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.
Following on from the sell-out success of Shlomo’s Vocal Orchestra project in March, London’s Battersea Arts Centre have challenged Shlomo to create a new beatboxing choir in the space of only 48 hours. Shlomo will be performing two solo shows with special guests in the main hall on the Friday and Saturday nights.
‘Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra’, the world’s first ever human beatboxing choir, will be making their debut to a sell-out crowd at London’s Purcell Room on March 18th 2007.
The art of human beatboxing is one of the fastest growing trends in youth culture since the birth of Hip Hop. Since its origins on the streets of New York in the 1980s, beatboxing has morphed into an incredible performance art, with beatbox artists recreating entire tracks, and producing sounds unimaginable to the untrained ear.
The Swingle Singers is a vocal group formed in 1962 in Paris, by jazz singer, and Quincy Jones collaborator Ward Swingle. They have won 5 Grammy Awards, performing and recording complicated and technically impressive vocal covers ranging from popular favourites to classical music and opera.
Leeds based beatbox artist Shlomo became internationally recognised after his work with Icelandic superstar Bjiork was nominated for a Grammy. Shlomo’s beats were then used as the theme to the Athens Olympics, with the Opening Ceremony performance reaching an estimated audience of 4.5 billion worldwide.
On March 18th 2007, human beatbox artists from all over the world will be gathering at London’s South Bank Centre to showcase their crazy voice boxes. The all-day event is free to attend, with a combination of workshops, showcases, seminars and open-mic sessions.
On March 18th 2007, hundreds of music fans will witness a special performance of live music by Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra, performed using only the mouths, lips, tongues and vocal cords of 15 singers and beatboxers.