While others conquer the world with their hands, he conquers it with his magical mouth.
Meet HeartGrey So Tsz-lun, the three-time national beatbox champion. His journey began as a mere hobby, but soon transformed into a full-time aspiration, sparked by youthful curiosity. Between 2006 and 2007, an era before the rise of YouTube, HeartGrey, a high school student at the time, stumbled upon a foreign beatboxing video online that instantly drew him into the captivating world of beatboxing.
“When I saw the foreigners imitating different musical instrument sounds with their mouths, I found it both magical and intriguing. I yearned to learn it myself.” When the magic of curiosity takes hold, passion and perseverance are born.
Beatboxing was an alien concept in Hong Kong during those days, making it nearly impossible for HeartGrey to find a local teacher. He had to navigate the path alone, diligently browsing foreign discussion forums and watching online tutorials day after day. Whenever he encountered difficulties in understanding, he reached out to beatboxers from around the world via MSN chat, randomly adding them and sending his recordings for feedback. He aspired to master the skills and excel in this unique art form. With no peers to play with, HeartGrey had to venture out on his own to find like-minded individuals abroad. He described himself as walking a “lonely road”.
With unwavering determination to explore and practice, HeartGrey eventually broke free from his limitations. A chance video of his live performance, unintentionally uploaded to YouTube and filmed in a restroom, garnered over two million views, introducing more people to the world of beatboxing. However, the path from a small place to the international stage had no shortcuts. He could only ascend step by step…
In 2011, HeartGrey participated in a competition abroad for the first time, brimming with confidence, only to return defeated. This humbling experience allowed him to observe the path to success taken by foreign beatboxers and apply those insights to his own journey. He made a fresh start by constantly evolving his skills. Having made rapid progress in the same year, he became the first Chinese human beatboxer to secure a spot in the top eight of the “Emperor of Mic Beatbox Battle”, an international invitational competition held in Austria, which remains one of the competitions he cherishes the most. “This competition handpicks seven beatboxers with world rankings to participate each year, and I was the eighth participant who stood out from the global auditions of 500 people. I earned that spot through eight hours of daily practice.” In March 2012, HeartGrey made history again as the first-ever representative of China authorised to compete in the “BeatboxBattle® World Championship” held in Germany. He also clinched the national championship at the “SIBC Shanghai International Beatbox Performance Competition” later that year. His talent opened up various opportunities, including performances, competition qualifications, media interviews, and film shoots. His parents, who initially opposed their son’s decision to turn his hobby into a career, ultimately expressed their confidence and support.
Today, HeartGrey’s focus extends beyond personal achievements. Driven by a passion for cultural preservation and self-inspiration, he not only runs his own studio but also imparts beatboxing skills and delivers lectures at schools, utilising his experiences to motivate and inspire young individuals. The person who once enjoyed solitary learning now takes delight in sharing joy with others. In the “PolyU Dragon-tastic Celebration” held in early March this year, HeartGrey showcased the distinctiveness of beatboxing by blending it with Chinese music, collaborating with the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Chinese Orchestra to deliver a fusion of Chinese and Western performances.
“ ‘Being true to yourself and cherishing the present’ is the inspiration that PolyU has given me and has become the core value in developing my career. I hope that beatboxing will gain recognition from more people and can compete with mainstream music in our local scene.” Striving for success is no easy feat, and swimming against the current is even more challenging. HeartGrey has paved a new path outside the mainstream, nurturing the local beatboxing scene that was once a barren landscape with his dedication. Through unwavering commitment and tireless effort, he has cultivated an oasis. Such extraordinary journey serves as a testament to embracing the pursuit of art and persisting unyieldingly, empowering each of us to create a sanctuary that transcends the boundaries of convention.
‘Being true to yourself and cherishing the present’ is the inspiration that PolyU has given me and has become the core value in developing my career.
Publishing Date: April 2024
