Monique Bingham, has been responsible for some of the most poignant, soulful jazz infused house music of the past 17 years. Her career began with the acid jazz band Abstract Truth in 1995 at Francois K‘s legendary Axis studios. The first single, “Get Another Plan” received international critical acclaim and was picked up by Gilles Peterson for his UK imprint, Talkin Loud in ‘96. The follow up single “We Had a Thing”, penned and performed by Monique is an indisputable soulful house classic due in large part to Matthias “Matty” Heilbronn’s infectious house remix. Once injected into the veins of the underground, Ms. Bingham’s penchant for painstakingly crafted lyrics put her in a class by herself. In addition to her work with Abstract Truth she went on to solo performances with Blue Six (“Pure”/NakedMusicUS) Sir Piers (“Don’t You Love Me”/CuriousUK), Studio Apartment (“Flight”/KingstreetsoundsUS), Liquid People (“Glance Look Stare”/MN2SUK) She has also worked with some of the house scene’s most respected dj/producers: Quentin Harris (“Poor People”/DefectedUK), Kerri Chandler (“In the Morning”/BiggasoundsUS), and Ralf Gum (Kissing Strangers/GOGO) named Traxsource’s #1 most downloaded song of 2008. Her writing also brought her to the attention of legendary dj/producer Jellybean Benitez who signed her to his NYC publishing house in ’08. In 2009 and 2010 she released songs with Karizma and Osunlade (“Good Morning”/R2US) as well as Phil Asher and Bah Samba (“Run”/Symple SoulUS) In 2011, Monique completed her first self-produced single released on her own imprint Biggasounds! You.Me.World was received with glowing reviews and championed by veteran taste makers Danny Krivit, DJ Spinna and Black Coffee worldwide.
2011 also brought Monique and her live band “The Bigga Sextet” to her many fans in South Africa for the first time. She was featured at the 12th annual Capetown International Jazz Festival in Capetown, sharing a bill with jazz heroes Hugh Masakela, Esperanza Spalding as well as soul legends Earth Wind and Fire! Subsequent dates at the South African Music Conference in Durban and performances in Johannesburg have reconfirmed Monique as one of South Africa’s most loved house artists. And if anyone had doubted Ms. Bingham’s consistency, the 2012 collaboration with Ralf Gum “Take Me To My Love” has solidified her standing as one of the most eloquent and enduring artists the NYC underground has produced in the last 30 years.
Biography