’s roots are both Eastern European and Middle Eastern. Those sounds make their way into our music. Our music reflects the diversity of the borough. We are interested in fusion, and that has been part of my upbringing.

Tell us a bit about how you got this band started.

We began in 2012. I saw George Sáenz [accordion and trombone for The Blue Dahlia and Trio du Monde] playing at Barbès here in Park Slope. George then introduced me to our drummer, Chris Hansen. We got together and recorded some demos. We played our first live show in April 2012 at The Fifth Estate. The band grew from there. It’s very important that each member bring in their own musical influences.

You perform in live venues throughout the city and in our neighborhoods quite often. You’ve been very successful getting so many gigs. Have there been any challenges?

We’ve had a lot of great opportunities to play in our area. In addition to The Fifth Estate, we’ve played at The Rock Shop, Olivier Bistro, and [the now defunct] Tea Lounge. We currently play a lot at Bar Chord in Ditmas Park.

We do cover songs, but it’s really important for us to play original music. We’ve actually lost gigs over playing way too many originals. We play a fusion of styles, and this has made it a bit harder to find a niche.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muvOxTdFaG4

How’s the band celebrating its album release?

The album will be out later this month and we’ll begin our European tour on July 30. Some of our stops will be in Manchester, London, Berlin, and Paris. We’re also excited to come home and have our album release party at Barbès on October 8.

What’s your wish list for this band? How do you want it to evolve?

I’m not focused on fame and fortune at all. I want to be able to live comfortably, provide a great upbringing for my daughter, and be able to pay the band for their talent and dedication. My dream is for us to be self-sustaining.

Visit Dahlia Dumont’s website for more information on The Blue Dahlia’s new album, as well as details about their upcoming tour.

About the author: Donny Levit is a writer, stage director, and guitarist. Donny is a news junkie and has covered stories locally and in Buenos Aires. He’s now a Kensington resident, where he lives with his wife and son – not too far away from his family’s Flatbush roots. His new book, Rock n’ Roll Lies, will be coming out this fall. He’d love to hear about your story ideas. You can contact him at dhlevit@mindspring.com and visit thelevitunderground.com.