Stereoboard Gives Beardyman The Q&A Treatment At Beach Break Live 2011 (Interview)
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Written by James Drakeford
Former UK Beatboxing Champion Beardyman has admitted that beatboxing is a ‘novelty’ and that he is trying to eliminate it from his set. Speaking at Beach Break Live, the 29-year-old Londoner is now looking to distance himself from the platform that launched his career.
So Beardyman, Do you think beatboxing’s something that can last?
Beatboxing is a load of rubbish, its novelty. I am into it in the same way that I’m into lots of things, but too much of a good thing is not a good thing.
Do you not like beatboxing over the mic anymore then?
It just doesn’t sound very good at all.
Are you trying to eliminate it from your set then?
Yeah, I didn’t do any today, and I’m sure there will be a couple of purists who will be a little pissed off. But you can’t listen to purists if you have a dream and I have a dream to move forward.
Is it kind of like child’s play?
I have done a lot of beatboxing and I have probably served my time doing it, but people still like it, so it may carry on.
You sound like you freestyle your whole set. Is that how you go about your shows?
I try to plan, but it never works. I think it’s best not to be too rigid when it comes to performing stuff.
Do you just go off the vibe from the crowd then?
Yeah, kind of. And whatever I feel like doing at the time.
Do you change your set depending on who’s in front of you?
I change what I do all the time. I change the songs I do and the vibe I bring. Depending on the audience, I will do a completely different type of set or as I am developing as a performer I will constantly re-address what I’m doing and whether it is a good idea and what I can do better to my set. So it’s always changing.
What are your main influences?
My main influences are the dentist, Stevenage, and clouds.
Finally, why have you lost the beard?
I was gutted to have lost it actually because I think I left it in a hotel in Peterborough.
Beardyman will be performing at a string of festivals this summer including Glastonbury, Global Gathering and V Festival.
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