Dallas gospel drummer featured in national tour

by Tonya Whitaker of North Dallas Gazette

Tymeshia Lloyd performed as part of Tom Tom Magazine's stop in Deep Ellum.

Tymeshia Lloyd

Dallas’ Tymeshia Lloyd gained a little more exposure in her quest to become a well-known gospel drummer.

Lloyd and her band were featured in Tom Tom Magazine’s national tour stop on March 20 at Live in Deep Ellum’s Kettle Arts Building in downtown Dallas. Tom Tom – a publication that exclusively caters to female drummers – highlighted the talents of female drummers and female beat makers. Also on the bill were Dallas acts Catching Chloe and Beauty and the Beats and Black Cherry from the United Kingdom.

Thanks to a contact on Facebook, Lloyd was able to perform in the show. Although she was asked to perform the Monday before the show, Lloyd said the quick turnaround was not an issue.

“I sat down and picked music that fit my personality, and a tune that would excite people when they hear it,” she said. “The melodies and rhymes and chose would get people to hear me, to say, ‘Hey, this is me.’”

During Lloyd’s 20-minute performance, she drummed selections such as Glory Glory from New Direction, Unity by Queen Latifah and Request by Q-Tip.

In addition to her performance, Lloyd was interviewed by Tom Tom staff, took part in a photo shoot and her entire performance was recorded.

“They asked me about my future as a drummer, what type of music I liked to play and who I looked up to as a female drummer,” she said. “It was sad that I couldn’t name many female gospel drummers because there aren’t many of them out there.”

Lloyd said the interview, performance and photos will appear on the magazine after the national tour is complete.

“It is a great idea for Tom Tom to put this together,” she said. “They are taking the vision of highlighting the talents of female drummers and making it a reality. I was blessed to be a part of it.”

Read more about Tom Tom Magazine at www.tomtommagazine.com.