Naeemah

Naeemah Z. Maddox -Vocalist, lyricist, guitarist, composer - Born and raised in the Logan section of North Philadelphia, Naeemah grew up listening to a variety of artists. As a youngster Naeemah was greatly influenced by Michael Jackson, Prince, Diana Ross, Public Enemy, SWV, Mary J. Blige and WU TANG KLAN just to name of few. Naeemah was also classically trained on violin and Flute starting from age 7. Throughout Naeemahs school days she was constantly involved in orchestras and concert bands and smaller string ensembles. At age 14 she discovered her love for rock music. Listening to bands such as Chilli Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots, Metallica, Alice in Chains,Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, and Bjork, she requested that her father teach her guitar,and her mother give her voice lessons.Naeemah also found her love for musical theater and toured with a professional theater company, The Rainbow Company, from age 16-18. During this time she also formed a healthy obsession with composers such as Verdi, Prokofiev, Mahler, Danny Elfman, Trevor Jones, Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, and Return to Forever. Continuously composing, listening, writing and learning, Naeemah went on to study music at Temple University in both the classical and jazz departments. During college, Naeemah performed regularly at Philadelphia venues such as The Fire, Fergies Pub, Dr. Watsons, Tritone, Grape street Philadelphia as well as the Sunoco Welcome America Festival etc.
In 2006 Naeemah released her first studio album entitled "HARD TIME". These collection of songs have a great pop sensibility, soulful vocals and colorful chord progressions. Naeemah is currently recording her second album to be released 2008. During the past year Naeemah has performed literally from sea to shining sea at notable venues such as The Bitter End, Pianos, Kenny's Castaways, The Mercury Lounge, Fat Baby in NYC; World Cafe Live, The Northstar, The Trocadero, The TLA at the Filmore, North by Northwest in Philadelphia; and most recently at The Derby, The Whisky A Go Go, and Kibitz in Los Angeles. In February of 2008 Naeemah performed at the Roots 5th Annual Pre Grammy Party/ MTV Rock the vote event at the Key Club in L.A. Naeemah has performed on the same bill with artists as diverse as Seal, the Roots, MC Lyte, Doug E Fresh, Travis Barker from Blink 182, Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, Corrine Bailey Rae, and Bilal.
"I am always looking for new ways to challenge myself musically and intellectually. I will listen to almost any type of music and find joy in discovering new genres and artists. There is a vast amount of music and it never seems like there's enough time to listen to it all.....but trust me, I am delving in ear first." - Naeemah
Rarely does any singer/songwriter accomplish the fusion of R&B and rock so seamlessly and effortlessly. Variously compared to artists such as Alanis Morissette, Jeff Buckley, Prince, Stevie Wonder,and Tracy Bonham, Naeemah seems destined to create her own inimitable archetype.