Hi all and welcome to this new video on the channel A Cappelover
Today is a very special video, because for the first time on the channel
I have a guest, I'm not alone
In fact I don't even have to tell you the name of the guy I am with
'cause it's in the name of the video
Hi Alem !
Hi !
So here we are, Alem, beatbox world champion
Yeah, I know, said like that it's class
And I'm pretty proud so I won't hide
So just before we start the interview
First of all, I thank you a lot for accepting the invitation
It's my pleasure
It's my pleasure too
And we know that you don't have many interviews on YouTube
Because there are a lot of videos of you but not a lot of interviews
-So it's the occasion too -Yeah it's true, it's true
So yeah, just before, for you who are listening, watching, here is how the video will be
It'll be an cool interview, a simple "couch" conversation, I'll do English subtitles for English speakers, by the way it will be a LOT of work, and in French too
I'll also put videos in the background mostly recreational, it'll be to embellish the video, and maybe I'll cut us some times to show some points that we were talking about right before
-OK -But there won't be a lot
Right, so a quick introduction for those who don't know you or not that much
So you are a beatboxer who come from Lyon area [France]
You come from a family made of musicians, you play several instruments yourself, it's pretty impressive
You play drums, guitar, and even other instruments but I'll talk about it later
-Yes -By doing drums and imitating it's sounds you started beatbox
Now you have more than 10 years of practice which is considerable, but most of all, and here it's impressive and I said it earlier
You are French champion in solo and team, 2013 edition, and you are world champion, so at least that, we can applause for it
-[laugh] YEAAHH -Here you see I've added a crazy crowd
And it's solo and team too, with TwenTeam8 that you have with BMG
So it's crazy about your solo world champion title because finally you are only 4 in the all universe to have it, and you're the actual one because you had the title in 2015 and the championship takes place every 3/4 years
But as I said already 10 years of practice, so I tried to see your previous championships as a participant, as far as I've seen your first participation at French championiship was in 2009
-Yeah I think so, or maybe not I even think it's 2008 - 2008 ? I don't have the info
Yeah I think it's 2008 my first battle, it was against.. Micflow, well anyway
-Ahhh the old ones [laugh] so there was 2008, my bad, in 2009 you've lost in quarters finales -Yeah that's it
-In 2010 you've lost in finals, already, against Beasty -Yeah
-In 2011 you've lost in semi-finals, against K.I.M -And yes
-And in 2013 you had your revenge cause you won against him and I said you won with your team too, TwenTeam8, vous won against Fabulous Wadness I think -Exactly, that's it
So obviously we're talking about beatbox, but even those who are not really keen on beatbox or those who know it bad
First, even if it's a bit a self-plubicity, I encourage you to watch the video I did about beatbox, simply to.. have the basis, plus the fact that I won't repeat what I've already said, it's silly
And obviously it remains reachable to everyone because, you'll see it, but Alem is also a very good musician et you see it too throught his videos and.. it's a pleasure to see
So I was talking about the 2013 french beatbox champ, and what's crazy about it, well the French championships are every year, once a year, and in a different place each time
-And in 2013 they took place in Lyon, which means at home for you -Yes
And here, with BMG, you say to yourself "Here we are, that's the moment, we have to go, we have to do something"
You go there, and by the end of the night you are solo French champion, and team French champion. So first of all congratulations because we can surely say that you didn't waste your night
-Yeah, that's sure -And mostly, and I finally come to my first question. Whould that mean that if the championship didn't take place in Lyon, you wouldn't be where you are today [with all that success] ?
