Beatboxing and a cappella bringing Belgium together

16 April 2011 at 01:58 CEST

The Belgian group Witloof Bay has five singers and one beatboxer. The members come from the three regions of Belgium: Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels. With a repertory consisting initially of cover versions, they built up a fanbase thanks to their vocals and harmonies – and RoxorLoops’ beatboxing.

The world vice-champion

RoxorLoops is described as a beatboxing genius by his co-workers, and they have the facts to back it up. He is the world vice-champion, and his talents have won him global recognition.

He performs all of the percussion on With Love Baby, and also emerges into a beatboxing break that is sure to make the Eurovision Song Contest viewers pick up their attention. You can listen to it in the official video clip below.

A pun on the group name

Witloof Bay success in Belgium led them to attempt the Eurovision Song Contest. Their victory in the national final earned them the opportunity to represent their country in Düsseldorf.

In the entry With Love Baby, the song title is a pun on the name of the group.

"From what we heard after the national final, a lot of people liked the song – and a lot of people really hated it. That could be good. People wanted something different, and hopefully they get it with Witloof Bay," they tell Eurovision.tv.

The second a cappella act

This is the second time an act will make an attempt in the Eurovision Song Contest without using any instruments save the human voice. The first time was Vocal Group Cosmos, an act formed in 2002 and still active today. They represented Latvia in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens with the song I Hear Your Heart.

Being pre-qualified to the Final, Vocal Group Cosmos finished in 16th place with 30 points. This is the a cappella record that Witloof Bay will now be aiming to break in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

New album on the horizon

Witloof Bay has already made their way to the biggest a cappella music festivals, such as London A Cappella Festival, Vocal Jazz Summit and the Solevoci Festival.

In 2010, they won the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for best Folk/World song, and they have supported big name groups such as The Manhattan Transfer, The Swingle Singers and The Real Group.

The members of Witloof Bay are currently working on their second album of original songs.

The Belgian entry will perform as the fourth song of the Second Semi-Final on the 12th of May.