12 December,2011 09:20 AM IST | | Suprateek Chatterjee
Renowned UK beatboxer Shlomo teams up with Scribe vocalist Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy to form a unique all-vocal orchestra Voctronica. Send your audition video across to be part of the band
When Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, voice-over artiste and vocalist for Scribe, was asked if he would like to be part of a vocal project with British beatboxing champ Shlomo, he agreed instantly. "I have been experimenting with beatboxing and a capella for a couple of years now," he says.
Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy of Scribe
"I recently started introducing it to the Scribe repertoire and it came to the attention of the British Council. It's a dream for me to be part of this project."
A global orchestra
The project he is referring to is Voctronica a one-of-a-kind, all-vocal orchestra that will comprise of beatboxers, rappers and singers from all kinds of backgrounds (including classical).
Organised jointly by the British Council and Zomba, Voctronica is inviting participants to send in their audition videos. The training sessions will begin from January 5 to 13, 2012, after Shlomo has chosen 10 finalists.
British Beatboxing expert Shlomo
The finalists will be intensively trained by Testament, a UK-based beatboxer/MC who is also a member of Shlomo's UK project, The Lip Factory. Once the band is ready, they will be taken on tour across India and the UK.
Shlomo (born Simon Shlomo Kahn) came up with the idea while he was on an India tour last year. During the tour he collaborated with artistes as diverse as morchang player Raies Khan and indie musician Sidd Coutto.
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He says, "I met a lot of beatboxers as well, but I realised there was no platform for it as such." After a meeting with the British Council, the basic concept behind Voctronica was realised.
Krishnamoorthy stresses that Voctronica is not a choir. "It's called Voctronica because it combines vocals with the style of electronic music," he explains.
He is reluctant to divulge details about whether Voctronica members will use vocal processors or looping devices as gear, saying that it will be decided once the finalists are chosen. While he is spearheading the project here, he admits that it will be a huge learning experience for him as well.
Do you have it in you?
Shlomo, who is a classically trained percussionist and a jazz drummer, will be mentoring the finalists via Skype during the nine-day course and thereafter.
For Voctronica, he will be looking for beatboxers who have good rhythm, discipline, breath control and an ability to make more than one sound at a time.
"The main principle in beatboxing what separates the men from the boys is the willingness to experiment and explore your own ideas," he concludes.
To be part of Voctronica, upload an audition video less than 5 minutes long on YouTube and then fill out the registration form on https://soundpad.britishcouncil.org.in. Entries will be accepted till December 16
