When the Beat Drops

Moktadir Dewan Shanto, also known as 'Beat Baksho,' is known as the first recognised beat boxer to come across our country's music scene. This incredible musician is now a role model for the upcoming musicians in our country. On November 22, he participated as one of the speakers for TEDx Dhaka. During his talk he spoke about exploring different genres and the current evolution of our countries music scene.

“Three months ago Salman Beg, a co-organiser of the event, called me and asked if I was willing to be one of the speakers. Initially, I was very excited but as the day of the event came closer, I started getting nervous,” says Shanto. His talk in TEDx Dhaka this year became one of the most popular talks of the event as he demonstrated how the human mouth can be the most versatile musical instrument. “I tried to explain how, as musicians, we should always try to think outside the box. Coming up with better sounds should be one of our main priorities. Some times what can't be accomplished on a drum or sampler can be accomplished with one's mouth,” says the beat boxer. He first began beat boxing by accident when he tried to copy Michel Jackson. “Back then I didn't know what I was doing other than making sounds from my mouth. I learned the term when I saw MJ referring to it as beat boxing.”

In his speech at TEDx, he also talked about the struggles he went through. “When I first started beat boxing on stage, I heard people saying things like there's nothing instrumental about it and I remember being called a 'wannabe DJ'. But I am very glad that this scenario is changing rapidly as a lot of young beat boxers are on the rise,” he says. Though he has worked with many genres, Shanto doesn't follow any particular one. He says, “If you see my play-list you will see all kinds of artists in there. I think sticking to a specific genre will deprive you from a lot of great music. So for me if it's good, it's good!”

Right now Shanto is working as a senior copywriter at Bagher Bachcha Digital and also as a radio jockey at Radio Shadhin. Other than his own band, Blunderware, he's working with AvoidRafa as a beat boxer, vocalist, and sampler. To all aspiring musicians, he says, “Keep on exploring. You never know what might light the spark in your torch to glory.”