Shlomo (human beatbox)
Encyclopedia
Simon Shlomo Kahn (Shlomo) is a British beatboxing
artist.
and German
descent and grew up in the village of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
. He can speak Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic; he is a classically trained percussionist and a jazz drummer.
His original beatboxing techniques include his 2-mic trancebox routine. He is one of the key people behind the global beatbox portal humanbeatbox.com. He and Björk
performed Oceania
at the opening ceremony of the Athens
of the 2004 Summer Olympics
. The song Oceania
was commissioned by the Olympic Games Committee and heard by 3.9 billion people around the world making Shlomo one of the most-heard beatboxers in history (although most would not have realised that the drum sounds were vocal). The performance was nominated for a Grammy Award
. He has also worked with artists such as Martha Wainwright
, DJ Yoda
, Mad Professor
, Mr Scruff, Nitin Sawhney
and Foreign Beggars
.
Shlomo toured the UK, Europe and Canada with London hip hop act Foreign Beggars
, before making a solo appearance on Later... with Jools Holland in late 2005. In 2006, after an appearance on the Radio 1
Rap Show, hip hop DJ Tim Westwood
named Shlomo the 'Harry Potter of beatbox'. Following a performance at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall
concert hall, he became Artist in Residence at the South Bank Centre
in 2007. He has also run his own collaborative concert series Music Through Unconventional Means 2007-9. Shlomo has performed at festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival
, Glastonbury
, Bestival
, Womad, Latitude
, Oxegen
Ireland, and the Lovebox
. At The Big Chill
festival he appeared as a guest of Nightmares on Wax
in 2006, with his Vocal Orchestra in 2007, as a guest of the Mighty Boosh in 2008, and as a cameo with Hexstatic
in 2009. At Glastonbury 2007 Shlomo performed a live version of A Message to You, Rudy
accompanying Terry Hall
and Lynval Golding
from The Specials
with Damon Albarn
on piano.
In 2007, he put together the world's first beatboxing choir, the Vocal Orchestra, to headline at the International Beatbox Convention. The Vocal Orchestra went on to perform at the Big Chill Festival and on the Park Stage at Glastonbury 2008, where Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra performed a two-hour set with several guest appearances including Martina Topley-Bird
, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Reverend and the Makers
, Portico Quartet
, Lemn Sissay
, Ed Harcourt
and Pete Lockett
. In 2009, Shlomo worked with BBC Blast to promote beatboxing to young people. At the 2009 Latitude Festival
he collaborated with Jarvis Cocker
as part of the Cape Farewell
presentation, performing Purple Haze
. At Glastonbury in 2009 and 2010 he performed with vocal artist Imogen Heap
.
In May 2011, he performed at the Red Bull BC Cypher B-Boy Championships in the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Beatboxing
Beatboxing 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. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
artist.
Background and career
Shlomo is of Israeli, IraqiIraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
descent and grew up in the village of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
Bourne End is a village predominantly in the parish of Wooburn and Bourne End, but also in the parish of Little Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated close to the border with Berkshire, near where the River Wye meets the River Thames...
. He can speak Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic; he is a classically trained percussionist and a jazz drummer.
His original beatboxing techniques include his 2-mic trancebox routine. He is one of the key people behind the global beatbox portal humanbeatbox.com. He and Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
performed Oceania
Oceania (song)
"Oceania" is a song by Icelandic singer Björk. It was formerly planned to be the first single release from Björk's Medúlla album. Later it was just released as a promo. It was written for the 2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, where she performed immediately following the Parade of Nations...
at the opening ceremony of the Athens
2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games was held on August 13, 2004 at the Olympic Stadium in Maroussi, Greece, a suburb of Athens. 72,000 spectators attended the event, with approximately 15,000 athletes from 202 countries participating in the ceremony as well...
of the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. The song Oceania
Oceania (song)
"Oceania" is a song by Icelandic singer Björk. It was formerly planned to be the first single release from Björk's Medúlla album. Later it was just released as a promo. It was written for the 2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, where she performed immediately following the Parade of Nations...
was commissioned by the Olympic Games Committee and heard by 3.9 billion people around the world making Shlomo one of the most-heard beatboxers in history (although most would not have realised that the drum sounds were vocal). The performance was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. He has also worked with artists such as Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle...
, DJ Yoda
DJ Yoda
Duncan Beiny , better known as DJ Yoda, is a hip hop turntablist who uses samples to create a cartoony musical style.-Biography:From 1995 to 1998, he studied English and American literature at the University of Warwick...
, Mad Professor
Mad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
, Mr Scruff, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
and Foreign Beggars
Foreign Beggars
Foreign Beggars are a critically acclaimed British Hip Hop, Grime and Dubstep group based in London. The group consists of MCs Orifice Vulgatron, Metropolis, producer Dag Nabbit and DJ Nonames and are renowned for their eclectic and energetic live shows...
.
