Instruments are Overrated: Heatbox at Aquafest
This Saturday at Aquafest, Minneapolis beatboxer/a cappella artist, Heatbox, will prove to one and all the futility of instrumentation. Armed with nothing but his voice, a few effects, and a live looping system, you’ll wonder what anyone needed instruments for in the first place.
He demonstrates the versatility of the human voice to an almost incomprehensible degree. He does anything from bass hits to turntable scratches, and even the occasional Transformer impression, entirely with his mouth.
During his set at this year’s 10KLF he covered Rahzel’s “If Your Mother Only Knew,” with complete accuracy. Those who are familiar with Rahzel’s work know what this means—beatboxing and singing at the same time. “It would be cheating hardcore to fake that one,” Heatbox said.
Prior to beatboxing, multi-tonal singing meant the tantric harmonics of Tibetan monks. Even then the art was considered highly spiritual and believed to have almost magical characteristics.
“Back in high school when Rahzel dropped his album, “Make the Music,” everybody in my high school was beatboxing,” Heatbox said. “I was just always the best one, I guess.”
Heatbox began as a traditional beatboxer, but it all changed once he fell in love with a looping station. “I could make actual songs and stuff once I got that thing,” he said. “And then down the line I got the other pedal, which is a Digitech Vocal 300, and that lets me do some crazy stuff.”
His most notorious toy, however, is the infamous Nintendo Power Glove. Crowds go absolutely insane when he puts it on. With a wave of his hand he sends crowds into frenzy, literally pulling beats out of thin air.
“That [glove] gives me magic powers,” he said. As for the actual makeup of glove, and how it works, Box declined to comment. He said, “That’s all I’m really at liberty to say about that.”
Some speculate that the glove is his secret invention of the highest genius, while others say that it’s just a prop. Both speculations are remarkable.
For someone to invent such a device would be incredible. However, using a Nintendo Power Glove as a ventriloquist doll and letting the audience believe the sounds emanating from it surpass his vocal ability, is both selfless and amazing. Either way, Heatbox will not give up his secret.
“I really like being something weird,” he said. “It’s good to watch people be confused and then once they do figure out what’s happening, it’s still weird and interesting.”
His song, “Bitches from the Milky Way,” fits this theme with flying colors. Its dirty beats and bizarre, yet catchy, lyrics make a deadly combination. According to Heatbox, however, there is more to these lyrics than meets the ear.
He said, “It’s a song about people not being all high and mighty, because we’re all just bitches from the Milky Way, if you know what I mean.”
Box’s diversity, ingenuity, style and stage presence make him one of the best performers in the area. When it comes down it, though, he just wants everybody to have a good time.
“I just want to entertain people, and make them smile, and get freaked out,” he said, “and maybe forget about other crap that they have to think about all day.”
If You Go
What: Heatbox
Where: Aquarium, Dempsey’s
When: Sat., Aug. 30. His two sets are upstairs in The Aquarium at approximately 6:45 p.m. and at Dempsey’s at 12:45 a.m.
Info: 701.235.5913
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