"Like a John Coltrane solo, Adam's Beat Boxing creates narratives which mere words could never accomplish."--Reg E Gaines, playwright, Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk
"...beatbox maestro..." Wired Magazine
"...virtuoso..." Flavorpill
"....brilliant...like sonic abstract expressionism..." Ithaca Times
"...clever..." The Star Tribune
"......his ability to remix his own voice is remarkable, at first singing over a synced beat and then slowing it down, speeding it up, dubbing, scratching, even using the layrngeal equivalent of a wah-wah pedal. He's wonderful to watch in these moments, right hand on the mic, left hand flailing in time, drops of spit and sweat flying off him. He must get terribly dehydrated...." Village Voice
"...Matta is the soul of ['Beatbox Bard'], and because his mic covers his face throughout, we only see his impassive almond eyes and his quiet, rhythmic physical presence — until the curtain call, when the mic drops and the person behind the performer breaks through. With throat, tongue, voice and breath he creates not just beatbox rhythms (an urban tradition already a quarter-century old), underscoring or counterpointing the play's action, but an entire soundscape..." Ithaca Journal
"...incredible..." Art or Something Like It, CUNY TV
"His beats are unsurpassable, but what really makes this guy wail is the mind inside the body heretic."-- Lynn Book, professor, Sarah Lawrence College
Adam Matta is a beatboxer and vocal performance artist influenced by artists such as Rahzel, Michael Winslow and Meredith Monk. With an arsenal of vocal instrumentals including brass, beats, vocal scratches/turntablism, and mechanical sound effects, Matta references blues, rock, rap, heavy metal, drum-and-bass, freestyle jazz, and Middle Eastern, sometimes all in the same composition.
Adam Matta is a 2007 Artist in Residence at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. He has played with Matisyahu, Kenny Muhammad, Shara Worden, Reg E Gaines, Savion Glover, Bora Yoon, Julianne Carney, Tim Lefebvre, Aaron Comess, Masai Electro, Akim Funk Buddha, Sxip Shirey, Luminescent Orchestrii, and Beatboxer Entertainment, at venues such as the Tribeca Film Festival, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, the World Famous Apollo Theater and Madison Square Garden. Matta's music appears on soundtrack compilation, "The L Word, Season II: Sessions," released on Tommy Boy Records, and in Benson Lee's 2007 documentary, "Planet B-Boy." He was selected by Heavy.com to promote Hot Tamales at a spring break event in Panama City, Florida. He is appearing in an online ad campaign by Stride Gum, and his music appeared on NPR's "All Things Considered," to promote "Ice Cream Headache," a Williamsburg art project calling for remixes of the traditional Mr. Softee jingle.
Mr. Matta was a 2006-07 Artist in Residence at Here Arts Center in New York, working on "Makeshift," a one-man show incorporating beatboxing and bicycle performance art. He also was an Artist in Residence at Cornell University in 2007, working on "Beatbox Bard," a performance that mixed beatboxing and Shakespearean sonnets. He appeared as part of the United Way's Literacy Arts Initiative, 9th Annual Student Showcase at the World Famous Apollo Theater, Produced by Plays For Living. He also collaborates with Philip Hamilton in vocal workshops for youth at Lincoln Center. Storycorps/Soundportraits, David Isay's sound booth for recording everyday peoples oral histories, selected a vocal piece with him and his father to represent the project on NPRs "Morning Edition," and at Grand Central Station.
He was selected to appear on nationally-syndicated "Blind Date" as a beatbox instructor, and as a featured guest on WNYEs (Ch. 25 NYC) Afterschool. He appeared on WB NYC 6 AM Morning News , with beatboxer, Kid Lucky, and was a guest on WBAIs (99.5 NYC) "Tahrir: Voices from the Middle East." He was the human DJ in Daniel Beaty's "Emergence-SEE!" at Chashama Theater, and also in Linda Mancinis "Laugh-in Meets Dada," at New York Theater Workshop. He headlined at La Mama Annex in a self-produced show entitled, "mic/xing," in which he mixed Arabic and Jewish incantations with his live beatboxing. He created a solo show at PS 122, entitled "Kit Bashing," inviting rock band, The Animators, renowned composer Sxip Shirey, and MC/beatboxer/breakdancer Akim Funk Buddha, all of whom are frequent collaborators. He headlined with guest beatboxers, Taylor McFerrin, Masai Electro and RAHJ, at the Living Room, a program that was aired on BBC Radio Scotland.
He composed, performed and recorded with dancer, Faith Pilger for the Edinburgh Festival, and Jesse Phillips-Fein for the DUMBO Dance Festival. He starred in Simin Farkhondehs film Other, and played a supporting role in Unconcealed Weapons by Ryan Edwards. He also appears in Anne Husainis film, Lost on the L, where he performs in a train station. He has self-released CDs Rage Against the Drum Machine, and also Homegrown Blues with MF Willis, Musical Chairs with Elke Bartholomaeus and Mia Hsieh and Contact with Bliss on Bliss. He appears on Luminescent Orchestriis Too Hot to Sleep and on Mad HaPPys Feel Good Music for the Broke Middle Class(Bar None).
Cheers champ, an honour having you here, be well, and do enjoy the library/blog's contents, here's hoping that it'll inspire you, as your creative spirit has inspired mine, sweet dreams then...
Thanks for becoming a part of our fam! Your support means a lot to us. World premiere of "Planet B-boy: The Movie" today! Please check out our profile for release dates in your area. If you would like to receive updates about the film and screenings in your area, please visit the link on our page or join our Mailing List so that we can send you occasional updates and screening info for your area. Peace & respect, Planet B-Boy.
thanks for ya comment adam -your the first person from o/s - and i really apreciate it - thanks mate! ( though i really think YOUR original - and i am derivative - but its still a buzz !)
