monique bingham

Monique’s career began at an impromptu session at Francois Kevorkian’s infamous Axis Studios. Gordon Clay (a.k.a. Nappy G) of Groove Collective was working on a spoken word collaboration with Dana Vlcek, bandleader for Abstract Truth. They needed a vocalist to write and perform a record in less than a week. Gordon called Monique. The session lasted less than an hour. The tune was “Like Water.” Dana immediately asked her to join the band as lead vocalist and writer. 

She was indelibly influenced by the collective of musicians whose resumes included stints with the likes of the Sun RA, Chaka Khan and Lester Bowie. The first single from their debut EP was “Get Another Plan” released on Francois K’s Wave music label. The record garnished immense critical acclaim and was licensed by Mr. Gilles Peterson for his UK imprint, “Talkin Loud” in 1996. In 1998 Abstract Truth released a follow up single “We Had a Thing”, penned and performed by Monique. A soulful house remix of the tune by Mathias “Matty” Heilbronn injected it into the veins of the underground. Its inclusion on countless compilations, including “Body and Soul NYC” and Defected’s/Jazzy Jeff “In the House” has made it a bonafide dance floor classic and solidified Monique’s place in underground music history. She went on to write and perform “Pure” with Naked Music’s Blue Six in 2000. 

This was the first of her solo recordings and was an international success in serious set rotation by the likes of Louie Vega. Her first UK release, “Don’t You Love Me” with Sir Piers’ on his Curious label in 2002 hit No. 2 on DJ Mag’s Hype Chart. She officially had our attention. “Matty Heilbronn called me up in ’03 and said very succinctly, “I heard that song you did with Piers. 

 I’m jealous. Let’s make a record.” They did. “Go-Getter”, released by Papa Records in April 2004, hit No. 6 on DJ Mag’s Hype chart and is arguably one of Monique’s most eloquent tunes. The two have been collaborating ever since.