Photo by David Studarus
She was the shy, cute singer with the soft voice. Next to gospel singers with booming vocals that easily won audience applause and wows from the judges, NBC’s The Voice contestant Dia Frampton seemed a little out of her element.
Then, on June 7, Frampton delivered a unique, stunningly haunting performance of Kanye West’s “Heartless” that left everyone breathless. Her manager Mike Kaminsky recalls the moment: “You felt the air get sucked out of the room, and everyone collectively gasped. And when she finished that song, you just knew her life was going to change.”
It has. KoreAm’s Y. Peter Kang spoke with Frampton about her journey from once being part of a sister band (Meg & Dia) with big dreams, to being dropped by their label, moving back in with her parents, and then her desperate effort to save her music career by trying out for The Voice. The singer admitted she nearly backed out of the show.
[ad#336]
“I actually went back to one of the people who was working there and I said, ‘I’m too terrified. This is not for me. This is not my place. I’m a singer-songwriter. I play in little coffee shops. Whatever I do play is with my sister who I’ve been playing with for a decade. … I need to go home, I’m sorry.’”
Frampton obviously stayed and overcame her stage fright. She finished second on the show, but became the first artist on the The Voice to have a song that cracked the iTunes Top 10, won a legion of new fans and scored a record deal. More importantly, those close to her noticed a change in her. “She’s always been afraid to perform, but [the show] finally gave her confidence to be a frontwoman,” Meg toldKoreAm. “She’s finally coming out of her shell.”
[ad#336]
To read this month’s cover story on Dia Frampton and check out the stunning photos by David Studarus, subscribe now and receive the October 2011 issue (a $5.95 value) PLUS 12 additional issues of KoreAm for $28. (U.S. addresses only).
