Now, India’s all-vocal beatboxing orchestra

Guiness book record holder and internationally acclaimed beatboxer Shlomo talks about creating the beatboxing orchestra with Indian artistes, and more…

How did the idea of starting a beatboxing orchestra cross your mind?
I toured India last year and collaborated with different Indian artistes. I met a lot of beatboxers there and British Council. I had a conversation about creating a vocal group… that’s where this idea was born. I have a vocal group in the UK that I’ve been working with for nearly five years now and this was a great opportunity to expand that idea to India.

What’s in store with Voctronica?
We’ll work with music groups to find out their talent. It’s going to be a really intensive workshop in beatboxing.

You’re collaborating with Vishwesh from Scribe (indigenous music band). Have you worked with him before?
No, but I’m really excited. He’s from a different background and has a really versatile voice. It’ll be a great collaboration. He came to my workshops in Mumbai.

You practice daily?
I make music everyday. I’ve kind of stopped doing daily practice and now I do daily writing, daily recording and daily performing. I’m always practicing on the job and trying to do something new.

How do you go about making music?
When I’m doing stuff on my own, I use the loop pedal to add harmonies and textures. When working with The Lip Factory — my beatboxing vocal group in England — I record myself doing separate layers and then I score everything out. Sometimes it’s with the guitar and the piano, I hum a tune in the way that most other singer-songwriters do. So it varies.

What does it take to be a beatboxer?
Good rhythm, good discipline, breath control, and independence. The main principle is being able to explore new ideas, play around with them, and fine tune them.

You’ve worked with many artistes...any favourite?
Working with Bjork was a major turning point for me, as until then I’d seen my beatboxing as more of a way of showing off than anything else. Performing with singer Imogen Heap, at the Glastonbury Festival 2010, was also fantastic!