At some point in your internet-watching career, you may have pondered if you could becoming a beatboxer if you put your mind to it.
According to the skilled mouth musicians I spoke to in a recent interview, the answer is “yes.” But the process involves some silliness, and you can’t feel too self-conscious.
The West Coast Groove was established in 2015, and started as a “very small group” of beatbox obsessives. Today, the collective has 50 active members.
“It’s a pretty cool progression to see, and to be here from the beginning to where we are now, it’s just very fulfilling for me to see the community grow,” founder Jonathon Calvez, known by the beatboxing name CiMaX, tells Vancouver Is Awesome.
Calvez is the Vice Canadian Beatbox Champion and the Canadian Tag Team Champion.
Co-founder Jackson Wu goes by the beatbox name Shyang and says the community grew from a few beatbox enthusiasts “meeting in libraries, food courts, malls and public spaces around Metro Vancouver to share a niche art form that most people had never seen in person.”
Having a space where the vocalists can come together and collaborate is important for such a niche hobby.
“What has always fascinated me is that despite beatboxing’s global popularity online, most local scenes are still built almost entirely through grassroots community efforts. There are no formal pathways into beatboxing — people discover it through friends, community gatherings, mentorship and local events,” Wu says.
What are the fundamentals of beatboxing?
The three fundamentals of beatboxing are the drums, the bass (which usually doubles as the melody) and then finding your “special sound,” according to Calvez. His sound is something I can’t even write out, but when he put it all together, it sounded beyond what a human being is capable of producing.
To get into beatboxing, those three fundamental sounds can be acquired within a month or two, he says. Of course, passionate newcomers to the craft could pick them up much faster, as Wu experienced in his early days. When he was starting out, not all his friends were a fan of his non-stop beat box practice.
“At first when you start doing it, you might realize that it doesn’t sound like some of the beatboxers that you are seeing online. But that should not deter you from continuing your practice, because at a certain point, you will start to level up,” he explains.
And once you solidify a signature sound, there’s no limit on how complex and unique you can get — and that’s something that’s rather addictive, Wu says.
Things to do in Vancouver: Annual beatbox championship
This month, the best beatboxers from across the province will gather at the seventh-annual Vancouver Beatbox Championship, which will see 16 beatboxers battle for a grand prize of $1,000. For the first time, the tournament is open to international competitors, bringing the best mouth percussionists together from across the continent.
“Expect extremely high-level beatboxing,” Wu says.
On July 31, the Beat & Greet kicks off at 7 p.m. with “showcases, judge fantasy battles, jams, and a chance to meet beatboxers from around the world.” You can also listen to the showcase showdown with 20 competitors.
It’s a chance for a more intimate setting before the big competition, where you can meet competitors and judges. Participants will have two minutes on stage to share their best material.
The second day, Aug. 1, will see the best-of-the-best vie for the coveted championship title, kicking off at 4 p.m.
Vancouver Beatbox Championship
When: Friday, July 31, from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 1, from 4 to 9 p.m.
Where: The Beaumont Studios – 316 W 5th Ave., Vancouver
Cost: Beat and Greet – ($10.99 + $0.99 fee). VBC Battle Frontier GA (Aug. 1) ($29.00 + $0.99 fee)
Watch CiMaX and Shyang beatbox on TikTok
@vancouverisawesome On July 31 and Aug. 1, some of the top talent on the West Coast will clash at the Vancouver Beatbox Championships. We caught up with CiMaX and shyang to learn what it takes to become a beatbox master and make some cash in the process. #vancouver #beatbox #vancouverisawesome ♬ original sound – Vancouver Is Awesome