Today we’d like to introduce you to Dia Frampton.
Hi Dia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I became interested in music at a very young age, and when I was 14, I started a band with my older sister, Meg. We’ve been playing music ever since… I guess you can say that I’m a testament that art is a marathon, not a sprint.
Meg and I went on to name our musical act “Meg & Dia,” and we spent our teens and early twenties touring across America with bands like “The Fray,” “Angels & Airwaves,” “The Plain White T’s,” and “Warped Tour.”
I think my life has been led by curiosity. That’s how I got into music and acting and now screenwriting. I’ve always had a desire to be a storyteller so it didn’t necessarily matter which way the story was told.
In my early twenties, I started taking film class as well as improv at UCB and The Groundlings. I love Los Angeles because if you are curious about something, no matter how random it is, there is always a place for you to go. I still study film, acting and improv in LA.
I think a big that opened a lot of doors for me to was my time on NBC’s The Voice. I was lucky enough to work with the amazingly talented (and very kind-hearted) Blake Shelton. After The Voice, I had the opportunity to work with a lot of great music producers and writers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my biggest struggles often come from within. Yes, the entertainment industry is very tough, but I’ve always had a hard time with my inner voices. It’s hard when someone tells you no, but it’s even more difficult when you yourself say, “it can’t be done,” before you even get the chance to be rejected by the outside world.
Imposter syndrome is a big one for me. I also often feel that time is running out. One of my favorite Hamilton songs says, “Why do you write like you’re running out of time?” I often feel this. I feel like there’s so much inside of me… so much I want to say, that I’m anxious about not getting it all out. I constantly overwork myself because I hear that ticking clock, always. It’s a need for me, really. I need to say what I need to say, and maybe one morning it’s through song, and the next, it’s through a screenplay or through someone else’s words. I like to learn monologues and infuse them with my own current state of mind. It’s pretty wonderful how a story written a long time ago, like “The Seagull,” can come to life in what you’re currently going through.
Of course, there are external struggles. I’ve been rejected so many times in this business. Hearing “no” is just a small part of it, but just because I’m used to it, and in a sense, almost expecting it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. The biggest challenge is to be able to get up the next morning, shrug it off, and try again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I write and perform in a band with my sister called “Meg & Dia.” I also write songs for other artists and for film and TV. I’ve written for a lot of dance producers and EDM artists as well, including Illenium, Kaskade, Blanke, and Jason Ross.
I am most proud of my music with my sister, Meg, as well as another music project I did with my dear friend Joseph Trapanese, called “Archis.”
I am also very proud of the scripts I wrote during the pandemic. When I was locked away in my house and our music tours got canceled, I started to write feature film screenplays since I was tucked away alone in my apartment. I wrote a drama musical feature film as well as a pilot and Christmas musical. My biggest dream is to get these films made.
What sets me apart from others? Honestly, I think it’s just my tenacity. I won’t give up. I can’t. I always joke with my friends that I’m not the most talented but I am hard working and I am very, very patient. I’ll keep my head down, do the work, and be the last one waiting to be put in the game when everyone goes home.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Ask for help. I used to be so afraid of bothering people or annoying friends, but over the years, I’ve learned that asking for help can be a big strength, not a weakness. Opening up and being vulnerable to others has also allowed them to do the same with me, and I’ve been so blessed to see what an amazing community I’ve been lucky enough to cultivate and be a part of over the years.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: diaframpton
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/megdia?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSBHE9moyG8