Oh yeah that's sure that it's a turning point because the championship was at home, I already lost it once, so it was important, for this one at least, to do something really good
Well prepared, and it's been several years that we've been thinking of doing a team with BMG, but we never did it because.. we wanted to be good enough in solo
So the fact the championship took place at Lyon, it was at home and what's funny it's for everyone, it was almost obvious that we will team together because we are friends, we live in the same city
We are friends for ever, so finally when you see on paper Alem with BMG in a team, it's clearly possible, it's home, but what's happening is
We anticipated the team for more than 1 year, so we arrive with a big "BOUM", a real team, something structured, not just a freestyle of Alem and BMG together
No, it's a real team in the way that we really rehearsed before which shows a great combination between the two of us
And I'm glad I did it, it worked, there was a great surprise, a great surprise was here and I'm satisfied with this year
Furthermore, we can tell it, 2013, and the year before you did lost in finals at the world championships, which is already a great performance because you finished second, you have lost against Skiller, but still it's the finals
Yeah that's it I really didn't expect it, I've been propelled in finals and I wasn't that ready, when I face Skiller in finals I'm not ready at all, in 2012 at worlds champs
So it's true it gave me such faith in myself, and when I came back home this world championship it's tru that.. In fact in a championship, the real opponent is yourself finally
So you are the one who put the limits, your possibilities, your opponent won't put them for you, everything is happening in your head
-Yeah -I speak a lot about it when I do masterclasses, I give masterclasses where I speak about an hour only of wha'ts in your head, not beatbox, it's pretty funny but—
-Right -Yeah that's true that when I came back home from the worlds champs, I've arrived at French champs and said to myself "Well listen, little Alem, you put your own limits, your own barriers
You arrived at a point where you can handle a world championship to the finals, so take it easy to the French championship, trust yourself, let yourself go", let it go on that championship et it went well because we see that I'm more comfortable than previous years
And I handle the space, we feel that's it, I've found myself, I know what I have to do, today when I look back, I feel good and say "Damn yes, that's exactly it I had to do"
-Yeah I see -So I'm still happy to have win it, even face to K.I.M in finals where I take the thing in a different way, where I finally give a good performance and not the will of winning face to someone
Because what's the aim ? The aim is to give a good performance, to do a good beatbox, that's it, we don't have to mistake it, so yeah we have to win against the opponent, but that's not what we want to see, finally, inside of us I think what we want to see
It's a great performance, it's a good beatbox. That's what I get and I understood it face to Skiller thanks to his performance in 2012 which surprised me and even after, when I watch the videos
-It's been a "click!" for you in fact, this moment ? -Yeah, yeah
And so, in fact, indeed there was this turning point, 2013 french championship you've won, but is becoming beatboxer I will say "professional", as an artist, has always been obvious to you or not at all ?
-Well.. Obvious I don't know but I always wanted it, according to me it wasn't possible to do something else -Yeah, okay
It was like that, I did some studies, but already at high school I trained a lot, and when the teacher asked me what I wanted to do next, I told him "Well sir I want to beatbox"
-Already at that moment -Yeah, I will always remember, he said "No but, it's impossible, Alem, you have to put on paper what you want to do after" and I was convinced that was beatbox so I didn't write anything, and I couldn't write "beatbox" obviously
-I want to do that, I have the will to, at least I want to try, to give me time, so thanks to my parents who trust me a lot -Yeah
-Why ? Because they're musicians, and when you live thanks to music we know what is it to take your time, to create, to try -Yeah I wanted to talk about it it's true that you are lucky, lucky to be part of musicans' family
-That's it -I've seen that you also have one sister you sing some times with
That's it we see it, she's into music too, today she can live thanks to music, so I think beatbox was also a way to find my way in this family you see
-Yeah, hum -Because we always want to find our place In a family, it's not easy to find your way. Maybe beatbox was mine, and beatbox is really something that suits me
Beyond the joy of beatboxing, it's completely, how should I say, it's comlpetely my personality, so it's weird to say it but
-No but I understand -In the morning, when I wake up, the first thing I'm thinking of is doing beatbox, it's in my energy in fact, by the way I beatbox depending on my energy and we can find it in all beatboxers
-Yes -It means we always wonder "But what's your style ?" or I should say you "personality in beatbox ? Where is it ? Where your signature ?" and in fact we don't need to look after it a long time or to ask ourselves a thousand questions
I think you style is in your personality and we can find it in music when we see musicians playing their instruments, we really feel it
So it's a bit "cliché", but the bass guitar player, to me, it's funny but more I see bassists, the more I have the same mood, so it's a bit cliché but it's kind of funny, it's true you see a drummer or.. That's personalities in fact
And beatbox today, match to a lot of personalities, but the point is depending of you style of beatbox we will feel it, and me, we clearly feel it based upon my style, what is it ?
It's speed, technic, that's it, it's pushing the limits of speed, rhythmic, and it totally suits me, I'm hyperactive, I'm burning 200 degrees all day long and my friend feel it a lot, I'm a ball of energy
Everyday I'm capable of doing a world championship round at 7:30 AM you see, it's 7:30 AM and I can do this round to you
-It must be funny at home -Oh it's not that great for my girlfriend [laugh]
But that's it, here I am, and it's also a curse, I have to focus myself, but here my energy anyway
Yeah yeah It's great that you're talking about your style, your beatbox personality, it's true that we are a bit in this game. So you told me before the recording that you would do this favor and honor to me, and I'm already excited as a kid
-A demo of what you are capable of -Sure
Obvisously, those who clicked on this video, most of all know you but for the pleasure of our ears, could you do us a demo of your beatbox style ?
Here we go !
