| If you take the fire
of the most emotive gospel singer, the passion of the most infamous
soul men, and the poetic introspection of the “serious”
singer/songwriters and put them together, the result is the music
and artistry of Tim Dillinger.
Originally from St. Petersburg,
Florida, Tim was reared on the sounds of gospel artists such as
Andraé Crouch, The Hawkins Family and The Clark Sisters,
as well as the soulful sounds of Teena Marie, Stevie Wonder and
Chaka Khan. As Tim became an avid reader, he was inspired by the
masterful writings of literary legends James Baldwin, Ntozake Shange
and Richard Wright, which influenced him in his ever-developing
craft as a songwriter.
Tim began working professionally
at the age of 18, traveling and singing with Grammy nominated gospel
artist Beverly Crawford. That opportunity brought him further work
with artists such as Grammy nominated vocalist Táta Vega
and Grammy Award winning Christian artist Reba Rambo. Tim relocated
to Nashville in 2001 and transitioned out of the gospel arena and
into mainstream R&B. He began singing hooks for hip-hop artists
such as Nina Ross, Big Chopper and Kyhil, establishing a reputation
in the southern region. He formed his own multi-media company, Icon’s
Pen Media LLC, and began collaborating with producer Dale Babb (Juvenile,
Granddaddy Souf, Haystack).
In 2004, the world was
introduced to his work through his debut album, Love Is On My Mind.
Critically acclaimed in both the States and Europe, the album spawned
the single, “Can’t Help But Say”, which held the
#1 spot on London’s Jazz FM for two weeks. Tim traveled aboard
to promote the album and performed at numerous venues including
London’s infamous Hippodrome, dazzling audiences with his
four-octave range.
On the States side, Tim
was nominated for two Southern Entertainment Awards (R&B Artist
of the Year and R&B Album of the Year). He was also cast in
the Nashville production of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity,
which brought him rave reviews. His electrifying, standing room
only shows in Nashville have solidified Tim as one of the most exciting
performers on the scene.
Tim's brand new release,
The Muse, reunites him with producer Dale Babb and features collaborations
with Frank McComb and Daryl Coley. Musically, the album is a further
interpolation of Tim's influences, both lyrical and musical, and
his most introspective work to date. "I feel like this album
is a continuation of the realization of my vision. My understanding
of what that vision is continues to unfold, so each album is another
step in watching that process happen."
Ornamented with live
strings and horns, The Muse was created with his influences in mind.
"I listened to alot of Laura Nyro during the whole process,
so from her, I took a very earthy influence in what I was hearing
melodically. In addition to her, there was Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton,
Sam Phillips and Tupac Shakur, who all had very distinct sounds.
From each of them I found another facet of myself...so when everything
got melted together, I was grinning from ear to ear...because I
heard their influence between the lines."
Unpretentious and understated,
but overwhelmingly intense, The Muse is a magical experience, from
start to finish. Topics range from racism ("I'm Not Colorblind")
to the music industry ("Never Let Them Change You") to
spirituality ("Ode To The Muse") and, of course, love
("That's What I Feel", "You Are My Joy"). "The
Muse is a story...It delves into the areas of my life that I had
to walk through to find my core...the place of authenticity...where
the journey was no longer about trying to be famous or accepted,
but to speak my truth and to deliver it in a way that felt real
for me."
Tim’s unique blend
of vocal mastery, poetry, and the infusion of his R&B, soul,
jazz and gospel influences, prove that he is an artist with a vision,
determined to be a part of the renaissance bringing true artistry
back to the forefront. "I want to make music that I can feel.
In turn, that feeling translates to the audience and they find something
that they can feel and relate to in it." |
