France loves hip-hop and beatboxing. And one of their best beatboxers is coming to town.
Berywam, a French beatbox quartet, will hold a Bangkok debut concert at Alliance Francaise, Witthayu Road, on Saturday at 7pm.
This is a rare chance for Thais to experience beatboxing (aka b-boxing), a form of vocal percussion that makes music by imitating instruments with one's mouth. Berywam, based in Toulose, are the recent winners of the French Beatbox Championship.
They will showcase their incredible skills through a live performance of famous songs such as Havana (Camilla Cabello) and Feeling Good (Nina Simone). And on Sunday, Berywam will host a workshop for beatbox enthusiasts in Thailand to learn how to make those polyphonic sounds using nothing but your mouth.
Beatboxing is an integral part of hip-hop culture whose other four main pillars include rap, dance, graffiti and being a DJ. Lesser known than the other disciplines of the movement, though, it has nevertheless a passionate international following and is currently experiencing an extraordinary renewal in France, thanks to artists like Berywam.
Founded in 2015, the group comprises four top beatboxers, each having their own speciality -- Beatness, Rythmind, Wawad and MB14. They are able to produce a cappella, simultaneous sounds with their voice, rendering a vivid impression of polyphony. The group qualified for the 2018 Beatbox Battle World Championship to be held in Berlin this August.
The performance and workshop are part of the French Highlight under the larger La Fete cultural calendar. Over many years, La Fete has bought top hip-hop performers to Bangkok but this is the first time a beatboxing group will be performing here.
Tickets cost 250 baht (150 baht for members and students) and can be purchased from afthailande.org. After the show, they will conduct a free workshop on how to beatbox, also at Alliance Francaise, on Sunday at 2pm. Seats are limited.
