Tiombe Lockhart

Tiombe Lockhart began singing at the tender age of seven in southwest Atlanta, GA. She later moved to Los Angeles when she was 12 years old. Going to high school in LA (L.A. County High School for the Arts) exposed her to underground hip hop shows and the sounds of artists such as Mobb Deep, A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Quik, RZA, and The Living Legends. Tiombe particularly became obsessed with Millie Jackson, Faith Evans, and Teena Marie because of their creative independence, freeing them from the “silly singer� stigma. So when it came time for Tiombe to decide on a college, she chose The New School University in Manhattan in order to develop her skills not only as a vocalist, but also as a songwriter and producer. In New York, Tiombe’s musical taste and style was further influenced by the burgeoning jazz scene. She was introduced to the sounds of Branford Marsalis, Betty Carter, Brian Blade, Kenny Garrett, and Sun Ra. She remembers frequenting Cleopatra’s Needle, Smalls, Visiones or catching a hip hop show at Tramps or the Wetlands (R.I.P.).
Since receiving her BFA in vocal jazz performance, Tiombe Lockhart’s musical background has expanded. Seeking more than literal content and melodies, Tiombe started drinking her morning coffee to the raucous accompaniment of The Buzzcocks, the muted driving rhythms of Suicide, and the campy plastic beach glamour of the B-52’s.
Merging her newfound technical savvy and the experience of leading a rhythm section with the multifaceted universe of her musical taste, Tiombe was able to experiment with different sounds and communicate her vision to her band. This combination of technique and connoisseurship led to the refining of her unique style.
Tiombe Lockhart is best known for her contributions to the Platinum Pied Pipers (PPP) album, Triple P, which was regarded as one of the best independent of albums of 2005. Triple P was also nominated for Album of the Year by BBC Radio 1’s “Worldwide� Show. Individually, Tiombe received “Worldwide� nominations in 2004 for “Don’t Understand� from Team Shadetek’s The Girl E.P. and “I Got You,� the b-side of PPP’s critically acclaimed first single “Stay With Me.� Tiombe Lockhart’s earlier releases include collaborations with her former classmate, Bilal (Universal). Their work together yielded “Mr. Johnnie Walker,� which was featured on DJ Spinna’s Suite 903 compilation and was later released as a 7� single for Giant Step’s Simply Good Music Vol. 2.
Tiombe traveled with The Platinum Pied Pipers on their sold-out US and European tours, playing Coachella, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Transmusicales (France) The Jazz Café (London), and even opening for the legendary Roy Ayers at New York City’s Summer Stage.
Recently Tiombe Lockhart has collaborated with Waajeed, yet again, on “The War LP� released on Bling 47/Fat City.Although Tiombe’s been labeled a smooth, neo-soul temptress, from songs such as “I Got You�, “Queen of Doom, her current self released project, will challenge the listener’s idea of who she is. Injecting her vision of the dark underworld of New York into her writing and production. Tiombe has created a robust sound brimming with contradiction, absurdity, and melodic nuances.
As anyone who has been there can attest, Tiombe Lockhart’s live show appeals to the eyes as well as the ears. Audience participation, a unique sense of glamour and fashion, offbeat, but well-rehearsed, gyrating and a tongue in cheek humor set them apart from your casual take-yourself–too-seriously, cookie cutter stage sensibility, prevalent in most artists today. Overtly sexual, flamboyant, and sarcastic Tiombe is definitely there to entertain you. Alternately sweet and sexy, sincere and crass, she’ll be pouring her heart out to you while demanding another scotch.
At once dark and poetic, oft times whimsical and ironic, Tiombe Lockhart’s music reflects a complicated, youthful soul whose expression leaves the listener wanting for more.