Dharni Ng

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Dharni Ng
Dharni Ng.jpg
Born27 February 1987
Alma materTemasek Polytechnic (School of Design)

Dharni Ng (born 27 February 1987) is a Singaporean competitive beatboxer based in Poland.[1][2][3] Born and raised in Singapore, he has been lauded as one of Singapore’s most prominent musical exports over the last decade.[4][5][6] Dharni was the opening act for Lady Gaga in 2009 and Flux Pavilion in 2016.[7][8] As of March 2020, Dharni has over 6,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, 579,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 224,000 followers on Instagram.

Background

Early life & family

Dharni and his mother pictured in 2020. Thumbnail from YouTube video.

The youngest of three children, Dharni was born in Singapore on 27 February 1987.[9][10][11] When he was seven years old, his father passed away at the age of 72.[12] Dharni’s mother, Ong Huat Sim, has been featured on Dharni’s YouTube channel in a video titled “I teach my 70 year old mom how to beatbox”.[13]


Dharni began beatboxing at fourteen years old after discovering Michael Winslow and Rahzel.[14][15] Dharni taught himself how to beatbox, sharing his audio recordings and receiving feedback from the online beatboxing community, Human Beatbox.[15] He had also attended weekly beatbox gatherings with members of this community. Dharni first performed for an audience during a talent show in secondary school. In an interview with Bandwagon, he shared that the performance was an empowering experience that drove him to "do even more".[16]

Moving to Poland (2011)

Dharni relocated to Warsaw, Poland in 2011. Having learnt more about Polish culture through his Polish beatboxer girlfriend at the time, Dharni deemed Poland as an ideal headquarters to kickstart his career.[17][18] Not only was the cost of living affordable, but he could also travel easily to other European countries for international beatboxing events.[19] Basing himself in Europe also meant that he was at the forefront of music trends that would otherwise take a year or two to reach Asia.[20]

Early career in Poland

Dharni and K-Leah pictured in 2014 on the day of the Must Be The Music Again finals. Photo from Facebook.

Upon moving to Poland, Dharni joined the Polish television talent show Must Be The Music (2011) with two other beatboxers.[21] The team came out fourth place at the end of the show[22] but eventually disbanded.[23] Dharni's second big break in Poland came in 2014 when he joined Must Be The Music Again with his neighbour and singer, K-Leah.[24][25] The duo came in second place, fuelling Dharni's reputation as a beatboxer.

Career highlights

Beatboxing competitions

Dharni pictured in 2016 at one of the Grand Beatbox battles. Thumbnail from YouTube video.

Dharni won first place at The Grand Beatbox Battle in 2013 and 2014, making him the first solo double champion in history.[26][27]

Year Competition Position Organiser Refs.
2016 Grand Beatbox 7 TO SMOKE Battle 4th Place Swissbeatbox [28]
2014 Grand Beatbox Battle Championship 1st Place Swissbeatbox and BScene [29]
2013 Grand Beatbox Battle Championship 1st Place [30][31]
2012 3rd Beatbox Battle World Championship Finalist Beatbox Battle [32]
2011 Emperor of Mic 2011 1st Place AKG by Harman [33]
2009 2nd Beatbox Battle World Championship Finalist Beatbox Battle [34]

Performances

As early as 2004, Dharni has been an invited performer at various public events, concerts and beatboxing competitions. One of his earliest public performances was for The Black Eyed Peas concert.

Year Event Organiser Refs.
2019 11th Grand Beatbox Battle Swissbeatbox [35]
2017 Asia Beatbox Championship Judge Showcase Asia Beatbox [36]
Chang Urban Pulse Chang Beer [37]
2016 Asia Beatbox Championship Asia Beatbox [38]
American Beatbox Championship Swissbeatbox [39]
Flux Pavilion (Opening Act) - [40]
2015 4th Beatbox Battle World Championship Beatbox Battle [41]
2009 Lady Gaga: The Fame Ball Tour (Opening Act) - [42]
2008 Kanye West: Glow in The Dark Tour (Opening Act) -
2004 Black Eyed Peas (Opening Act) -

Community building

The Beatbox Battle Royale (2016 & 2017)

Despite being based in Poland, Dharni has invested his efforts in building the beatboxing community in Singapore. In 2016, Dharni organised the first Beatbox Battle Royale, a beatboxing competition for Singaporean beatboxers. This event was held at *SCAPE for two consecutive years.[43][44]

Beatboxing camps

Photo from Swiss Beat Box.

Dharni is also involved in the beatboxing community in Poland, having been a part of beatboxing camps for up-and-coming talents.