Oh lalalalalalala Yeaaaahhh
-And I precise it's 9:17 in the morning -Very important to notice, perfect transition with what I told just before
Oh yeah that's perfect, and that's great you did all those sounds which are very particular to you, it allows me to do a great transition, I was saying it, already 10 years that you're doing beatbox
Which is considerable when we think about it, there is today a lot of people, when we talk about "fast beatboxer", who thinks of you like right now, a beatboxer who is fast, it's often Alem we are thinking of
- [laugh] -Yeah, yeah, we have to be honest, same when we're looking a good bass we could think of Beatness or also Napom, so there is a lot people who takes you as an example, plus the fact that you're doing a lot of tutorials so that's great, but who did YOU take as examples ?
So I watch Flash [laugh] No I get inspired a lot by.. my biggest influence, it's obvious, is Kenny Muhammad, why ? Because it's really a guy who gives me shivers when I hear him beatboxing
-Ahh yeah -In rhythmic, he moves me a lot with his rhythmics, and it starts like that, after that I have a lot of French, many names in my head, I feed myself with a lot of beatboxers but Kenny Muhammad is really one of that that I appreciate a lot
I accepted to do everything he did on stage and you see, at my beginnings, I started to find myself but what I liked to do in beatbox was Kenny Muhammad stuff on stage
-Ah yeah -And what's funny it's that there were good reactions, face to the beatbox, and I was surprised because I will be quickly criticized or had "Yeah Alem it's a shame" comments, you see
And in fact there were good reactions like "Wouah excellent ! I loved it !" so I said "Yeah but that's the basis in fact, it's Kenny Muhammad" and there was only few beatboxers who had his styles and beats
-And I say it because I think it's not bad to work what others do, we don't have to hesitate -No sure
-That's it -We start to imitate the others to find your own style, it always works like that by the way
-You see, and so I started with Kenny Muhammad in fact. So obviously I feed myself with a lot of technics, I use a lot on stage -Yeah
I like it in fact, and I take it in a good way, I'm not in a perspective of copying others, it's more to play with what a beatboxer can do and I love it
Yeah that's it, because my question wasn't that anodyne, today we have YouTube in which there is a lot of beatboxers with their channel. But there are also Swissbeatbox and BeatboxBattle channels which are very important to represent beatbox worldwide and put it into a large audience
-But 10 years ago there wasn't all of it -Yeah so that was complicated, when I started beatbox I didn't have internet -That's it
But what happened is that my brother had internet, he lived in Lyon, and when I visited him there was few videos, so there was Kenny Muhammad and there was the first French beatbox championship, It's a video I warmly recommend to see
It's that video which introduce me to championships universe and to meet, by videos, French beatboxers
-No but it's great you talk about this video because you have to know that I used excerpts of it in the video about the beatbox once again, sorry to say it again -Excellent
And yeah I've found this video and indeed it's a short documentary film to understand, that what I said before but I say again, of the evolution of the discipline, it's incredible !
There was already some level 10 years ago, today it has nothing to deal with it but at least you have it as basis as you said, Faya Brae, Micspawn, etc, they are gods
-That's it and to still answer your question, one day I remember, I met Micspawn -Oh really ?
And I told him –he didn't know me, but I knew him obviously – and I told him "Listen, make me in my little phone recorder the most technic freestyle you can make" so he laughed, he didn't know me
The young guy arrives, he is 15, he asks me it but I really tell him "Really, make me the most technic thing" so he was super hot, he was the biggest technician in France and he gives me a 2 min freestyle that I don't have anymore, I don't know where the phone ended
And I listen to it, it's unthinkable, I listened to it all day long, why ? Because I didn't get a single piece of what he did, but nothing at all ! To me I heard something like
And I say to myself he's insane, and I listened to it again and again, beatbox is like that, for all the sounds, more you listen, more your brain will understand
-And, and, one year later I see Micpawn again, at French championships I think, and I swear, of course it wasn't as good as his, but I did that freestyle -Nice
And he laughed so hard, because Micspawn is like that, he laughed, because he remembered a bit, and I remember a bit, I don't have the audio anymore but it does something like this
Something like this
-And it's funny because it's still technics, and the anecdote is here, why am I talking of it ? Because at 2015 world championship, against Ball-Zee -So in semi-final
Ah yeah so I'll surprise you, listen: Mispawn lost in semi-final in 2009, against Vahtang, he lost in semi-final. And I ? What do I do in semi-final ? At the same step as him finally, in semi-final in 2015
I end by Micspawn's technics, I really wanted to do it as a tribute saying "Listen Micspawn, I'm in semi-final, and I'm gonna pass this step, gonna go in finals, with your technics" and so he knew, nobody knew but him
-Because I had him a lot on the phone and we really spent a lot of time to train me and I clearly took it and it's a wink to him, a tribute -It's awesome
I clearly take his [beatbox] and I say "You are not the real beatmaker" and "I'm the fake beatmaker ?!" and then I do [beatbox] and I really wanted to do this because the "real beatmaker" is Micspawn
-Well obviously I did it a bit my way, I worked it with him -Yes sure
It's always a pleasure to bring [something] but honestly for me the tribute is clear and here, it's a great anecdote that I find cool
Ah yeah it's awesome because it's a video I've seen so many times and each time that specific moment happened the public is on fire and you too in fact, with adrenalin and everything it's a moment in the video which is absolutely great
-And with this anecdote it's even better -There is a story, yes, but it's often the case with beatboxers, there are good stories and this is one of them and not a lot of people know it
That's it, anyway thanks for sharing because it makes the thing even more delightful. I would to go on another things about you, it's about instruments
So we told it several times already, you are in a musiciancs' family, and you play guitar, there are drums too, thanks to them you more or less discovered beatbox, with your brother mostly, and you play too, and that's where I wanted to bring you
-Hang and gubal -Yes !
