Meg & Dia
Words: Vladimir Negron
Photo: Brian Topolski

Appearing:
February 5, 2008
Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale

February 6, 2008
Hard Rock Live, Orlando

Their names are Meg and Dia. They are sisters with an eponymous band, and their favorite song from their album, Something Real, is “Cardigan Weather.” This is pretty much the extent of their similarities.

Meg & Dia just came off a year of heavy touring in support of their album—recently re-released by Warner Bros. Records—and are looking to hit the road just as hard in 2008. Other than Meg (guitar and vocals) and Dia (lead vocals), the band consists of Carlo Gimenez (guitar), Jonathan Snyder (bass) and longtime friend, Nick Price (drums). While attending college in Salt Lake City, Meg was in a car accident and fatefully took the car in for repairs to a local mechanic, Nick Price. There, Meg not only found her future drummer, but also began to play guitar again and started writing songs. Many of these songs would eventually be released on Something Real through Doghouse Records, an indie label. Drawn by the band’s dynamic live show, and a unique sound filled with spectacular harmonies meshed with an alt-pop vibe, Doghouse signed them quickly.

“It’s kind of funny, our record label told us they signed the band because we don’t sound like we listen to other bands and try to emulate what we heard,” says Meg Frampton.

Inseparable since birth, the Frampton sisters have a bond and share the same passion: music. Music is also something they share with their father. A former radio DJ in Korea, he encouraged his daughters to make music at an early age and even bought Meg a karaoke machine and Dia a keyboard for Christmas; the girls eventually decided to switch instruments—lucky for us.

“Our family is very non-musical in a sense,” explains Dia Frampton. “We’re not the family choir band or anything.”

“Yeah, both of our parents are really supportive,” adds Meg. “Most parents want their kids to do something reputable. But our parents never looked at being in a band as some drug and alcohol-crazed group that would corrupt their girls.”

Apparently many parents, and perhaps even girls, think in this manner because there just aren’t that many estrogen-driven females rockin’ the stages right now. “I think it’s just based on a tradition that’s been around of guys being the musicians; guys are supposed to open doors for girls and guys are supposed to pay for meals on dates, and it doesn’t make any sense logically,” Meg infers. “In order to play an instrument or sing, all you really need to have are your two hands and a lot of drive.”

Chivalry aside, Dia thinks it’s because of the harsh conditions of touring. “It depends on the girls because most girls are fussy over certain things, like hygiene and whatnot,” Dia explains. Meg interjects, “And not to say there aren’t guys like that.” “Yeah, there are more guys like that now,” Dia laughs.

Despite this, the Frampton sisters are seeing changes now as more girls are breaking these stereotypical boundaries and joining bands such as Paramore and Maria Taylor. “We’re seeing a lot more of it today and I’m really excited about that,” Meg says emphatically. “Girls are so capable of being in a band, being a musician and touring.”

Being a “road warrior” is again becoming an essential tool for unknown bands to get more exposure. After releasing Something Real, Meg & Dia hopped onto the 2006 Vans Warped Tour and performed twice a day in the Myspace tent. After only a year, the band grew in popularity and was given more recognition for the following Warped Tour, but they’ll always remember a rough 2006.

“We would wake up at 7 a.m. and wouldn’t be done until midnight…and the stage, which we assembled ourselves, was made up of these six metal panels that were basically as tall as we were,” says Meg. “As much fun as it was, it was a lot of work.”

In spite of this, life on tour had its strange, yet fun moments. Meg explains, “The coolest thing that ever happened to me after a show was when these two guys approached me and asked if I wanted to hang out, and instead of going to eat somewhere, they asked me if I’d like to get my hair done, and it was around 11 p.m.! So we went to this salon and they opened it just for me and did a full-on hair and makeover. He gave me a professional haircut he said was worth two hundred dollars, and I thought it was the greatest thing ever.” She laughs, “Then I went back to the trailer with this nice hair-do and everybody else was sweaty and gross after the show.”

While not complete outcasts in the band, there are obvious boundaries the Frampton sisters are aware of. “I really notice that invisible boy/girl line when Meg and I want to get pedicures and all the guys are up until 11 p.m. playing World of Warcraft,” explains Dia. “Of course, it gets difficult sometimes with Meg too. We’ve had our fights like every sister clan does and we live together, and so we’re pretty much together all the time.”

Looking ahead, the band is enjoying their time touring in support of their sophomore album. As the primary songwriter, Meg’s influences for the songs on Something Real were mainly from literary works she enjoyed during her years away at college. There is a song inspired by J.D. Salinger, one by F. Scott Fitzgerald and still another by John Steinbeck. However, looking ahead Meg believes the band is moving in a new direction. “I think the literary influence, as cool as it was and being glad it worked out that way, was still just a coincidence,” she says.

One of the things that will always inspire Meg is art. “Art, not just literature, but pieces of art in a physical form, like paintings and drawings, and architecture or interior design or film, or even other bands.”

It’s refreshing to see a pop band that isn’t exclusively writing relationship-type songs. And after speaking with the Frampton sisters, it seems as though songs on the next album will never lack inspiration.

meganddia.com