Latter-day Saint Beatboxer Brings Big Sound to National TV Audience
Contributed By Jason Swensen, Church News associate editor
Beatboxer Adam Bell, far left, is part of a musical family—including mom, Barbara; brother Mitchell; brother Joe; sister, Lauren; and father, Russell.
Article Highlights
- Adam Bell, a Latter-day Saint youth and beatboxer, performed on a TV show called The Big Stage.
- Beatboxing has provided a way for Adam to make friends.
- Adam hopes to bless people while on his mission using his unusual talent.
First, for the uninitiated, a brief primer on “beatboxing”:
Beatboxing is a musical technique, especially popular in hip-hop circles, where the sounds of percussion instruments are simulated by mouth.
One young Latter-day Saint’s talent as a beatboxer was on wide display Friday evening, June 14, on The Big Stage—a noncompetitive talent show on the CW television network.
Adam Bell’s journey from novice beatboxer to featured national television performer followed an unexpected path.
The 18-year-old San Clemente, California, resident and lifelong Church member comes from a family of classically trained musicians. Recitals and concerts defined much of his childhood. While performing with California’s All-American Boys Chorus, he met a pair of BYU students who were also beatboxing experts, named Adam Heimbigner and Matt Newman.
Bell was hooked.
He began honing his own beatboxing skills, sitting in on sessions with Heimbigner and Newman and studying YouTube videos of elite performers.
“Beatboxing’s been super helpful to me personally because I have high-functioning autism and I’m in constant need of trying to know what to say and finding a way to fit in,” he wrote in an email. “Since beatboxing is the ultimate portable sound kit, I can practice my routines wherever I need—and whenever I’m put on the spot to exhibit my talents, I’m never without my instrument.”
His talents have also been a vehicle to new friendships.
“I especially enjoy the community beatboxing creates in the way of finding friends and making music together. I participated in a great BYU summer camp called Remix Vocal Academy, which teaches contemporary a capella, and while I learned a lot of musical skills there, I also made a supportive group of amazing friends.”
A product of a musical family, Latter-day Saint beatboxer Adam Bell uses his talent to bring joy to his listeners. Photo courtesy of Barbara Bell.
California resident and lifelong Church member Adam Bell showcased his beatboxing skills on the television talent show The Big Stage. Photo by Alan Gibby.
BYU’s a cappella group Vocal Point was touring Southern California last year. During one concert, Bell’s mentor Matt Newman called him onstage for a duet. A producer for the CW network was in the audience and was impressed by Bell’s skills. When The Big Stage talent show was being developed a short time later, the rising young Latter-day Saint beatboxer was invited to join the lineup.
The Big Stage experience, admitted Bell, “completely caught me off-guard.”
While some of the other Big Stage acts featured lasers or fog machines, the beatboxer’s only prop is a wireless mic.
The young performer said he traces the Lord’s hand in his musical development.
“I see beatboxing not as some parlor trick, but as a unique tool to bless and uplift those around me; to help take them away from whatever negative emotions or experiences they may be experiencing to be entertained for a couple of minutes.”
A priest in the Marblehead Ward, San Clemente California Stake, Bell plans to attend BYU for a year before serving a mission.
“While serving a full-time mission, I’d anticipate doing more in the way of singing sacred music, and I would also hope to showcase the skills I’ve gained because of the Lord’s hand and then be able to testify that those skills come from Him.”