Year Camp Location Refs.
August 2019 The SBX Camp Krakow, Poland [45]
August 2017 World Beatbox Camp [46]

Judge

Over the years, Dharni has been invited as a judge at various international beatboxing competitions. Apart from judging the 2015 American Beatbox Championships, Dharni also organised workshops for the contestants.[47]

Year Competition Organiser Refs.
2019 Asia Beatbox Championship Asia Beatbox [48]
2017 [49]
2016 [50]
2015 Beatbox Battle World Championships Beatbox Battle [51]
American Beatbox Championships American Beatbox [52]

Discography

2020

Screengrab from the music video of Dharni's track Comments (2020).
Date Released Track Title Duration
March Comments (Short) 1:13
January My Name Is Dharni 2:51

2019

Date Released Track Title Duration
November Onion Song 1:07

2016

Date Released Track Title Duration
December Jingle Hop (#SleighorSlay) 0:46
The Om Telolet Om Anthem 0:54

2013

Date Released Track Title Duration
April Basel Beats 1:31
February Baby Don’t Go 1:19

2011

Date Released Track Title Duration
August I Miss You 2:24
April MotorMouth 0:41

2010

Date Released Track Title Duration
November Mouth Saw 3:10
Talk About 4:26

2006

All From The Mouth (2006) was Dharni's first ever the beatboxing track. He produced it when he was interning in an audio post production company in 2006.[53][54]

Collaborations

In 2019, Dharni produced a track for the G-Shock Future Legends campaign alongside various local artistes. Photo from Esquire.
Year Project Artist(s) Video Links
2019 G-SHOCK Future Legends: MADE NOT BORN[55] Axel Brizzy, Tengy Boy and DJ Farah Video
‘Raj’ beatbox version Smolasty Video
‘Lay Low’ beatbox version Roxie Węgiel Video
2018 I.F.S (I’m Fuck She) The Beatbox House and Mad Twinz Video
‘Sami’ beatbox version ZUZA JABŁOŃSKA Video
Rendition of ‘Diva Dance’ opera Edyta Krzemień Video
WHAT Mad Twinz and Bass Ventura Video
2017 ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ beatbox version Edyta Krzemień Video
Move Your Body Bigman Video
Say My Name x Planets Collide Remix Mad Twinz Video
‘Geniuses & Thieves’ beatbox version Gentle Bones Video
2016 The Fall Gene Shinozaki Video
Happy Chinese and Lunar New Year REMIX SGAG Video
2012 Rolling In The Swing DJ KoFlow Video

