Follow
Gitiim studied orchestral percussion and music theory at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, was a music major at the High School of Music & Art and a member of Dance Theatre of Harlem's professional percussion ensemble, which toured with the dance company founded by Arthur Mitchell.
Her dreams of playing timpani with the New York Philharmonic were put aside when she joined her M&A high school buddy's punk rock band, Steaming Vomit—then it became all about "loud, fast rules!"
While living in Dallas, she played in and recorded with a number of bands including Paper Dolls, The Howling Dervishes, Model 12, Lithium X-Mas, Watusi, Tomi D & the Tropical Konnection, and Debutante.
She has backed regional artists Alison Rogers, Siri Lini, Laurel, Kimberly Jason, and Cindy Pruitt.
Other past bands include: Blu Ruin (Los Angeles), The Darcys (Los Angeles), Echoz (Houston), Saucerhead (Houston), Cold Fusion (Houston), Angels & Outlaws (Houston). Also, she recorded tracks for the Bayou City Women's Chorus holiday CD, Winter Lights, and performed for their holiday concerts.
Currently, in addition to working her day job—Production Office Manager at Alley Theatre, in Houston—Gitiim is playing occasional gigs with Fluff the Kat, laying down drum tracks for local artists, and working with a cover party band called By Request.
Besides her own viscera, G’s influences include:
Siouxsie & the Banshees, Stewart Copeland, Terry Bozzio, B-52's, AC/DC, Prince, Jane's Addiction; music genres like old school punk, dance/pop, techno; George Ballanchine (so much rhythm in his choreography, she feels), some amazing teachers (Claire Heldrich, Bill Gladd, Eddie Locke, Ivan Hampden, Jr.), and those colleagues whom she had the pleasure to listen to and learn from! Says G, “If someone were to ask me in which drummer do I see a reflection of myself or to whom I feel a connection, it would be Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the Foo Fighters.”
