Malibu Storm   -  Biography

Growing up in Los Angeles near Malibu Beach, siblings Dana, Lauren and Michael, who prefer to be known professionally by only by their first names, might have been mistaken for typical California kids with their blond hair, blue eyes and sun-kissed good looks. (The sisters are now in their early 20s, while Michael is a few years younger.) But their musical tastes and talents set them apart. "From the first time we heard the banjo and fiddle together, we were hooked on country and bluegrass music," Dana says. "We have loved playing it ever since."

Dana's love for the music began the day she found her father's old banjo in the garage, lying dormant since his college days. "Right away, I fell in love with the sound and started learning to play," she says. "Lauren saw how much fun I was having with the banjo and wanted to join in." But like many identical twins, Lauren wanted to be slightly different. "I wanted to learn an instrument, so we could play together," says Lauren, "but not the same as Dana, and I came up with the fiddle."

Before reaching the age of 14, Dana and Lauren began winning banjo and fiddle competitions. Before long, Michael joined them on bass. They attended school during the week and played music festivals on weekends. An early supporter and fan was bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, who was impressed by their mellifluous vocals and spirited picking and bowing style. Starting when they were 15, Stanley invited Lauren and Dana to perform as his special guest on many performances. In 1996, the band self-released their debut album Duality. A mix of Cajun, country and traditional bluegrass, it featured the song "Waterbound," which stayed on the bluegrass charts for 15 months.

Produced by Mark Bright (Rascal Flatts, Jo Dee Messina), recorded at Nashville's Emerald Studio and released on Rounder Records, the band's self-titled album boasts a contemporary country sound. While their roots run deep in traditional bluegrass, the siblings' tastes run to folk, country, pop and even heavy metal. The album's first single is a remake of Def Leppard's 1983 hit "Photograph."