“When I started beat boxing some 12 years ago while studying in school, I didn’t even know what it is called or if an art form like this exists”, says Divyansh Kacholia, who is now not only a force to reckon with in the industry but has also popularly emerged as India’s First Folk Beat Boxer. For the uninitiated, Beat Boxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines, using one’s mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. In an exclusive conversation with us , the 24-year-old beat boxer from Jaipur sheds light on his journey, beat boxing as a career, current projects and more.
Beat boxing is an unconventional choice
Divyansh got into beat boxing with no intention, vision or training. While having fun with his friends in school, he started mimicking the sound of drums and it was only much later that he got serious about it. “Studying in Delhi University gave me a lot of exposure as there were a lot of fests and cultural programmes which used to take place. In fact, I gave a beat boxing spin on the Rajasthani folk music which I used to hear in weddings and festivals etc. back home and it became a huge hit in events in Delhi. However, the game changer for me was meeting the World Beat Box Champion, Skiller. He changed my perception towards beat boxing and thereafter I started practicing seriously – for even upto 12 hours a day”, recalls the beat boxer, who is better known as DVK.
Accepting beat boxing as a career was not easy for Divyansh’s family. However, when he appeared on TV in 2018 and a lot of big artists from the music industry sang praises for him, they got really excited. “My parents were taken aback initially since I was good in studies and they could not understand why I would take this up as my career. Moreover, beat boxing is usually not seen as an art form like music or dance. Gradually things changed and now they are more excited than me for my ongoing and future projects”, tells the popular beat boxer.
Art over Content
Thanks to the onslaught of social media, “content” has become the singular focus of people and that should change, opines Divyansh. “One should focus on creating art and not content”, he says. Giving a word of advice to those who aspire to make it big in the performing arts or any other unconventional career, he further adds: “Focus on your art and do it with utmost passion, honesty and sincerity. Consistency is the key to success. It may take time to make a name for yourself in this field but eventually you are bound to be happy since you’re doing what you love.”
Education shouldn’t be ignored
A graduate in commerce from the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Divyansh believes that even if one wants to pursue a career in music or dance, formal education and getting a basic undergraduate degree is still important. “One must complete their formal education even if one plans on taking a completely different career path – not as a plan B but because it helps one to be disciplined and stick to a schedule”, says Divyansh.
Experience of being on a Reality Show
Divyansh, who earlier made it to season two of the reality show Dil Hai Hindustani and won the hearts of many stalwarts from the Bollywood music industry, is now participating in the popular show ‘India’s Got Talent’. Here the beat boxer is performing with Manuraj Singh, an equally talented flutist, who is also a disciple of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiya. The show is being judged by actors Kirron Kher and Shilpa Shetty; singer, Badshah and poet and screenwriter, Manoj Muntashir.
Telling about his experience of being on the show, Divyansh says: “It feels surreal. The pandemic was a huge setback, personally and professionally, both. But I never gave up, neither on my dreams and passion nor on enhancing my skills. With the love and support of my friends and family, I am once again a part of a reality show. I am awestruck and blessed to share the stage with huge talents. I look forward to performing better with each episode. For me, it is not about the results but what I showcase during the few minutes I have in hand on stage.”
Tusharika Singh
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