"Ready?"
"FIGHT!"
Nick Fox, aka Human Drum Machine came into The American Beatbox Championships with the mind set that this was going to be a battle and he'd best bring his A-Game, which is not surprising for this performer who has been beat boxing since his college days singing with the NYU a cappella group Mass Transit.
In years since his graduation, he's been in award winning groups such as Undercover and Kelso, and has continued to perform with indie artists.
We wanted to get a little insight on this beat boxing madman and his thoughts about the upcoming finals this weekend at Littlefield.
Tell us what got you into beat boxing?
I was actually forced into beatboxing. in my college a cappella group there were no other beatboxers left at one point but me, so it fell on my shoulders. after watching the wes carroll learn to mouthdrum DVDs, my abilities took flight and here I am today, lovin' the task I was at one point merely consigned to by fate.
What made you want to take on this challenge?
I set a new year's resolution to get more active in the beatbox community and take part in more competitions. this was pretty much exactly what I wished for!
Is it difficult to hold a day job and still have time to do what you love?
it's endlessly frustrating, for all the reasons you would imagine. oftentimes i have to make a choice between career and passion. at the same time, while i'd like to think i could survive on my art alone, i'm glad to have a day job that supports the art -- beatboxing is the one thing i can immediately think of that i can always take with me wherever i go, professionally or not.
Who inspired you?
inspired me to beatbox? every time i see something new on youtube or facebook, something that takes the beatbox world in a new direction, something a cappella that prudces great music just from the mouth, i'm inspired to do even more.
What would you tell others who wanted to get into beat boxing that nobody told you?
listening to real drummers makes you a better beatboxer. who knew? instead of immersing myself into hip hop and rahzel and fat boys records for months (an admittedly foreign language) i could have been practicing drum riffs from my favorite classic rock and jazz artists and have gained the much-valued skill of diversity. also -- i wish someone had told me how to deal with sound equipment long ago. it can make or break a show and it's something i've had to learn the hard way. your microphone is your instrument too, when it's there -- learn how to make it your slave!
You can check out the Human Drum Machine and all the other finalists at this weekend's American Beatboxing Championships at Littlefield, 622 DeGraw St., Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are $25-$35. Get discount tickets using promo code: "ABC2010" for $20 tickets through ticketfly!
Check out one of his competition videos that landed him into the finals.
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