And even, and I've seen it not a long time ago, I missed it because it's a video which has 18.000 views, which means not really a lot for your level, I mean you have videos with so much more views
-You play derbouka too -Yeeeees !
And in fact, it.. We can say it's a kind of djembe, even if they don't want them to be associated it's a kind of djembe in asian way, but there is it, derbouka which is a great instrument, I discovered it thanks to you and I find it awesome
And what I knew already you play so well, it's about hang and gubal, can you tell me, including those two, how long have you been playing those instruments and what are your stories with them ?
-Well it's a long story and a beautiful one. In fact, before beatboxing, I was with my parents , it's like more than 10 years ago -Yeah
And one day we were walking with my parents and we see a guy playing hang in a music store, I had to buy a drums method, and here a guy is playing. And wouah we were surprised and this guy was playing in the store
It's a damn good thing ! And the guy tells us "I'm selling it, I move abroad, I'm here to sell it, and my parents dare to ask "How much costs the instrument ?" and the guy answers us, and I tell it because it's a really expensive instrument
-Yeah it's really expensive -And he tells us "200€"
-No ?! -So we say "Ah, 200€ ?" and we even hesitated to take it because I was young, I loved percussion, I liked drums, I liked derbouka
But that day it was really associating percussion with melodies and it's one of the rare instruments to be able to do this, with you hands you do melodies with the notes
That's it, we precise that hang allows you to do percussions associated with very soft sounds, a bit whistled, really calm, and 200€ is nothing, it costs at least 10 times more
Yes that's it, so we go back home with the instrument, I play it a lot, I discover beatbox and hang is always a part of my story but I don't really assume it, I have it at home, I like it
But not that much, then by growing up and thanks to YouTube too, it allows me to do this video a bit like a "test" because I played it and then I discovered gubal through internet but it's more recent, it's been 2 years I think
The gubal is here and I'm very happy, it's maybe an instrument that matches me, why ? Because as I said before I'm a very energetic man, I'm a ball of nerves, and here it's totally the opposite
-Ah yeah -And it's an instruments I think which relaxes, calms me down and I want to develop it even more, so maybe not with the beatbox because we often ask me "It could be great to do beatbox an hang at the same time (?)"
I did some but it's something that I don't feel really good in fact, which I'm not so interested in, I prefer to play it alone, when I add beatbox it's cool but the interest for me is not here
-Yeah yeah I understand. We maybe could say it's also about your style of beatboxing which is not really matching -That's it, it's not my energy
-And so I want to develop it and even if I can add a little anecdote that I never said but I want to do a little album of gubal -Really ?
This is really the little anecdote project, it's important for me, I announce it, maybe I'm taking some risks but I have to
-It would be great ! -Yeah I really want to do that, an album made of gubal only, it would be surprising, no beatbox, it would be a gubal album you could listen relaxed in the living room, in the morning, in the car, a really peaceful thing
-It's something I have my heart set on doing this, so I can afford it -That's it, you're right to have your heart set on doing it because finally we talked about the fact it's expensive, but it's also an unusual instrument, more than it's price, it's not something which is produced by millions like guitars, I say something stupid
-But it's still an pretty classy instrument, in a way, it's the way I see it -Yeah I really do like the instrument, so I don't like it because it's unusual, but we can't help but say that when we play it, the way this instrument is mysterious
As it's an instrument we don't see a lot, it's sure that it gives the instrument a incredible strength and it's sure it gives the the will to go, discover the instrument
It's clear. Another field now we will come back a bit more at pure beatbox aspects, so here we'll get into more details. I'm talking about instruments and there is a reason for that
In fact, well videos of you on YouTube, on your channel or not by the way, there are plenty of them. Speakinf of that, I don't know it yet because I didn't edit the video naturally but I'll try to do extracts of 30 seconds each using different videos of you each time
So to say there are plenty of them and it's great, but that's it, you are a globally liked beatbox, but obviously all liked person has people who don't like you, it has to be
And one of the reproaches between quotation marks –and it's not an attack eihter- we make to you the more often, it's that lack of musicality and to be nothing but technic, and where I wanted to bring you is that
It's funny in a way that your style is really fast, really into technic and we see that, paradoxically, in the other side you play gubal, hang, very relaxed instruments, you see what I mean ?
In a way we could say –even if you released some videos since which make me lie a little bit – that there are some sonorities we could find in your beatbox and we do not find it. How could you explain it ?
-I think simply that it's not my balance today, my balance – at least in music- is here I think, so it's not through beatbox but instruments in fact -I get it
I'll use beatbox depending on my energy and I'll use gubal to relax myself, I won't use beatbox for it, I'll be bored quickly. I'm not very into musicality even if we could talk about it for hours
-Because in technic there is musicality obviously, why ? -Yes sure
Because a drummer for exemple, when he plays there is no music, not alone at least, because I listen to a lot of drummers but in fact, in drums we don't even wonder, we say it
And it's in my process to continue to do this rhythmic style, so obviously I have to do a bit of melody, but always keeping his identity, it's very important. You know, when I started beatbox, a lot of old ones like Micspawn, Faya Braz told me
And they remember well, they told me "But Alem you can't do only rolls, you have to vary yourself, go to littles melodies, more relaxed styles"
And I wasn't agree with that, and today they remember because they say "Alem, you were right about that, we told you to put technic a bit aside and to go to musicality" and now today they understand it very well
I surprised them with it, they tell it today "You didn't give up, and you succeeded to hold it" and that's it, you have to push, push, push. And always say to yourself that
When you think you reached your limit, you are miles away from you possibilities. And when you get it, it gives you faith to go ahead. So it's not that easy, everyday you doubt
We always said to me "But Alem, you are in the end in technics, you've reached the limits, you absolutely have to work on covers, you have to sing, you don't sing. Sing ! Do melodies"
And I only had one thing in head: push the level of technics, and I swear to you, when I was told that at I was in the end, I was finally close to the 3-times rolling, It was only [beatbox]
And I was told "Listen, put technic aside", damn when I look where I am now, with things I'm now able to do with some [beatbox]
Obviously, if we knew at that time that rolling was possible, sure Micspawn would have said "Yeah go ahead, don't stop to [beatbox]" well anyway it's to say that there is always an evolution, you have to take your style on, you have to develop it
During the last Grand Beatbox Battle, the last solo never released, it's my most recent solo, and I'm almost angry ! Nooo I wouldn't say that but Pepouni never released it and I don't know why, I did a 10min solo, only rhythmic
I wanted to play that game, and I'm mad this solo doesn't come out because during 10min I perform and do only rhythmic, and it's great you have a kind of giant silence and the crowd doesn't even react anymore, and that's what I wanted, no reaction
Which means you come to a moment where people listen, all the beatboxers crowd, and I swear to you there is no noise, and I'm all alone doing [beatbox] and there is this kind of atmosphere which is here and I'm mad this thing was never released
-I'll ask him to give it to me and put it online, I want this thing to be out -Yes sure
-It's really something I want to take on in the future and- -Yeah that's it because we can say that in genereal, when a beatboxer performs on stage, it's a taught audience, often very hot, which reacts a lot, really
And here what you tell me finally it's the opposite, they were really following at a point that they don't react anymore et that's the story, Story that you can tell because you did 10min of showcase, so of performance, there wasn't any battle or judge
-Yeah -Whereas obviously when you battle someone you have to tell a story like you said very quickly, in 1:30 often, it's the time for one round, and after it's the other one's turn, so the idea is that
-Doing kick, well the basis beats for 1:30 it's not thinkable because the aim of a round is to show many different things -Well yeah, you imagine, it wouldn't be interesting
-And so what you'll be more interested in in fact would be beatbox concerts, not battles -That's it, so the problem of beatbox today, there are some, fortunately you have problems everywhere -Sure
The problem today is that we're based on battle only, where I want to go is that you do 5, you do 10 minutes, you take the mic and give yourself a treat, damn I'm waiting for it to see Napom doing 10 min's performance
In a show, relaxed, he expresses himself, he takes the time, he wants to go here, wants to go there, I really want to see that and that's what missing on beatboxers' stage. So it gives the young ones – Well I'm young but – it gives the young ones who start the beatbox
An example that beatbox is juste battling "He's better", we can't help, we're here now. I give working groups to children who are around 12/13, they are very young, they have a passion for beatbox already, they know every videos of swissbeatbox
But I feel it when we talk, we are in a way of "Who wins?" so I find that the example we give is not necessarily good, we're missing at least this show part, showcase
That's it, it's a point I was going to talk a bit later but as you long as you are talking of it let's do it now, it's true that you are insanely generous cause you give children working groups, classes
And I have to say that I'm very admiring you because I'm saying to myself, this guy, he's world champion, again ! Finally we come back it but it's far from being anecdotic, you're France champion, and the guy organizes working group classes for kids
So in fact it's really good, but you're the only one to do that, at least I don't info of others doing it, but that's the idea ? The idea of sharing that you want to spread ?
-Completely -It was at Chirens I think, so in Lyon area, if I pronounce it in a right way -Yes
- Right, you brought some people too; MB14 was here, I remember there was Lexie T too -It's nice -And it's really great, I find it great that you can do some event between quotation marks "without pretention" which brings fresh air, in a way
Yes of course, it's great, it's a battle I organize with Chirens, it's a city with Gerald who is someone super who is interested in urban arts for a while, and here, with me, as I know the beatboxers it's really easy to organize it
So it's great, we propose to people right in the countryside, it's REALLY in deep countryside and so it's awesome because people discover beatbox with good beatboxers, we got Wawad, Alexinho, all the best ones, we had Big Ben too
Yeah it's true it's great. One question which I never find out an answer, maybe you could help me: France is great beatbox country. How does France has so many beatboxers and is
So loved in a beatbox point of view ? Maybe thanks to you too in a way ?
I don't know, it's a tough question, I have no idea, but wha'ts happening is that—The best should be to ask it to americans, to the Beatbox House, to all american beatboxers cause they really felt it
And they point it, in France we are very.. Since there is an event of beatbox we feel it we're a great family, there is no competition, and we really feel it. You go to a beatbox event in France
I don't know you have this family, it's a strange feeling, but I felt it in USA, I went here to judge the championship in New-York, and I won't say that they are in a rivalry but we can't help, Ahlalala in France guys hug
It's funny in a second, we share, we advise very quickly, there is no barreer, right now it's "Wow this kick is great" "Well this one is not that great, you have to work it" "Yeah you have to develop this one I don't like it very much"
-And you feel it, but why I say that, it's because we carry each other -Sure -So French championship, honestly, he's very hard, It's one of the hardest to win
-Ah yeah this championship's level is awesome -You see, it's very complicated, some championships are between 4 guys, but there are some championships you feel that
There are some who stand out, where you can say "Obviously, he won't lose in the first round, there are too many differences of level in some countries" but in France, damn in France, you have the first 16 qualified it's war
So we carry each other, there are a lot of events, maybe it's easier for us in France to travel, and that's why there is a good level in France
-Well no it's clear it can explains some things -You see -It's not anodyne at all, surely not
And so yeah we were just talking about your experience in jury so you were jury in American championships so in New-York, you were jury too in GBB 2017, at least it's the most recent you did more or less
Including competition between differents loopers, you were at Saro's win which was absolutely insane, we saw you, we see you in the videos, in fact everybody just over-liking this moment and they it can be
I think there are videos I've seen 100 times and that's where I wanted to go: since you had you world champion title in 2015, the next one is in 2018, so you won't go there as a performer
-Well no, that's just it -AH [Tadaaaa] suspense ! -"I told you, I will be back !" No I don't know, I think it's a good question and today I still don't want to answer it
-Right -That's it, I don't want to answer it, I give me time, I like to ask this question to myself, will I be candidate to 2018 world championships
-Even I say it's a good question, I'll see, indeed the first answer is "No" because I could be jury and it's an incredible honor -Yeah because that's it: the fact that you don't want to answer is totally fine, but what I saw is that the previous worlds champions, they're all in the jury right now
-Yeah because it's an honor, when you say to yourself "Fuck I'm gonna be jury in world championships" it's insane to consider -But it's not really –sorry to interrupt you- a matter of convention to say when you are world champion you stop to perform ?
No, there is reason which is here too, is that beatbox is evolving a lot and the problem is, at world championship is only every 3 years, so as the level increases when you're world champ, you can imagine that 3 years later
We'll wait for you with a much higher level that what you did and in many cases you didn't reach the maximum because we're never at this "maximum", but when you did your best anyway so it's a real performance, so it's not that easy 3 years after
To take it on face to younger ones, to show that you're still on and you still can push the level, that's why champions stop. It's not like "I'm staying with this win" it's more like "I'm not in the actual beatbox mood today, I'm in something else, and I want to be jury it's cool"
-It's more for that reason, but I still want to ask this question to myself. So I don't have a lot of time I agree, but even if I do it I won't tell it -We'll see
Yeah, that's it, we'll see in fact, when there will be candidates, is Alem participating, we're watching, we're watching, maybe not and maybe it will be "Well no he doesn't participate, he's jury" and that's it
Well it stimulates me, even in my training you see, to say to myself that maybe I'll do it, I'm letting this question suspended, I say maybe and it's good for my training
I see I don't necessarily have the level, because in the world championship what we expect is new possibilities, it's refreshing, beatboxers want new sounds
And my problem is here, I'm not –or at least not anymore- in this mood, I'm rather in a way of taking things on, to push the level in some stuffs but it's not new sounds
-It's development but not new stuff -I understand what you mean. Do you know that I'm a bit mad at you ? Because we have to say it it's been a while since we try to do this interview
It's been few months already (-Damn yes) but we never find out a common free time, and when I started to do some researches about you, even if I knew you pretty well
I was talking about your "lack of musicality" in your beatbox, and I was trying to point these "defaults" and since you've made a cover of Shape of You of Ed Sheeran at Chirens, that we were talking before
You also released a video of that version on your YouTube channel, I was gonna talk about the looper, which allows to record sounds which repeat themselves automatically, doing a loop, asking you why you didn't do some
-Since you've released 2 videos on including one who explodes the number of views -Yes and it's surprising -So I said to myself "Ok, he doesn't have any defaults anymore, that's it, it's over"
But anyway I wanted to come to it anyway because it's interesting that you do that and indeed the views exploded on your first video
You see for the little anecdote, when I did this video, first it took me a while, even if the sound isn't good, I mean in the rehearsal it's not good because I'm not god at loop
And I looked after it, I have the loopstation for more than 1 year, and I never did anything on it. So yeah I did a lot but everything was bad, bad bad bad, and with time, furthermore it's my girlfriend who offered me the loopstation
She said "Damn when will you do something, concretize something ?" and for a long period I was listening big Trap sound music in the car
So what am I listening, I'll be asked, so really I just put "Trap music sound 24/7" and you have trap playing all day long and I'm listening to it in my car because I have a long trip
And I put it, some fat trap music and in fact for a long period I listened to it even if everything is not good in trap, but it's trap anyway, 24/24 it makes me laugh. And I put it, I'm listening, listening listening, and there was a little "click"
I came back home, I had a melody in my hand, it was impossible to replay it because it's 24/24 live, impossible to show you my influence on it, and there was that sound [sound+beatbox] something like that
And I try it on the loop, I simply put reverb [sound] I say "Hey it's good, finally something sounding a bit great", I put a bit of liproll [liproll], I put a little effect on it because I'm really good at it
Anyway, I do a video of it, I call Camille, my girlfriend, very quickly I tell her "Camille, Camille ! You have to record !" and impossible to record, I did my effects wrong, the loop is bad
And in fact it's been tough, and that's why I'm happy, why ? Because I'm in an energy where I say "Fuck, I'm doing it !" and I feel it good, and when I launch the drop, even I see myself, I over-react a little
But even I am happy to see the video because I see myself launching the [sound] and I feel it's gonna work, and it's working so as it's working I'm happy, it's a real satifsfaction's reaction where we feel there was and a lot of training and not that much
Because I'm in a fast move to say "You'll see, this drop is cool and I'm glad of it" and that's it. So I wanted to do it, the day after, I think 2 days after I do another one
You have to know that for the second video, which has less views, but I'm still very satisfied of this one, but you have to know for the anecdote that I worked with Saro for this video
Because the same evening he sent me a Facebook message which was nice to see and said "I saw your loop video, it's great, don't stop !" I was so happy because it's Saro !
Saro if you let me we could say few words on who he is, so we talked about him a bit just before, he's a French beatboxer too, and he literally revolutionized loopers' world, I mean beatboxers who use a loopstation
Yeah that's it, so I was so proud he told me it was good, and the evening or the day after that, because it was done very quickly, he was on Teamspeak (-Yeah!) where we can talk and we worked the second track together
We see it's a bit more technic, the second video is more technic in the way I look after more effect, I record that effect, after I go back to another effect, more manipulations
And he helped me to do it and it's great, the time of an evening and it was great a bit of technic in this second video and that's it it's a video because I want to go elsewhere in loop, even if I like doing trap
And in fact I realized it's a lot of pressure,you know when you do something again you put the level high, well I always want to do something insane and I never do
You see the loop it's been finally a year that I have it to do a melody plus a reverb then just a [sound] it's quite simple you see what I mean ? (-Yeah yeah) You don't need one year to do something like that, or it's sad
Because I'll always set the level high, I don't even try, and sometimes you realize that these are the simplest things, in a good vibe, in a good energy, when you feel it, you don't need to push the level extremely high
It's a message for everyone because it's not to do competition, obviously if we talk about Saro in competition it's something else, we're in a international competition
Obviously here we do things carefully, bur sometimes, when it's not competition, just sharing what you do, where you are, the little track is cool and people react in a good way, they don't expect you to explode everything each time
Sure, it's true it's super interesting and we see on your second loop video and it's indeed a bit more technic. We're gently coming to the end of this interview, I would like to ask you what are you current projects ?
