Gene Shinozaki
Gene Shinozaki | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shinozaki as a showcase on Grand Beatbox Battle in 2019 | |||||
| Background information | |||||
| Birth name | Gene V Shinozaki | ||||
| Also known as | GVSBeatbox | ||||
| Born | May 28, 1991 California, United States | ||||
| Origin | New York City, United States | ||||
| Genres | |||||
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2011–present | ||||
| Website | www | ||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 篠崎 仁 | ||||
| Hiragana | しのざき じん | ||||
| Katakana | シノザキ ジン | ||||
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Gene V Shinozaki (篠崎 仁, Shinozaki Jin, born May 28, 1991), 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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
| Years | Competitions | Held | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Grand Beatbox Battle | Basel, Switzerland | 1 | Solo |
| American Beatbox Championships | New York, USA | 1 | Tag Team
(with Chris Celiz as Spider Horse) | |
| 2016 | Grand Beatbox Battle | Basel, Switzerland | Top 4 | |
| 3 | Solo | |||
| American Beatbox Championships | Brooklyn, New York | 3 | Loopstation | |
| 1 | Tag Team
(with Chris Celiz as Spider Horse) | |||
| 2017 | Grand Beatbox Battle | Basel, Switzerland | 3 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |||
| Beatbox Battle World Championship | Berlin, Germany | 1 | ||
| 2 | Crew
(part of Beatbox House) | |||
| Top 16 | Men solo | |||
| 2021 | Grand Beatbox Battle | Warsaw, Poland | Solo |
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sound and Human[11] |
Track listing
|
| Transcend[12] |
Track listing
|
Mixtape[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Untitled EP |
Track listing
|
Singles[edit]
As lead artist[edit]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Trapanese" | 2017 | Sound and Human |
| "Alone In The Dark" | ||
| "Just Friend (Sunny)"
(Trap remix) |
2018 | Non-album single |
| "Jigsaw" | 2019 | Transcend |
| "Home" | ||
| "See You There" | ||
| "Never Give Up" | ||
| "Pussy Cat" | 2020 | Non-album single |
| "Believe" | Non-album single | |
| "Metamorphosis" | 2021 | Non-album single |
As promotional singles[edit]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Inner Cosmic Spiral"
(Mike Larry Draw & Lex Sadler feat. Gene Shinozaki) |
2017 | Non-album single |
| "End Game"
(with Emanuela Bellezza) |
Non-album single | |
| "JUMPIN"
(with Hiss, Codfish & Amit Bhowmick) |
2018 | Non-album single |
| "BINGO"
(with Colaps, Alexinho, Zekka, River', FootboxG & Puls8) |
2020 | Non-album single |
| "Broken Clocks"
(Kriij feat. Jordan Peters, J3PO & Gene Shinozaki) |
2021 | Non-album single |
| "Hero"
(with Swissbeatbox) |
2022 | Non-album single |
Filmography[edit]
Television shows[edit]
| Year | Program | Network | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | So You Think You Can Dance | FOX | Performing | Season 10, episode 18 (finale)
(with Movement Box) |
References[edit]
- ^ "GENE SHINOZAKI PROFILE". Human Beatbox. April 13, 2017.
- ^ BeatboxGuru (October 17, 2015). "Gene Shinozaki shares his inspirations and plans @ beatbox.guru" – via YouTube.
- ^ "Beatboxing Busker Impresses Riders at MBTA's Downtown Crossing".
- ^ "Gene Shinozaki – HUMAN BEATBOX". humanbeatbox.com. April 13, 2017.
- ^ anton cilik (September 11, 2013). "Movement Box So you think you can dance season 10 finale" – via YouTube.
- ^ Ernst, Adam. "Buhmpf Tsch! CHS Alumnus Beatboxes to the Top of the World (Updated w/link to Final Beatbox Battle)".
- ^ "Sofar Sounds: An Eclectic Family Reunion – Sound of Boston – Boston Music Blog". March 8, 2016.
- ^ "Gene Shinozaki on Apple Music". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Beats Outside the Box performance and workshop". northeastern.edu.
- ^ "All Together Now #4: A Brief Q&A with performer Gene Shinozaki – Millennial Noise". April 19, 2017.
- ^ "Sound and Human by Gene Shinozaki". Apple Music. July 29, 2017.
- ^ "Transcend by Gene Shinozaki". Apple Music. February 18, 2019.