B…B…Beat Boxer
by S. Kenneth Shishir and Shalini
Beat-Boxing, a rare form of art, is becoming popular in city, with S.Ranjith Gowda who has performed at a number of occasions is attracting large crowds now in city.
Well, it has nothing to do with gloves and boxing, but yes, with a mike.
Beat Boxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one’s mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. An evolving art form in India, beat-boxing created a space for itself, particularly amongst youngsters, through online videos and live gigs. In contemporary pop music, the relatively young vocal art form of beat-boxing is an element of hip-hop culture.
Ranjith Gowda, a second year BBM student of Vidyaashram College in city speaking to Star of Mysore said that he actually wanted to be a drummer, but as the drum sets were expensive, he started Beat Boxing after being fascinated by watching it on TV.
He said whenever people listen to beat-boxing, there are two big questions that come up in their minds, What are those noises? And how are they being made? He said the truth about beatbox sounds is that most of them are just tweaked-up or combined sounds of the kind we use in speech, and nearly all the rest are sounds we could use in speech but usually don’t. Anyone can imitate a drum by making “tikatikatikatika poom poom poom” sounds. But when beatboxers do it actually sounds worth listening to.
He said that important elements in becoming a beatboxer are mastering when to breathe. This is a different situation than talking or singing. With so many explosive sounds pushing air out, breathing has to be carefully planned. Another crucial element is the proper way to hold the microphone, if you choose to use one. Different grips are used in the production of different sounds, and in some cases two mikes are used.
Ranjith said that Beat-boxing may also include body percussion as well as vocal percussion, depending on which definition one goes by. However, Human Beatbox defines beat-boxing ‘as the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one’s mouth, lips, tongue, voice, nasal passage and throat.’
Claiming to be the only Beat Boxer in city, Ranjith said that he has performed in Mysore, Bangalore, Tumkur and other places, and said that he would be performing in Mumbai next month.
Ranjith spends most of his days performing and during the weekend, he conducts beatbox workshops in city.
Having performed at college fests, Mall of Mysore and private parties, this talented youth in his early 20s has imbibed this art without knowing the ABC of music.
A Music Reality Show on TV, where in this fascinating art form was presented inspired him to learn. To gain further knowledge, Ranjith browsed and listened to Beat Boxing.
Rigorous practice has now made him the only Beat Boxer in city, thus earning him the name ‘Ranjith Gowda Beat Boxer.’
Beat Boxing was his favourite time pass and hobby until he first performed at the College Day function wherein he received a lot of appreciation and turned him into a professional Beat Boxer. Thus began his journey as a beat boxer.
He says, his big moment was during the performance at Dasara Exhibition which fetched him the ‘Best Artiste of the Year’ award and also gave him ample opportunities and kept him busy all the time performing at fests, restaurants, private parties and gigs.
Ranjith has also introduced his own new way of Beat Boxing with Harmonica and Flute in free style and has been given a direct entry to participate in India’s Got Talent Fifth Season for which he will be travelling to Mumbai in the month of November or December for the shoot.
In his advice to youngsters who want to be beat boxers, he said that one should not smoke or consume alcohol as one cannot perform with these addictions and says “Every experience you have is designed to make you stronger.”
You can follow him on facebook or watch his videos on Youtube.
In the realm of taking Mysore to National and International levels, he has stood out in winning the hearts of the crowd wherever he performs.
Ranjith is the son of Shiva, a businessman and T.N.Shantha, a housewife and a resident of Bannimantap.
Ranjith can be contacted on Mob: 89712-57704 or e-mail: ranjith.gowda43@gmail.com.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S. Kenneth Shishir and Shalini / September 10th, 2013