Ben Mirin: Exploring Vocal Music Across Cultures

Beatboxing and International Vocal Music

As beatboxing has grown into a global phenomenon with contests and organizations on five continents, I’ve become fascinated by the ways in which different interpretations of beatboxing around the world reflect local influences of culture, environment, and socio-economic conditions, and how those local traditions disseminate at the international level. I’m currently busy creating opportunities to continue documenting this process as a journalist alongside regular performances as a musician.

I’ve been making noise my whole life. Beatboxing emerged out of a swath of other noisy habits I developed throughout childhood, like imitating animal noises and practicing accents. I still do these other things, but beatboxing became a more serious interest of mine when I entered college. At a freshman talent show during the first week of school, I got on stage and delivered an impromptu performance of a few songs I could imitate, and was astounded when I received a standing ovation. I didn’t know people thought this was cool!

Since then I have had a little more time to practice beat-boxing thanks to my college a cappella group, my friends with high tolerances for noise, and a particularly resonant shower. Recently I’ve also expanded to performing with live loop stations, and have begun exploring beatbox and vocal music around the world. I hope you enjoy the audio and video samples below. Making each one was fun and entertaining!