Archive for April, 2008

Big up to Biz Markie for getting babies all over the world making music with their mouths before they are out of nappies!!

‘Shlomo’ is a Hebrew name, in English it is ‘Solomon’, but it literally translates as ‘Peace’. A lot of people have difficulty with my name – either in the spelling (it’s not Schlomo or Slo Mo!) or they think I have made it up as a stage name.

If I went over to Israel, it would be about as original as being called ‘Steve the Beatboxer’.

Once I was appearing on a radio station in Belfast, and the producer of the show introduced herself to us before saying ‘So tell me, what’s your real name? Because sure as hell your mother didn’t call you that!’

Hi, Shlo here. Welcome to this brand new version of my website. It’s the most feature-packed website I’ve ever imagined, and it feels great to finally have a space to talk about all these projects that we have over the next 12 months or so.

One of the new features is this blog, and I am excited about having an avenue to post my thoughts and general musings on the world as seen through my eyes.

It’s been a trippy few months… with the monthly collaborations at Southbank Centre, being short listed for the New Music Award, confirming our own headline collaborative evening on Park Stage at Glastonbury, and this new ‘One Voice’ commission for 4 choirs which will be performed at Wembley Arena, sometimes you get the feeling that things are spiralling out of control.

But despite the hectic schedule I am loving every second – I have been learning and absorbing so much knowledge from each of the collaborators at ‘Music Through Unconventional Means’… It’s like after each show I feel totally inspired and immersed in the music from that genre.. after the folk collaboration with Martha and Teddy I was saying: ‘Right. I am going to get really good on guitar be a beatboxing singer-songwriter.’ Then straight after the jazz show with Seb I was convinced I could tour the world beatboxing with my own free jazz group… and over the last two weeks I have had a major crash course in dub reggae for the show with Mad Professor, and suddenly found myself singing and chatting on stage, comfortably, for the first time. I feel like a sponge, absorbing up the knowledge and musical wisdom of these world-class collaborators, and who knows where it could all lead.

Glastonbury and Bestival!

Shlomo’s collaborative concert series ‘Music Through Unconventional Means’ will depart from Southbank over the Summer to hit some of the UK’s festivals! Starting with a massive 2 hour collaborative show headlining the Glastonbury Park Stage, followed by a reprise of Shlomo and DJ Yoda’s collaboration on the mainstage at Bestival. Details below.

Music Through Unconventional Means @ Glastonbury

6-8PM, GLASTONBURY PARK STAGE, SAT 28 JUNE 2008

We are proud to announce that a special collaborative show will take place at this year’s Glastonbury festival, led by acclaimed British beatbox artist SHLOMO with his beatbox choir THE VOCAL ORCHESTRA. The two hour show will feature a secret list of guest acts from across the musical spectrum, with several of the festival’s key artists playing exclusive acoustic performances before collaborating and jamming with Shlomo and each other.

The emphasis of this extraordinary evening is on spontaneous collaboration and improvisation, often pushing the guest artists away from their usual performance zone to create something entirely original and unique.

The title ‘Music Through Unconventional Means’ is taken from Shlomo’s monthly concert series at the London Southbank Centre, where he is currently Artist in Residence. The series has been running since November 2007, and so far Shlomo has collaborated with Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson, DJ Yoda, Mad Professor and Polar Bear.

The Glastonbury show came about after discussions between Shlomo and Park Stage curator Emily Eavis. “This is one of the most anticipated shows at this year’s festival…” says Emily, “Expect special guests, unusual collaborations and amazing beatboxing for two hours…This year’s big surprise gig.”

Shlomo vs DJ Yoda @ Bestival

6.30PM, Bestival Main Stage, Sat 6 September 2008

The amazing collaboration between Shlomo and AV artist DJ Yoda will be revisited in front of 30,000 people on the Bestival mainstage in September. The show was originally created for a special show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of Shlomo’s residency at Southbank Centre. It features a crazy mashup of beatboxing, scratching and video trickery, and is one hell of a party starter!

‘Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra’ are the world’s only Human Beatbox Choir. Their show is a phenomenal blend of live music, all performed using only the voiceboxes of 8 incredible musicians!

This summer they will perform at the Southbank Choral Festival and headline the Park Stage at Glastonbury Festival. They are also planning to create the Guinness World Record for leading the World’s Largest Beatboxing Choir.

In the Autumn of 2008 they will return for a UK tour taking in some of the country’s most prestigious arts venues.

Shlomo started out as a solo beatboxer, touring the world with hip hop outfit Foreign Beggars. He went on to record with Bjork, appear on ‘Later.. with Jools Holland’, and to play at Glastonbury as a solo act.

Somewhere along the way, Shlomo had the idea of working with a large group of beatboxers. Together with the Southbank Centre, he set out to create the world’s first beatbox choir. Shlomo had 6 weeks to put together the initial performance, which headlined at the International Beatbox Convention in March 2007.

The original line-up featured some of the UK’s foremost vocal talent, including legendary A Cappella outfit The Swingle Singers, alongside MC Zani (UK no.2 beatboxer), Bellatrix (UK no.1 female beatboxer), Spitf’ya and jestar*.

That first performance at Southbank was a sell-out, and the choir went on to headline at the Big Chill festival in front of 10,000 people.

In May 2008 the choir will return to Southbank to lead the World’s Largest Beatboxing Choir, and in June they’ll headline the Glastonbury Park stage.

In Autumn 2008 the Vocal Orchestra reform for a UK tour of concert halls and arts venues.

With a new streamlined 8-piece lineup, the choir now features some of the UK’s top jazz and soul vocalists, including Natalie Williams (resident at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club), Vula Malinga (front-woman of Bassment Jaxx) alongside Shlomo, MC Zani, Bellatrix, Spitf’ya, Jestar* and former Swingle Kineret Erez.

More info on the tour

Shlomo has revealed that he will be launching a new podcast on Saturday 19 April.

Entitled “Shlomo presents: the Babelbox Podcast”, the first episode will feature interviews and music from Seb Rochford of Polar Bear, Vula Malinga of Basement Jaxx, performance poet Lemn Sissay and Shlomo’s Dad!

The podcast also features an exclusive track from Vula’s new EP, “If You Want It”.

Check out the podcast!