Sensational local talent Morgan Pienaar (27) is still setting the stage alight with his beatboxing mastery.
Since he first picked up a mic at the East Rand Trader’s Square during his school days, his life has all been about entertainment. Today, he is still amazed at his achievement by simply, as he calls it, using his mouth.
Among his many skills is that he can produce a mind-blowing eight sounds at the same time.
Over the last several years, he has travelled to America and Germany, and of late, the Asian market has opened up for him.
“While I was doing a gig in Los Angeles, I got noticed and then got invited to perform in China,” said Morgan, who focuses these days a lot on corporate gigs, even though he has played at tons of festivals and clubs back home.
“Then, as I was doing my thing in China, I was invited to Jordan to play at a military base. I have also been invited to India next year to perform at a festival.”
He believes his talent as a beatboxer is a cut above the rest in South Africa, and for this reason he has not just been able to firmly establish himself in the local market but is now enjoying attention from overseas.
Morgan solidified his place in the South African entertainment industry when in 2012 he collaborated with The Parlotones in front of thousands of roaring fans at 947’s Joburg Day. A year later, at the same festival, he was performing in front of a 35 000-strong audience.
He has also performed with a number of other celebrity bands such as Prime Circle, Goldfish, Locnville, Crazy White Boy, Mean Mr Mustard, Gang of Instrumentals, Jack Parrow and Elvis Blue.
Over the years he has also worked close to home in countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe where he entertained multi-cultural audiences who each found Morgan a hit. One of his many audience members includes President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Regarding Los Angeles and New York, Morgan said his performance is not as well-received as for example back home or in Asia.
“It is a question of the audiences in the big cities of America are used to top class performers and entertainers all the time. It is a different scenario in Asia, where you are almost treated like a god,” said Morgan, who has also been involved in several theatrical contracts.
“I remember years ago in Thailand how the people simply went crazy with excitement when I performed.”
He also launched the Beauty and the Beat show, which is a unique show performed by himself and violinist Kristen Birkholtz.
This duo is as raw as it gets, with no back tracks, just pure human made sounds and the violin, on the spot and all organised into a symphony of incredible music.
• Comedy
Of late, to bolster his on-stage persona, he has added a bold dash of humour to his shows.
“The comedy aspect has certainly added a new dimension. I am not a stand-up comedian, but I can use special effects in such a way to add a humerous value.”
Being involved with many comedy shows and rubbing shoulders with comedians has evolved him into a slight comedian too.
“This has also helped me to venture into being an MC. So now I can provide a combo of entertainment and MC work, which has been going well in the corporate market,” he said.
Since the beginning of last year, he has been hosting a comedy night once a month, called Phuza Comedy, at a restaurant in Boksburg.
“These shows haven proven to be very successful as I am bringing a lot of comedians from Johannesburg for example to Boksburg for a night of great fun. During the show I also get on stage to do my thing.”
On August 1 he will be bringing Barry Hilton, who now lives in Cape Town, to the stage.
• The journey so far
Morgan said music inspired him while he 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.
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.”
Morgan remains an enigma of an entertainer and is best enjoyed live on stage.
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