Issue 31: Karen Dió
Issue 31: Karen Dió
Welcome to The Band Bible! I’m truly glad to have you here. If you’re a new reader, purpose of this newsletter is to address, break down, and shine a light on the business of being in a band. Each issue, we do this by interviewing (and celebrating!) someone who is making waves through their incredible work with or for artists, or artists themselves. Learning the business of being in a band is something that is often inaccessible or shrouded in mystery, and it shouldn’t be, so I hope The Band Bible is able to play even a small role in helping to change that.
It’s so exciting to be kicking off November with the one and only Karen Dió as the interviewee. Dió cemented her powerhouse status during her tenure as the lead singer of Violet Soda through her ability to blend snarl, swagger, and skill in her vocal performances. After Violet Soda called time in late 2021, among the most fervent wishes of fans was that this wouldn’t be the last we’d see of Dió. Now, just shy of three years to the date of Violet Soda’s separation announcement, the world has received its wish.
Dió’s debut solo EP, My World, was released on October 25th via Hopeless Records. The EP is far more than just a marker of a winning return to music, though, for Dió’s own world has changed significantly in the time that preceded its release. She moved from Brazil to the UK, which therefore makes My World both her homecoming to what is clearly her calling and her first big introduction into the UK’s music scene.
And what an introduction she’s had.
Dió performed her first headline show, her first show in London, announced that she’ll be touring with Limp Bizkit, and took the stage at OVO Arena Wembley to support Sum 41 — all within just over a week. That whirlwind week also saw the release of My World to boot. Things are moving at warp speed for Dió, but frankly, it couldn’t be happening to a more deserving artist.
After all, My World is of a caliber that naturally lends itself to big wins like these entering the fold. Dió’s lyrics are diaristic yet effortlessly badass, a combination that serves all the subjects she covers on My World well — whether it be calling out someone for their misbehavior (“Poor Man,” “So Funny”) or lamenting a lack of sleep (“3am”). Each track serves as a fantastic vocal showcase for Dió as well, but what really feels like it ties My World together is its sense of unbridled energy. It’s an absolute spark plug of an EP, one that’s conducive to being performed in the larger venues that Dió is now taking the stage in.
With such a splash having been made through a debut EP alone, it’s clear that Dió has an incredibly bright future ahead of her as a solo artist. Her talent, passion, and energy leave no doubt that she’s here to stay.
It was such a pleasure to interview Dió amidst this transformative week of her career. Here, she discusses reaching simultaneous milestones, what it was like to begin a new chapter of her career in a new country, which “commandment” she’s leaving in The Band Bible, and more. Enjoy the interview.
Between doing your first headline show in the UK, releasing your debut EP, and supporting Sum 41, you experienced more career milestones in just over a week than some people will in their lives. To state it simply, how does it feel?
I'm over the moon, I have to say! I'm getting opportunities that I always dreamt of, so it's freaking awesome to see that turning real.
I've seen "fun" emerge as a consistent buzzword used to describe My World. In the spirit of that, what did you enjoy most about bringing the EP to fruition?
I think the whole joy of this EP was writing these songs with Matt (my husband). We had so much fun in the whole process...
You not only began a new chapter of your career, but did so in a new country on top of it all. What has that been like?
It's not easy and a bit scary, I must say... especially because I don't have a manager so I'm still doing everything myself. At the same time, it's quite freeing in a way, everything is fresh and new.
Have you discovered any unexpected joys of being a solo artist?
Zines, definitely! Making them, buying them... just love them!
Lastly, which "commandment" would you like to leave behind in The Band Bible?
Start with what you have and start now!
A big thank you to Karen for making time for the interview, and to Hopeless Records for orchestrating it! To keep up with Karen, click here for her Linktree.