Profile: Beatboxer Dharni

Introduction
Definition: Beatboxing a.k.a Vocal Percussion is whereby you imitate sounds, beats, instruments, and rhythms using only your mouth/vocals. It is an art form where you only use a mic to express your music.

About Dharni
Pioneer of Beatboxing in Singapore -
Started beatboxing at the age of 15 in late 2002. Introduced beatboxing to Singapore at age 17 by doing street busking outside Takashimaya on Saturdays, then it slowly created an awareness after 6 months. Clients and enthusiasts started approaching, wanting to know more about Beatboxing. Soon after, performance in major events and places kickstarted.

Started the beatboxing community in Singapore and inspiring people who want to learn it. Managed to push to have the first Singapore Beatboxing Championships in 2005 organized by 987FM during the Black Eyed Peas concert with the help of contacts and networks. The awareness of this artform got stronger since then. Even till now, the community is still growing, and it is going to be better in years to come once the standards becomes high.

Judged for many Beatboxing Competitions in Singapore including the first Singapore Beatboxing Championships held in 2005, Sony Ericsson Beatboxing Competition in 2006 and would be judging the Channel U Asian Beatboxing Championship.

Representing Singapore for the World Beatboxing Championships during summer in 2008 in Berlin.

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Been practicing for quite awhile now, got introduced by a friend, and then I got really interested and started picking up myself. Surprisingly, I learnt quite a few sounds by myself, and I was glad to find a beatboxing website. I then started to share and learn from beatboxers around the world. Beatboxers like Rahzel, Kenny Muhammad, Killa Kela, Faith SFX, Eklips, and many more beatboxers have influenced me and kept my drive going. I would love to perform on international stage with them and work with great music producers around when the time comes.

Recently, I have been composing my own music and playing around with ProTools (Recording Program). I made a few tracks, and wish to make some more in time to come and compile them into an EP. The tracks are all from the mouth and might feature some instruments. However, quality of the music is what I’m focusing, not the technicality. It’s all about the music!

What I believe most when beatboxing is that you got to have soul and the flow. Without them, it would be difficult to beatbox no matter how hard you try or how good you may think you are. But sometimes, less is more. So what I am trying to achieve when performing is to capture the audiences full attention and give them what I feel in music, as they groove to it, and not boring them for the sake of beatboxing.

And always stay true to your art.

Experiences (Here are some of the various performances)
2004
Centro – Man vs. Machine with KoFlow
NDP
Various – Cheeky Monkeys
Zouk – Juice 6th Anniversary
Various – Liquidroom
Far East Plaza
Singapore Street Festival
Opening Act for MC Jin
Busking every Saturdays outside Takashimaya

2005
Heineken Thirst Competition – National Champion
Various – Zouk KL
Various – Liquidroom
MTV Asia Awards Voting Party
Downtown East WCG
Singapore Street Festival
Motorola Street Style Awards
and Samsung HK Summit (Macau)
Black Eyed Peas Opening Act and Judge for the 98.7FM Black Eyed Peas Beatboxing Competition
United Artiste Network – Dawn of Dreams

2006
Various – SPH Newpaper events
Various – Oakley
Various – Esplanade
DXO – In Your Face
MTV Barrio 19
Sony Ericsson Orange Club Beatbox Competition (Judge)
Heineken Thirst – Showcase
MOS Sho’Down – Man vs. Machine
Various – SMRT
Singapore Street Festival
Nokia Roadshow
Dinner and Dance for various Companies.
Kallang WaterFest
Various Shows for Music and Movement

2007
DXO – H2O Event
Novena Square 2 performance.
Zouk – Singtel Redmob Event
NUS Impressario 2007 (Beatbox Category – Judge)
NUS Dance Competition
Singtel Redmob @ ITEs
Zouk Super Style Mix Awards
Zouk Fresh Annual Hip Hop Event
Calvin Klein IN2 launch @ Zouk
The Big Groove @ Expo
ButterFactory 1st Anniversary
Guest performance for MYRS @ Butterfactory
Voice trailer for 98.7FM’s “Say It With Music”
Cineleisure NEBO Event
Advertisement for Impact Mints
Judging for the Channel U Asian Beatboxing Competition
Butterfactory Halloween
Unilever DND party
TBWA Christmas Party @ Dempsey Road

2008
International Beatboxing Convention in Berlin
Samsung Roadshow @ Heeren

Upcoming Achievement:
Representing Singapore at the World Championships in Berlin in 2008 Summer.

Residency:
Butterfactory (Saturdays 11pm onwards)

Collaborated:
DJ KoFlow
DJ Rattle
DJ Inquisitive
DJ Rough
DJ Drem
DJ Mylk
DJ Hapa
Chou Pi Jiang
Various B-Boys (Radikal Forze, Floor Techniques, Fuyo)
MCs (Rappers – Tech-One etc)
Various musicians

Band:
Side Band: Kolab (DJ KoFlow, DJ Shellsuit, MC Garuda, Dharni)

Endorsements:
Oakley & Black Chamber
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There are available video clips on www.youtube.com to show Dharni’s proficiency at beatboxing. Some may be old clips, while others newer. Be sure to check more on the newer videos. Search for: “Dharni” or “Dharni beatbox” or “Dharni MOS”.