Gene Shinozaki Explained

Gene Shinozaki
Birth Name:Gene V Shinozaki
Alias:GVSBeatbox
Birth Date:May 28, 1991
Birth Place:California, United States
Origin:New York City, United States
Years Active:2011–present
Module:
Child:yes
Kanji:篠崎 仁
Romaji:Shinozaki Jin
Hiragana:しのざき じん
Katakana:シノザキ ジン

, better known as Gene Shinozaki and formerly GVSBeatbox,[1] is a Japanese-American beatboxer, singer-songwriter, street performer, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.[2] He is currently a member of the beatbox crew Beatbox House and half of the world-champion tag team Spider Horse.

Career

Shinozaki was originally from California but soon moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music before dropping out due to disinterest in the program.[3] While touring with his band "DC Wonder" he decided to pursue a career in beatboxing after watching an interview with Reeps One.[4] Over two years he started street performing, began gigging and eventually was featured on the TV show[5] So You Think You Can Dance in the beatbox/dance duo "Movement Box". Shinozaki started beatbox battling in 2013. In 2015 he won the Grand Beatbox Battle in Switzerland[6] He then became sound engineer for Beatbox television and joined the group Beatbox House.[7] In 2017 Shinozaki released his debut album, "Sound and Human".[8] Shinozaki has been ranked among the top 8 beatboxers in the world.[9]

Musical style

Shinozaki is well known for his signature brand of beatboxing which involves performing the role of an entire rock band using vocal percussion, singing, and lip oscillation techniques. He is one of the first beatboxers to pioneer musicality (over technicality) in the world of beatboxing, focusing on emotional melodies and singing in addition to solid technique. He cites Bobby McFerrin as a direct and primary influence on his sound.[10] He also often performs as a singer songwriter, and electronic music producer.

Performance in competitions

As participate on beatbox events!Years!Competitions!Held!Result!Notes
2015Grand Beatbox BattleBasel, SwitzerlandSolo
American Beatbox ChampionshipsNew York, USATag Team(with Chris Celiz as Spider Horse)
2016Grand Beatbox BattleBasel, Switzerland
Solo
American Beatbox ChampionshipsBrooklyn, New YorkLoopstation
Tag Team

(with Chris Celiz as Spider Horse)

2017Grand Beatbox BattleBasel, Switzerland
2018
Beatbox Battle World ChampionshipBerlin, Germany
Crew(part of Beatbox House)
Top 16Men solo
2021Grand Beatbox BattleWarsaw, PolandSolo

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
Sound and Human[11]
Transcend[12]

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"Trapanese"2017Sound and Human
"Alone In The Dark"
"Just Friend (Sunny)"(Trap remix)2018
"Jigsaw"2019Transcend
"Home"
"See You There"
"Never Give Up"
"Pussy Cat"2020
"Believe"
"Metamorphosis"2021

As promotional singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Inner Cosmic Spiral"(Mike Larry Draw & Lex Sadler feat. Gene Shinozaki)2017
"End Game"(with Emanuela Bellezza)
"JUMPIN"(with Hiss, Codfish & Amit Bhowmick)2018
"BINGO"(with Colaps, Alexinho, Zekka, River', FootboxG & Puls8)2020
"Broken Clocks"(Kriij feat. Jordan Peters, J3PO & Gene Shinozaki)2021
"Hero"(with Swissbeatbox)2022

Filmography

Television shows

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017-04-13 . GENE SHINOZAKI PROFILE . Human Beatbox.
  2. Web site: Gene Shinozaki shares his inspirations and plans @ beatbox.guru. BeatboxGuru. October 17, 2015. YouTube.
  3. Web site: Beatboxing Busker Impresses Riders at MBTA's Downtown Crossing. August 24, 2017. August 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170824144759/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/blog/2013/07/25/beat-boxing-mbta-downtown-crossing-video/. dead.
  4. Web site: Gene Shinozaki – HUMAN BEATBOX. humanbeatbox.com. April 13, 2017 .
  5. Web site: Movement Box So you think you can dance season 10 finale. anton cilik. September 11, 2013. YouTube.
  6. Web site: Buhmpf Tsch! CHS Alumnus Beatboxes to the Top of the World (Updated w/link to Final Beatbox Battle). Adam. Ernst.
  7. Web site: Sofar Sounds: An Eclectic Family Reunion – Sound of Boston – Boston Music Blog. March 8, 2016.
  8. Web site: Gene Shinozaki on Apple Music. iTunes Store.
  9. Web site: Beats Outside the Box performance and workshop. northeastern.edu.
  10. Web site: All Together Now #4: A Brief Q&A with performer Gene Shinozaki – Millennial Noise. April 19, 2017.
  11. Web site: 2017-07-29 . Sound and Human by Gene Shinozaki . Apple Music.
  12. Web site: 2019-02-18 . Transcend by Gene Shinozaki . Apple Music.