Shlomo toured the UK, Europe and Canada with London hip hop act Foreign Beggars
Foreign Beggars
Foreign Beggars are a critically acclaimed British Hip Hop, Grime and Dubstep group based in London. The group consists of MCs Orifice Vulgatron, Metropolis, producer Dag Nabbit and DJ Nonames and are renowned for their eclectic and energetic live shows...
, before making a solo appearance on Later... with Jools Holland in late 2005. In 2006, after an appearance on the Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Rap Show, hip hop DJ Tim Westwood
Tim Westwood
Timothy Westwood is an English DJ and presenter of radio and television. He also presents the UK version of the MTV show Pimp My Ride...
named Shlomo the 'Harry Potter of beatbox'. Following a performance at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
concert hall, he became Artist in Residence at the South Bank Centre
South Bank Centre
Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues in London, UK, on the South Bank of the River Thames between County Hall and Waterloo Bridge. It comprises three main buildings , and is Europe’s largest centre for the arts. It attracts more than three million visitors annually...
in 2007. He has also run his own collaborative concert series Music Through Unconventional Means 2007-9. Shlomo has performed at festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
, Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
, Womad, Latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
, Oxegen
Oxegen
Oxegen is an annual music festival in Ireland held since 2004, sponsored by Heineken. As of 2007, 2008, 2009, the festival has been cited as Ireland's biggest music festival. And by 2009, the festival is cited as the greenest festival, being a 100% carbon neutral event in Ireland. It was previously...
Ireland, and the Lovebox
Lovebox Festival
Lovebox is a three-day music festival held in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London. The event has been running since 2002 and was founded by DJs Groove Armada...
. At The Big Chill
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
festival he appeared as a guest of Nightmares on Wax
Nightmares on Wax
George Evelyn, better known as Nightmares on Wax and also known as DJ EASE , is a DJ from Leeds, UK. His music is released on Warp Records and was one of the first releases on the label. Evelyn got his start in the music industry through an interest in hip hop and on joining a local breakdancing crew...
in 2006, with his Vocal Orchestra in 2007, as a guest of the Mighty Boosh in 2008, and as a cameo with Hexstatic
Hexstatic
Hexstatic is a UK music duo, consisting of Stuart Warren Hill and Robin Brunson, that specializes in creating "quirky audio visual electro." Formed in 1997 after Hill and Brunson met while producing visuals at the Channel Five launch party, they decided to take over for the original members of the...
in 2009. At Glastonbury 2007 Shlomo performed a live version of A Message to You, Rudy
A Message to You, Rudy
"Rudy, A Message to You" is a 1967 rocksteady song by Dandy Livingstone. The song later achieved broader success when in 1979, The Specials cover, titled "A Message to You, Rudy", reached Number 10 in the UK chart....
accompanying Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
and Lynval Golding
Lynval Golding
Lynval Golding is a British musician. He is best known as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist with the British 2 Tone Records band, The Specials....
from The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
with Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
on piano.
In 2007, he put together the world's first beatboxing choir, the Vocal Orchestra, to headline at the International Beatbox Convention. The Vocal Orchestra went on to perform at the Big Chill Festival and on the Park Stage at Glastonbury 2008, where Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra performed a two-hour set with several guest appearances including Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Topley-Bird is a British vocalist and songwriter who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye...
, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Reverend and the Makers
Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers are an indie pop band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend"...
, Portico Quartet
Portico Quartet
Portico Quartet are a 4-piece modern jazz group from London and Southampton. Their sound is made distinctive by the use of the Hang, a 21st Century percussion instrument used on all their tracks. The group is composed of Jack Wyllie , Duncan Bellamy , Milo Fitzpatrick , and Keir Vine...
, Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay MBE is an award-winning British author and broadcaster of Ethiopian and Eritrean parents.He is known for performances of his poetry and also with jazz fusion groups. He is a playwright, and has worked on radio and television...
, Ed Harcourt
Ed Harcourt
Ed Harcourt is an English singer-songwriter. To date, he has released five studio albums, two EPs, and thirteen singles. His debut album, Here Be Monsters, was nominated for the 2001 Mercury Prize...
and Pete Lockett
Pete Lockett
Peter Robert Lockett is an English percussionist and recording artist. Lockett is known as a versatile and prolific percussionist, collaborating with many artists. He is well-versed in percussion traditions from music cultures around the world, including, Arabic, Japanese, Indian and...
. In 2009, Shlomo worked with BBC Blast to promote beatboxing to young people. At the 2009 Latitude Festival
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
he collaborated with Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
as part of the Cape Farewell
Cape Farewell, UK
Cape Farewell brings artists, scientists and communicators together to bring about long-term change in cultural attitudes towards climate change....
presentation, performing Purple Haze
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
. At Glastonbury in 2009 and 2010 he performed with vocal artist Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
.
In May 2011, he performed at the Red Bull BC Cypher B-Boy Championships in the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.