We are pleased to announce that Shlomo, the acclaimed British beatboxer, has been appointed as Artist in Residence at the Southbank Centre, Europe’s largest arts complex. By the age of 23, Shlomo has already done much to change perceptions of the art of beatboxing – expanding the possibilities of the vocal discipline that grew out of the hiphop scene.
As well as recording music with Björk for the Athens Olympics, and creating the UK’s first human beatbox choir, he curated the International Human Beatbox Convention, part of Southbank Centre’s annual Ether festival, in April 2007.
Shlomo was invited to become an Artist in Residence by Jude Kelly, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, after she saw his live solo show which includes beatboxing through a loop sampler as well as beatboxing and drumming at the same time.
“I’m excited and honoured to be here”, says Shlomo, “I see this Residency as an opportunity to challenge preconceptions of beatboxing, and boost its profile as a genuinely creative art-form”.
Shlomo’s residency at Southbank Centre is set to include a range of educational events, as well as a series of concerts entitled Music Through Unconventional Means. At each concert a different guest artist collaborates with Shlomo to create new and unusual ways of performing live. December 2nd sees Shlomo collaborating with folk stars Martha Wainwright and Teddy Thompson at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (see details below).
The nature of these collaborative concerts creates a unique atmosphere, as artists are forced to engage, improvise and perform away from their usual comfort zones. This creates a performance like no other – a special opportunity to see a side to artists that will not be seen anywhere else.
The series sees Shlomo set to collaborate with artists across the musical spectrum, many of whom you may not expect to see on stage with a human beatboxer. Other artists lined up for 2008 include Mercury-nominated drummer Seb Rochford, a special AV show with DJ Yoda, the return of Shlomo’s beatboxing choir the Vocal Orchestra featuring the Swingle Singers, and a whole host of world, jazz and folk music stars.
There are also plans to create the World’s Largest Beatboxing Choir for Southbank Centre’s Choral Festival in May, plus the return of the International Beatbox Convention as part of the Ether Festival in April 2008.
Music Through Unconventional Means Listings Information:
- Shlomo + special guests Teddy Thompson & Martha Wainwright
Sunday 2nd December, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 7.45pm, Tickets £15Shlomo, beatboxer and Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, presents an eclectic evening of music.
Singer-songwriters Teddy Thompson and Martha Wainwright will both perform solo sets before joining Shlomo in a unique collaboration.
More information on Shlomo:
