Rolling to the beat

Mike is his only weapon. And when he is on stage, audience fall prey for his music.Though, only 16, Hyderabad-based Raj Verma is already making waves as a beat-boxing prodigy. He recently performed alongside ShriLektric in the city.Raj Verma, an MPC student from St. Mary’s Junior College in Yousufguda says he is a self-taught musician.“I started learning online from videos uploaded on YouTube,” he says.And why did he choose beat boxing? “The best part of beat boxing is that, there is no instrument.Anything that has to be done is depended on your creativity.That is precisely why I love it.” Raj has been beat boxing for over two years now.In January this year, Sony Music and the British Council signed eight musicians for Voctronica, India’s first all-vocal beat boxing orchestra, consisting of eight musicians, of which three are vocalists and five beat boxers. “I am the only one from Hyderabad. We just use microphones to make music. Playing in Mumbai was a great learning experience,” says Raj, adding, “We give each other parts and coordinate with the vocals.”But, what difference does a drummer make to a band? To which Raj replies,“There are always limitations.Beat boxers cannot do what drummers can do.And drummers cannot do what beat boxers can do.”Raj is particularly popular for his combination of dubstep, inspired wobbles with break beats. He idolises a Belgium-based beat boxer, Roxor Loops.“He creates some really great music.I follow all his videos and try and implement some of it in my music.”He also expresses that beat boxing craze is very less in the city. “There are not many clubs in the city for beat boxing.I am a part of an online portal, the Community of Indian Beat Boxers on which we share our music and discuss different aspects of beat boxing.”On his experience playing along side Shrikant Shriram (ShriLektric), he says, “I have been listening to all his music.It is really different and enjoyable.It was like a dream come true to perform along with him.He is really good with all his instruments.”