 "Photo: Talha Malik")
The human mouth and vocal chords are capable of making some of the most intricate sounds, as evidenced by artists who use a beatbox technique. Beatboxers use their mouths to make complicated noises and mimic sounds usually made by instruments or synthesizers, which usually come out with a complex beat that is easily manipulated.
The Indian Student Association recently hosted a variety-type show featuring a beatboxing act with a comedic twist. The performers displayed an array of beatboxing to make Hip-hop, techno and Indian-style music.
Freshmen Talha Malik and Remi Poindexter are the artists behind the music. The duo came together after they met while attending Mount Pleasant High School in Wilmington, where they say they discovered their interest in beatboxing on the lacrosse field.
"We did lacrosse but didn't get a lot of playing time," Malik says. "We'd sit on the sideline and make up simple beats."
The pair says they started out of restlessness and spent a lot of their down time during the lacrosse season beatboxing and practicing their newfound talent in places like the bus.
"I was just bored one day and I started to do it," Malik says. "I never took it too serious."
The two gained an interest in beatboxing and began listening to famous beatboxers like Roxorloops, Beardyman and Zede. Malik says his beatboxing idol is Roxorloops, the Belgian beatboxer who is famous for his own innovative beats, and says he often tries to replicate the artist's technique.
"Roxorloops discovered a lot of things that most beatboxers can't do," Malik says. "He started doing amazing things that I didn't know you could do with the mouth."
Using a self-teaching method, Malik says it didn't take much to get the hang of beatboxing and begin to excel. He says he learned to beatbox by trying out different sounds and putting them together to create something coherent.
"We just play around with our mouths until we get the right sound," Malik says. "It's like learning to play an instrument without looking at the music."
Poindexter took to beatboxing with ease and displays a fondness for it. He says it's a skillful way to become the life of the party.
"It comes easy for me," Poindexter says. "There are just a few basic skills that you have to put together. It's cool to be able to create a party atmosphere with just your mouth."
Poindexter says he got a lot of help learning about beatboxing from the Internet by looking at videos on YouTube. This helped the pair develop their individual styles and techniques. They even took examples from watching beatboxer Beardyman's comedic routines to add some humor into their own.
"I like doing beats using my throat, like 'The Whisper Song' bass," Poindexter says. "Talha can go really fast with his mouth and do stuff that I can't even imagine."
Malik is known to fabricate sounds of common instruments.
"I can do bongo and synthesizer sounds with my mouth," Malik says.
Both say the variety show was the first time they had performed in front of a crowd their own age. Previously, they had performed for an anti-drug organization called "Kick Butt Generation," where they used their beatboxing skills to rap to young kids about the risks of tobacco and alcohol use.
"It's the first time we've performed in front of a mature audience," Malik says. "The reaction was really good."
He says there wasn't much preparation involved for their performance in the variety show. A lot of what they do is improvisation and is something that comes naturally.
"The most complicated thing was figuring out what to wear," Malik says. "If we actually prepared, it would have been a lot better."
The two say they were discovered by junior Priyanca Mody, who noticed their beatboxing talents in the dining hall and asked them to be a part of the ISA's production. She says her job is to recruit performers for the show and found the duo's routine impressive.
"It was really refreshing to see a new talent like beatboxing," Mody says. "Honestly, I'm amazed. It's probably one of the most interesting talents I've ever seen."
She says the ISA was initially reluctant to put the beatboxers in the show.
"The ISA board was hesitant at first," Mody says, "but after their audition everyone said hands down they should be in the show."
According to Mody, the two gained a positive reaction from the crowd. She says they dazzled the audience with their variety of music and beatboxing skills.
"They hit everything that the audience wanted to hear," Mody says. "I could not even stop screaming because it was so amazing."
The duo has aroused the interest of various students as they have recently founded a beatbox club at the university. They say they are excited about the turnout they have received and expect a positive outcome.
"With the resources that Delaware gives us we will be able to perform for different crowds," Malik says.
Despite their talent and positive reaction from audiences, the two say they aren't looking to make a living out of beatboxing. Their careers in beatboxing will most likely stay on campus.
"Recording is not something I'm really into," Malik says. "This is just a hobby I would do in front of people, even if it wasn't for money."
Poindexter says he sees himself performing at parties and other events at the university.
"We definitely have a future on campus," he says.
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