Keeping time with the Human Beat Box

A year ago yesterday the world lost an incredible talent with the passing of Michael Jackson. Many loved him, but few have as unique a relationship with the man called the "King of Pop", as local artist Jason Tom.


Tom, a graduate of Kapi'olani Community College, has parlayed his natural showmanship flair, love of music, and business sense into a thriving career in the local arts and entertainment scene.

Check out Jason Tom at his upcoming performance for the Mighty4 Arts Foundation Hawaii Non-Profit Fundraiser (dedicated in the memory of High Chief XL) on July 3rd at the Fresh Cafe.

http://www.jasontom.com/


(photos: Joe Marquez, The Smoking Camera)


Name and/or alias(es):

Jason Tom; sidenote: my McKinley High School judo team nickname was "Spider-Man" and my childhood nickname from P.E. class was "Superman." After performing for the first night of the Puja Dance Concert: Love Letters someone on facebook wrote that I should be renamed "Mr. Energy."

Hometown:

Honolulu's Chinatown

“Day job”:

I'm a full-time beatboxer. I facilitate human beatbox workshops teaching and sharing the art of vocal percussion at schools and facilities throughout the island. I also perform on stage on a frequent basis and people on Facebook get a gajillion event invites from me due to that. The art of vocal percussion or beatboxing is often a forgotten or overlooked art form of creative expression.

I'm in ongoing talks about working on various projects (recordings, songs, events, collaborations, teaching workshops, travel, etc.) and then some.


I hustle (in a positive connotative way) non-stop (meetings, postering, flyering, taking/making phone calls, doing interviews, event planning, rehearsal, practice, recover, research/doing my homework, etc.). There's no dull moment for me and I enjoy every second of what I do.

I earned the "Mr. Hustle" award after becoming the leading scorer during my senior season on the McKinley High School soccer team. I am a firm believer in integrity, good work ethic, deligence, and perserverance. From my own personal experience I know that all of that does pay off in the long run in big ways.

“Dream job”:

I daydream about traveling a lot more, because one I just love to travel. I flew to Los Angeles on my own last year and performed quite a bit non-mic... they loved me up there. It would be nice to perform, share the art of vocal percussion, and be able to do my thing around the globe.

I'm currently gearing up for my first New York visit to attend the International Human Beatbox Convention presented by HumanBeatbox.com and the World Beatbox Association.

Latest book/movie/music you’ve consumed:

I recently read Michael Jackson's Moonwalk (his only autobiography) under two sittings, and now infrequently read "the Genius in All of Us" by David Shenk. If I wasn't performing or running as many errands as I do then I would love to spend more time reading books.

I last watched the foreign film "Mongol" on DVD. I watched Michael Jackson's "This Is It" and I am now watching "the Jacksons: An American Dream" on DVD. Movies I've rented and watched recently were "Beat Street," and "Breakin'."

Last CD I listened to was the "Best of Michael Jackson Anthology" disc 2 (of 2). I was also listening to beatboxer Rahzel's Fifth Element: Make the Music & Rahzel's Greatest Knock Outs: Beatbox Mixtape Volume 1 CD. Quite a while back I listened to MC Jin's ABC (an acronym for American Born Chinese, and it's his Cantonese Chinese rap album from Hong Kong produced by the Far East Movement).


I basically soak in as much as I can like a sponge and I consume quite a lot each day. Doing my homework is very important.

Website or artist you think is worth checking out:

MC Jin, http://www.ayojin.com - A Chinese American rapper from Miami, Florida that generated nationwide buzz on BET's 106 & Park winning freestyle emcee battles seven weeks in a row before moving to New York and he is now residing in Hong Kong generating a buzz there. He raps in English and in Cantonese.

Artists:

Michael Jackson, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Winslow, Kamuela Kahoano, Makana, Kings of Spade, Willow Chang, Faioso, MC Jin, and more!

Greatest accomplishment yet:

I don't think there is such a thing for a full-time artist. I love to do what I do just to keep doing it, and I never feel that I will ever be done with what I'm doing.

Inspirations:

Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly for being song and dance men. They've pioneered the musical genre of films and the way dance was filmed.


Michael Jackson for being both and also a beatboxer-composer/songwriter. He pioneered the music video genre by making them short films and he introduced choreographed dance in music videos.

Bobby McFerrin for his vocal improvisational genius and Michael Winslow for his mind expanding vocal sound effects with humor. It was a true honor to meet and open for Michael Winslow in 2009. He encouraged me to keep up with what I'm doing.


Paulskee of Mighty4 for holding it down. Duke and Kiki King of Freelance Clothing for keeping me warm. B3@K5, I love his street work, I also love sporting his Freelance Clothing gear, and his work is everywhere! Also I have an affinity for birds... I love waking up in the morning (if I'm not being a night owl) hearing them sing.

Local artist JKS for his artwork that evokes a deepness of creative imaginative ideas. Love it! God and kids are also an inspiration, because they're truly the creative geniuses. Willow Chang for inspiring me to think of "dance" more with what I do as a beatbox performer. I love my family! Even though they can be hard on me...I am grateful and I am inspired by my parents. I wouldn't be here without them.

Details or notes regarding any of your featured works:

I'm featured on the song "I'm Movin On" for Faioso's debut album "Nobody Owns Me," a 2010 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominee in the R&B/Hip-Hop category. John Berger of the Star Bulletin (before it became the Star Advertiser) reviewed "I'm Movin On" as a track that "stands out musically in combining stream-of-consciousness lyrics with the human beat box percussion of Jason Tom."


You can get "Nobody Owns Me" on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon.

Faioso and Jason Tom performing "I'm Movin On" (photo credit Joe Marquez of the Smoking Camera)

Suggestions for fellow artists:

Michael Winslow, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Jackson, Doug E. Fresh, Rahzel, and the list goes on.

My artist friends:

JKS, Makana, Kamuela Kahoano, Kings of Spade, Kealoha, Faioso, Kings of Spade, and more.

Artistic weapon(s) of choice:

I love to use my "voice" to produce musical instruments (i.e. drum set, bass guitar, synthesizer, didgeridoo, etc), I love song, the art of improvisation, poetry, and I also love to dance to express myself.

Even if a person didn't sing, beatbox or speak they can have their "voice" expressed through other forms of art such as in dance or playing an instrument. I have a strong appreciation for the visual arts (I grew up dreaming to become a famous comic book illustrator at one point), film, literature, and photography as well.

If it weren't for the arts I don't think I would function properly.

Pau.