Not the next Spice Girls (The Boxettes) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Redlemon · 01-10-2011, 11:02 AM

Well, sure, it's a female singing group. With five girls. From England. But I wouldn't be sharing the next Spice Girls with you folks.

This group feels like a new take on a cappella. From their website,

Quote:

The Boxettes have an unconventional a-capella sound with tight beatbox work set against dreamy, sundrenched harmonics- as each of the girls take turns in either narrating over a melody, providing chord work, beatboxing or fx sounds with their mouths... having started with a focus on Jazz interpellation, the band soon evolved and begun incorporating elements of hip-hop, drum and bass, motown and soul. These are yarns to recount, folk tales and fables of love lost, hearts crushed and empowered, made for live recital in a soulful hip-hop.

Enough words. They've only released one song so far, called Free. When you get to 0:30, close your eyes and listen to the bass kick in at 0:36. After you say "WTF?", open your eyes and watch how it happens.

The Boxettes - "Free" on Vimeo

I'm still not sure if this is a group that I like, but I am definitely fascinated by them. I found them through another awesome video, a flash mob sponsored by T-Mobile. There was a female beatboxer doing some cool scratching, and she turned out to be Bellatrix, the drummer for The Boxettes. That video is here:

YouTube - The T-Mobile Welcome Back

Yeah, I have a bit of an obsession regarding female vocal percussionists. Did anyone watch The Sing-Off? Courtney Jensen is a cutie.

YouTube - Courtney Jensen Beat Boxing Solo At Noteworthy Concert

Jove · 01-11-2011, 11:37 AM

Nice find!

genuinegirly · 01-11-2011, 01:28 PM

That is the most exciting acapella group I have heard in a while. Thanks for sharing!

fresnelly · 01-11-2011, 01:46 PM

Have you heard of Camille? I have her album Le Fil and it's amazing.

Of course, she's also the one singing the lovely finale of Ratatouille:

YouTube - Le Festin- Camille (Ratatouille Soundtrack)

Strange Famous · 01-11-2011, 02:14 PM

you cant sell a girl group with looks like that.

Might be a sad & unfair reflection on the industry, but its true.

They might be a bit of a novelty with the beatboxing... probably shouldnt give up any day jobs too quickly though.

Personally I find it quite distracting and unpleasant to listen to, although I dont doubt it is probably difficult to do.

Willravel · 01-11-2011, 02:36 PM

That's a really interesting sound they've managed to create. I like it. It's both catchy and non-mainstream. I have to admit to being a tiny bit jealous. For three weeks in high school I was a part of an (all white, due to a lack of diversity in the school, not intentionally excluding anyone) R&B group called Sexual White Chocolate, and we couldn't find a good, unique sound. This group has a good, unique sound that I wish one of us would have picked out. The fact that they're all women changes the sound slightly, and certainly makes the bass a bit more interesting, but I think it could work with lower voices without losing anything.

Redlemon · 01-12-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fresnelly

Have you heard of Camille? I have her album Le Fil and it's amazing.

I'm not a big fan of looping; it makes the music a bit to repetitive for me. Although, I must admit, it is fun to watch live. Tracy Bonham was opening for the Blue Man Group a few years ago, and she did a cool violin/vocal loop in that performance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

you cant sell a girl group with looks like that.

Might be a sad & unfair reflection on the industry, but its true.

Well, I guess that's one more reason why they won't be the next Spice Girls...

Quote:

They might be a bit of a novelty with the beatboxing... probably shouldnt give up any day jobs too quickly though.

Personally I find it quite distracting and unpleasant to listen to, although I dont doubt it is probably difficult to do.

Which was unpleasant for you, the beatboxing or the song as a whole?

Strange Famous · 01-12-2011, 02:33 PM

The beat boxing I guess, but mostly that the singing and the harmonies they were doing in the background seemed discordant and clashed to me.

Fly · 01-15-2011, 09:39 AM

i thought that was pretty fucking cool.........the Boxettes that is.

thanks RL

01-11-2011, 01:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	That is the most exciting acapella group I have heard in a while. Thanks for sharing! __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

01-11-2011, 02:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	you cant sell a girl group with looks like that. Might be a sad & unfair reflection on the industry, but its true. They might be a bit of a novelty with the beatboxing... probably shouldnt give up any day jobs too quickly though. Personally I find it quite distracting and unpleasant to listen to, although I dont doubt it is probably difficult to do. __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas

01-12-2011, 02:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	The beat boxing I guess, but mostly that the singing and the harmonies they were doing in the background seemed discordant and clashed to me. __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas

01-15-2011, 09:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
Fly see the links to my music? Location: Beautiful British Columbia	i thought that was pretty fucking cool.........the Boxettes that is. thanks RL __________________ BASTARD SterlingStudios

01-11-2011, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jove Groovy Hipster Nerd Location: Michigan	Nice find!

01-11-2011, 02:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	That's a really interesting sound they've managed to create. I like it. It's both catchy and non-mainstream. I have to admit to being a tiny bit jealous. For three weeks in high school I was a part of an (all white, due to a lack of diversity in the school, not intentionally excluding anyone) R&B group called Sexual White Chocolate, and we couldn't find a good, unique sound. This group has a good, unique sound that I wish one of us would have picked out. The fact that they're all women changes the sound slightly, and certainly makes the bass a bit more interesting, but I think it could work with lower voices without losing anything.