To develop the beat-boxing scene in India, Guinness World Record holder and human beatboxing champion Shlomo has initiated a project ‘Voctronica’ to create the country’s first all-vocal beatboxing orchestra. And the project grabbed the attention of young Indian beatboxers, who came forward for its audition.
The project is conceptualised by British Council and organised in association with Zomba. Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, lead vocalist of band Scribe, spearheaded the project.
About the project, Shlomo says, “Ever since I toured India in 2010, I wanted to create something new using the wealth of the vocal talent India has to offer.”
The project Voctronica will give top ten finalists an opportunity to be a part of a workshop in Mumbai, to be conducted in January 2012. The new ensemble trained by Shlomo will perform as the country’s first beatboxing troupe across India and UK in the first half of 2012.
About the beatboxing scene in India, Vishesh says, “Although the art has been there for the past one decade, in India, there is very little exposure and training provided to beatboxers, unless there are experts coming from other parts of the world and training them here. Beatboxing is a contemporary art and is connected to hip-hop culture. There are very talented beatboxers in India, but they need a platform to learn and hone their skills.”
Seconds Bharadwaj Balaji, a Chennai-based beatboxer, who participated in the audition. “I have been beatboxing for four years and have specialised in harmonica beatboxing, which is like playing a mouth organ and beatboxing at the same time. I think such workshops will help develop beatboxing interest in India.”