I have noticed 2 things, maybe you could add more, don't hesitate, there is first you project with Krissmen which is weird but in a good way. It's been a long time that you know each other
It's been few years already, and what you combined together is the beatbox for you and he sings in Breton. So for English speakers who are listening to us, Breton is actually a dialect coming from Bretagne, a French area
And those who speak only French can't understand Breton but the sonorities are similar, I have to say. And you combined those 2 things and the result is pretty crazy and you even do concerts with that
Ah yeah it's great, it's true that I could talk a bit about it, on the paper it's something really unexpected (-Hell no) a guy who raps in Breton and a guy beatboxing, so for a large audience you can easily imagine
They've already rarely seen a beatboxer live and even a Breton rapping and singing, so the duo you wonder "What it's gonna be ?!" so this duo is working really well, he raps good and I can handle the beatbox part
-And honestly it's very varied as a duo -Yes, I honestly recommend you to check because it's very surprising and very nice to listen to
And there was the project a bit more recent and actual, it's Trio's one. So what is Trio, it's a project more recent than Krissmen but it's 3 persons, you at beatbox
-And there are 2 musicians: one is playing bass and the other one is doing.. all the rest ? -So there is one percussionist called Stéphane Edouard, he played percussions, he has a bass, a hi-hat, cymbals, a kick and he's playing with his fingers, it's very interesting
I'm at beatbox, and Alfio Origlio which is a great jazz pianist and is very well-known, he played a lot with Jonazs, with Manu Katché, Bobby McFerrin ! And it's a trio I love very much
Which indeed is starting because with have few dates, but it's starting, we have some shows, we recorded an album which will be out very soon, we made 2 teasers, 2 well-recorded videos, very professional, we have a staff
-We have a very pro format and yeah I'm very glad of this trio -Yes that's it, the osmose is working well, I was gonna talk about those 2 teasers on your channel I suppose for more visibility, and it's true it's working so well
And this Alfio that you're talking about it's true that.. Well for those who don't know Bobby McFerrin, he's the king and so it's true that when he plays it's pretty impressive, so I wish you a lot of success for it, already for the idea it's deserved
Thanks, thanks we wish to do it on stage many many times -I hope so. So I would have a last question which could become a kind of gimmick if I have the occasion and the opportunity to interview other people
Well the name of the channel is A Cappelover so we mostly talk about A Cappella music, today we talked about beatbox obviously with you, which is one of the two pillars of A Cappella music
And despite all you've already done and what you do, did you have the idea or would you have the project to join an A Cappella group, is it already a world that you know more or less ?
-Hum.. No not really, to put A Cappella singers that's it ? -Just.. Well first do you even know A Cappella music, do you know that world, Pentatonix, Home Free, VoicePlay… do you know that a little bit ?
Yes it talks to me, I like it a lot by the way, I love it. Ahhh yeah I understand your question: Yeah yeah I would live it a lot, but for now it's true that with Krissmen and the Trio I don't have the time yet but maybe it will come one day
After that, the problem for me is here, why I don't do it, because I want to have an absolute freedom, and I'm afraid of projects with singers that I would be a bit locked, you see what I mean, I don't have this total freedom
That I have to hold that and that rhythm and for now It's not done, but maybe with an all new concept, with a new projects of singers I would love it, but anyway
Yeah that's it because the thing is when a beatboxer is in an A Cappella group he becomes a VP, a Vocal Percussionist, and the difference is here; indeed you will have to follow a partition, a rhythm
-You will have to be in harmonywith the bass mostly, so maybe you are scared to be locked in this but it's tru that it's a different opportunity -Yes sure, which maybe will arrive
-At least the door isn't closed -No the door isn't closed at all, it could be excellent, why not
Oh yeah well A Cappella music is mostly well-known in the US, it's true that in the other side of the Atlantic it's pretty hard to emerge, that's why I opened that channel too, at first
It was to make it known, it's still the objective. So maybe one day we'll find an A Cappella group, the Pentatonix bis, or even Berywam in fact because Berywam is a group of beatboxers
-They are 4, but they do A Cappella music because they all have their parts, they sing -Yeah it's brilliant
-It's incredible, let's hope it will emerge thanks to that kind of groups and maybe you in a more or less far future -That's it, it's clear !
-Well Alem, I will thank you a thousand times from the bottom of my heart -Thanks a lot !
It was really great, I'll cry [AND I DID] cry to do all the subtitles but it's okay because it's really worth it, I hope you will like the result, and obviously you too who watched this video
-And yeah -Hum.. We'll stop here, simply, because it's been already 1h20 of interview, it will be cool
Well thanks to you too, and well, see you soon even on stage, a show or a beatbox event
-Listen I hope so too, we say see ya nexttime, and for you I say see you soon [in a next video] -Bye bye, ciao ciao ! -Bye
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