Local beatboxer to mesmerise audiences abroad

Boksburg beatboxer Morgan Ross Pienaar, popularly known as Morgan Beatbox, will be showcasing his talent abroad soon.

Pienaar (26), who can make seven sounds and sing simultaneously, will be mesmerising beatbox lovers at a show in Los Angeles and at two shows in Germany.

“I am very excited about these overseas shows,” he said.

His beatboxing journey started when he was 15 years old, which means he now has more than a decade of beatboxing experience.

“Music inspired me while I grew up in a not-so-wealthy household. I had to find some way to express myself. What would be the cheapest way to do that? Using what I was born with!” he said.

Although Pienaar was an underdog because he wasn’t really known or a favourite among beatboxing fans, he focused on his passion.

The self-taught artist said he honed and sharpened his beatboxing skills during his many subsequent performances on stage.

“Just like a pilot gets flying hours, I get my stage time. Every show teaches me something. I didn’t receive any formal training whatsoever,” he said

Although many fans believe that the ‘music-making machine’ is now highly skilled at beatboxing, the beatboxer stated that you can never really master a craft as diverse as beatboxing.

“Just when I think I’ve figured it out, a new sound or new idea might kick in for me to work on.

“It has taken me 11 years to learn the sounds I’ve learnt, and it will be many more years of learning to come,” Pienaar said.

Performing on Joburg Day, in front of some 35 000 music fans, is the highlight of Pienaar’s career so far.

He won the BTTC Beatbox Battles in 2016.

“I’ve worked with pretty much most of SA’s beatboxers, whether on a gig or on TV,” he said.

Pienaar is also taking part in the upcoming Kings and Queens of Comedy event, and from there he will be heading to his overseas shows.

He said he is not focusing solely on beatboxing.

“Being involved in all these comedy shows and rubbing shoulders with comedians, constantly, has evolved me into a slight comedian too.

“This also helped me to venture into being an MC. So now I can provide a combo of entertainment and MC work, which has been doing well in the corporate market,” he said.

Pienaar was born in Midrand and went to Halfway House Primary School. When he was in Grade 10, he and his family moved to Boksburg where he attended Boksburg High School. -@MthuphaFanie