Beatbox Eliot Interview

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1.  How old are you?

My body and experience feels like 65, my mind thinks 15 and my birth date says aug.1972

2.  Where are you from?

I was born in Munich, Germany and lived there until I moved to Berlin in 2003. my parents are from Vienna, so I share these roots with my passport and regular visits to see the family there

3.  When and how did you first become interested in Beatboxing?

Somewhere around 87 i got in contact with graffiti and rap-music. the fatboys and mentronix also dj jesse jeff and the fresh prince, doug e fresh and all the old school beatboxers at that time.

4.  How long have you've been Beatboxing for?

Something around 88 I started beatboxing. my first step on stage was around 1993 since then I was regularly on stage. around 1999/2000 I completely focused on beatbox, doing professional shows, presenting over 100 shows a year, that was also the time when we recorded the "mystery of beatbox vol.1.0" in 2001 what was the first mayor beatbox only release world wide, with the goal to present real songs only done by the mouth and used mostly multi-track recordings on a high studio quality what was not featured often before but now became a own part in beatboxing and opens a new world of possibilities. since that I have lots of features and different releases and I am still baking my own solo record.

Around 2004 I started working on a 3D movie project as production coordinator (http://www.bfc.net/en/br/hna.html) what takes the money stress out of my beatboxing. well, I made a living out of beatbox but far from being rich or so and how often do you get the chance to work on a feature movie with john williams (shrek1 and shrek2) as producer ? ; ).

Anyway, I created the "beatbox eliot beatbox kit" for native instruments battery2 (what is as far as I know the first mayor and international beatbox drum kit release so far?) and I am working on different projects, at the moment focusing on an electro joint with randy twigg from Canada and these days we release a new compilation "the undead" together with zlep, bina and art of beatbox check it out here: www.deadlyspits.de

5.  What are your musical influences?

I would say I am a very open minded person and like all kind of music. I even go to slayer concerts (that's massive, try it out ; ) or put on some India meditation record from time to time but I am absolutely stuck in the 80ies early 90ties rap and love it. this kind of stuff I can play again and again. ll cool jay, rakim, mc shy d, 2live crew, ice-t, ice cube, public enemy, beastie boys, milk, scoolyd, just ice, epmd, bdp, shante, eazy e, just to mention a few and to say thank you to all of these artist who influenced the music scene so much! (without them there wouldn't be all those multi billion industry and platinum sellers from today).

6.  Does anyone else in your family beatbox?

No, but my dad plays the acoustic guitar and my family always supported me in my creativity if it was playing the drums (I started around 11 to do percussion) or making airbrush paintings. at this time this whole graffiti thing was absolutely new in Germany so no body understood what we were doing and sure we were beginners, so our stuff didn't looked so good at first I guess. so not an easy job for parents ; )

7.  Why did you go into this field? Is Beatboxing a passion for you?

I was around 14/15 and I remember like yesterday, reading the first time "subway art" and listen to the fatboys. this was so like me, I had no choice. "a man gotta do what a man gotta do" ; )

8.  What type of equipment do you have?

I mostly use a sure sm58 beta. Lately I bought the mbox2 for my sketches (and even real outline and mixing, but I prefer going to a professional studio like some of my friends have, to make it final). I must say, that no matter what sound program I used, I always felt the best with protools. and I like the mbox2 a lot and its working super and does all you need as a beatboxer (dude, they have to pay me now ;). and I use the jamMan from digitech since a few shows, to create multi-tracks on stage in the end of my "one mice one man show" and an AKG headphone like the 240 studio is on my wish list... that's pretty all. as I mentioned, I use equipment at my friends professional places.

SM58 beta: http://shure.com/microphones/models/beta58a.asp
Mbox2: http://digidesign.com/products/mbox2/main.cfm
JamMan: http://digitech.com/products/JamMan/JamMan.htm
AKG headphones: http://www.akg.com/products/

9.  How do you feel about the Beatboxing Movement?

I liked watching the whole thing grow through the internet. This connections nowadays are brilliant, so much info and exchange for all who share the same interests worldwide. I lately recognized, that more an more "1 bar loop BFF-KRRS" guys are showing up and think they are the hot beatboxer. Everyone is a rooky in the beginning, but I sure dislike the "nose up" attitude, better go practicing...

10.  Who is your favourite Beatboxer?

I have big respect for all the oldscool guys ! and knowing killa kela as a good friend I must say he is absolutely gifted, creative, amazing and pushed beatbox with his international live shows a huge step further.

11.  What other stuff (besides beatboxing) are you involved in?

I do graffiti and comics. at the moment mostly on canvas. I am about to launch my canvas web-site www.brushbabes.com please have a look. I had some exhibitions recently and want to give this a little more focus in 2006. and I am juggling excel files at movies and computer games as supervisor / production coordinator. I see all of these activities as my basic skillz all three do pay off some more some less, when I focus on one thing the other gets less time but never will be stopped.

12.  Is there anyone you would love to work with?

On the beatbox side it could be anyone who is talented and has a nice project going on. oh, and missy Elliot would fit perfectly, that would be great ; )

13.  Where's your favourite spot to beatbox? In the Shower?

The shower is super, wet lips and a little echo fx ; ) but ask my girl friend, I start doing beatbox anytime anywhere and without knowing, hehe...

14.  What's the best Beatboxing memory that you have?

Best memories are always when different good artists come together and are on the same page. You can feel the creativity and mostly a really good song or jam session is happening. this happened for example at our release party for "mystery of beatbox" on stage: boxstyle-bern (Swiss), bina, zlep, killa kela. Also at splash (one of Europe's biggest hip-hop open air over 25000 people) on stage: saian supa crew, bina, me and almost every big German rap act who performed this day before.

15.  What advice do you give to someone who wants to get into Beatboxing?

I would say that beatbox comes in a combination of 3 main parts (that's how I teach..):

1. you have to find your personal sounds, everyone's body works different and also you want to be unique practice your sounds until you don't have to think about anymore (then you can go for timing)

2. get some drum-notes and a metronome for daily practicing and to understand the theory of creating rhythms and songs this will help you in creating complex, interesting beats and tightness.

3. try to set up an entertaining show. it is entertainment in the end. a really good show will give you all the feedback, what makes you proud and happy.

16.  What's the best collaboration you've done with Beatboxing?

It was very interesting doing some bars for a break in a Michael Mittermeier (famous comedian in Germany) feat. Guano Apes song what went top 1 and got gold (we performed this song at echo, one of the biggest music events. walking the red carped behind Janet Jackson and destiny's child was fun ;). from the creative point there was this session to our living beatbox single where kela, boxstyle bern, bina, zlep and me where together what was very inspiring.

17.  What are your future beatboxing goals?

I want to finish my solo project. I want to create a good elektronica record with my friend randy twigg, she is a Canadian producer and is into 8 bit analog sounds as me ; ) the combination rocks in my point of view. Besides I really would love to do some gigs around the world, making contacts and see
something. And I want to continue giving beatbox lessons; it didn't happen often so far but really like this.

18.  Any Shout-Outs?

Thanx for everyone who give me inspiration, love, friendship and joy ;)