When did you realise you could beatbox then?  09/03/12

Ah the big question. One of the favourites: When did you realise you could beatbox then? The truth is, there wasn't a moment that was like "ah sick, check it out I can beatbox".  Being able to beatbox took a lot of time and dedication, the same as any discipline does. 

I first experienced beatboxing as an art-form when I was 14. I used to hang around this group of older guys, some of whom used to play at hip-hop nights in town (that was back in the days when any girl could get away with having a fake ID as long as they had some curves on 'em). DukeBox was the beatboxer, and like a lot of people who witness beatboxing for the first time I was like "'ere, how the hell is this man makin' all them crazy sounds all at once ey?"

I never planned on being a beatboxer, or even getting half decent at it. I always wanted to be a bass player and beatboxing just fascinated me. That, plus it is well addictive. This was well before youtube came along and brought beatboxing above board so my only real resource was DukeBox, and I used to hassle him to perform the 'Wind Technique' (Classic beatbox routine by Kenny Muhammad) for me whilst I sat there and gawped. Duke was extremely patient with me - this eager little kid girl who thought she was grown up - and graciously let me question him and harvest his sounds. He also taught me some valuable lessons on exploration, individuality, and respect of other peoples' work. 

Anyway, to cut a long story less long, my introduction to beatboxing was followed by an intense obsession period, which was in turn followed by the beginning of me being good at beatboxing. The end. (Or should I say the beginning?)