References / Citations

  1. The Straits Times. “Performer Dharni Ng on why Singaporeans should visit Poland”. YouTube. May 21, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  2. Dharni. “My name is Dharni (Official Music Video)”. YouTube. February 26, 2020. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  3. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  4. Hidzir Junaini. “Singaporean beatbox pioneer and world battle champion Dharni reflects on success and paying it forward”. bandwagon. February 22, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  5. Bandwagon TV. “Getting to know Dharni, Singapore’s beatboxing superstar”. YouTube. March 8, 2017. Accessed on 23 March 2020.
  6. Dharni Ng”. GenT. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  7. Human Beatbox. “Dharni”. Beatboxers. April 11, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  8. Bandwagon TV. “Getting to know Dharni, Singapore’s beatboxing superstar”. YouTube. March 8, 2017. Accessed on 23 March 2020.
  9. Hidzir Junaini. “Singaporean beatbox pioneer and world battle champion Dharni reflects on success and paying it forward”. bandwagon. February 22, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  10. Surej Singh. “Singaporean beatboxer Dharni pays tribute to The Fifth Element with singer Edyta Krzemień – watch”. bandwagon. May 9, 2018. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  11. Dharni. Facebook. May 13, 2018. Accessed on 25 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/Dharniofficial/photos/a.10160340720270453/10160340720140453/?type=3&theater
  12. Tan, Jeanette. “Internationally Famous: For S’porean beatboxer Dharni, the world is truly his oyster”. Mothership. July 2, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  13. Dharni. “I teach my 70 year old mom how to beatbox”. YouTube. February 3, 2020. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  14. Hidzir Junaini. “Singaporean beatbox pioneer and world battle champion Dharni reflects on success and paying it forward”. bandwagon. February 22, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Goh, Bryan. “Breaking Down the Beat - Two-Time World Beatboxer Champion Dharni In Our February ‘20 Issue”. Men’s Folio. February 1, 2020. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  16. Hidzir Junaini. “Singaporean beatbox pioneer and world battle champion Dharni reflects on success and paying it forward”. bandwagon. February 22, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  17. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  18. Bandwagon TV. “Getting to know Dharni, Singapore’s beatboxing superstar”. YouTube. March 8, 2017. Accessed on 23 March 2020.
  19. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  20. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  21. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  22. Dharni Ng”. GenT. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  23. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  24. Must Be The Music Polsat. “Dharni i K-Leah - Lights - FINAŁ 7. edycji Must Be The Music”. YouTube. May 28, 2014. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  25. Lee, Jocelyn. “Can You Beatbox Your Way To Online Stardom?”. 8 Days. April 4, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  26. Beatbox Television. “Dharni / Two Time Grand Beatbox Battle Champion - 2014”. YouTube. March 6, 2014. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  27. Hidzir Junaini. “Singaporean beatbox pioneer and world battle champion Dharni reflects on success and paying it forward”. bandwagon. February 22, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  28. Swissbeatbox. “DHARNI vs BLOOMER | Grand Beatbox 7 TO SMOKE Battle 2016 | Battle 4”. YouTube. May 26, 2016. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  29. Swissbeatbox. “DHARNI (SNG) vs TWO.H (KOR) | Grand Beatbox Battle 2014 | FINAL”. YouTube. May 11, 2014. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  30. Beatbox Television. “Dharni / Two Time Grand Beatbox Battle Champion - 2014”. YouTube. March 6, 2014. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  31. Dharni Ng. Twitter. Accessed on 25 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/dharniofficial?lang=en
  32. BEATBOX BATTLE. “Dharni - Singapore - 3rd Beatbox Battle World Championship”. YouTube. April 4, 2012. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  33. AKG Acoustics. “Beatboxing dharni vs. sizzler - Final - Emperor of Mic 2011”. YouTube. August 1, 2011. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  34. BEATBOX BATTLE. “Dharni - Singapore - 2nd Beatbox Battle World Championship”. YouTube. May 30, 2009. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  35. Swissbeatbox. “DHARNI | Grand Beatbox Battle Showcase 2019”. YouTube. December 2, 2019. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  36. Asia Beatbox. “Dharni (SG)|Asia Beatbox Championship 2017 Judge Showcase”. February 12, 2018. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  37. Hidzir Junaini. “WATCH: Dharni and Gentle Bones team-up for this special beatboxed version of ‘Geniuses & Thieves’”. bandwagon. March 14, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  38. Asia Beatbox. “Dharni (SG) | 2016 Asia Beatbox Championship Showcase”. YouTube. July 25, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  39. Swissbeatbox. “DHARNI | American Beatbox Championship 2016 | SHOWCASE”. YouTube. December 31, 2016. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  40. "Dharni". Bandwagon. Accessed on 27 March 2020.
  41. BEATBOX BATTLE. “Dharni from Singapore - Showcase - Beatbox Battle TV”. YouTube. July 15, 2015. Accessed on 23 March 2020.
  42. "Dharni". Bandwagon. Accessed on 27 March 2020.
  43. Asia Beatbox. Facebook. March 15, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/Asiabeatbox/posts/congratulations2017-beatbox-battle-royale-champion-neolizervice-champion-r_fanbx/1065991966879824/
  44. Dharni. “Event: DHARNI x ZIIIRO x RF JAM presents. THE BEATBOX BATTLE ROYALE”. Facebook. Accessed on 26 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/events/playspacescape/dharni-x-ziiiro-x-rf-jam-presents-the-beatbox-battle-royale/1266076136739916/
  45. Dharni. “🔥Announcing The SBX CAMP 2019!!!🔥 (7-14 August Krakow, Poland)”. YouTube. May 27, 2019. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  46. Dharni. “WORLD BEATBOX CAMP - The first ever beatboxing educational festival”. YouTube. July 2, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  47. Human Beatbox. “Dharni”. Beatboxers. April 11, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  48. Asia Beatbox. “Dharni (SG)|Asia Beatbox Championship 2019 Judge Showcase”. YouTube. July 20, 2019. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  49. Asia Beatbox. “Dharni (SG)|Asia Beatbox Championship 2017 Judge Showcase”. February 12, 2018. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  50. Korea Beatbox TV. “DHARNI | Asia Beatbox Championship 2016 Judge | Shout out”. July 26, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  51. Dharni. “About”. Facebook. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  52. Human Beatbox. “Dharni”. Beatboxers. April 11, 2017. Accessed on 25 March 2020.
  53. Hidzir Junaini. “Singaporean beatbox pioneer and world battle champion Dharni reflects on success and paying it forward”. bandwagon. February 22, 2017. Accessed on 24 March 2020.
  54. Dharni. "Dharni - All From The Mouth". YouTube. November 4, 2010. Accessed on 27 March 2020.
  55. Yap, Celine. "Music and fashion creatives unite as Casio’s latest G-Shock tips a hat to Future Legends of Singapore". September 20, 2019. Esquire. Accessed on 27 March 2020.