Dana McKeon

Last updated
Dana McKeon
Born (1989-06-13) 13 June 1989 (age 34)
Naxxar, Malta
Genres Beatboxing
Pop
Years active2012-present
Website https://www.danamckeon.com/

Dana McKeon is a Maltese beatboxer and singer-songwriter who has competed in several international competitions, including the Beatbox Battle World Championships and the UK Beatbox Championships. [1] She was the first female Maltese beatboxer to perform at the international level [2] and her music has been featured in several Netflix series. [3] [4]

Contents

Career

Early life and moving to London

McKeon was born on 13 June 1989 in Naxxar, Malta. In 2008, the 19 year-old McKeon was playing for Malta's junior national basketball team, when she injured her hand. [1] While recovering in her home, she began mimicking the beat of songs using her mouth. After she showed this skill to her friends, they told her that the skill is called beatboxing. [1]

McKeon was studying physiotherapy at the University of Malta, where she won a singing competition. [1] Following her graduation, she moved to London in 2012, to focus on her music. Within her first four weeks in London, she performed at over 20 gigs, which attracted the attention of several talent scouts. [5]

2012 Beatbox Battle World Championships

McKeon represented Malta at the 2012 Beatbox Battle World Championships in Berlin, making her the first female Maltese beatboxer to perform at the international level. [2] In the competition, she placed fifth in the women's category. [6]

2012 UK Beatbox Championships

McKeon participated in the 2012 UK Beatbox Championships, where she placed second in the women's category. [6] Furthermore, she was asked to perform at the 2012 Duke of Edinburgh Awards, where she met Prince Edward. [1]

2023 Beatbox World Championships

McKeon was one of the hosts of the 2023 Beatbox World Championships in Berlin. [7] Regarding her role as a host, she commented: [1]

“It’s an honour to host, because these people are the top of the top, people who have dedicated their lives to mastering vocal percussion.”

Personal life

McKeon met her husband in London, when she was hosting weekly music nights at a club. She noticed a man who kept coming every week, remarking “He just kept showing up and I realised he wasn’t coming for the music anymore.” [1]

Discography

Singles

YearTitle
2014Street Art
2014I Don't Want To Lose You
2018Little Miracle of Mine
2020Let Me Be Your Light

Guest artist

YearTitleFeaturingAlbum
2020Live ForeverDomo XIrresistible Pop!
2020IrresistibleStef TahliaIrresistible Pop!
2020Floating on These WavesStef TahliaIrresistible Pop!
2020Just Tell MeDaniel CassarIrresistible Pop!
2020Take over the WorldMichael Boren-Weizman and Ayda MosharrafIrresistible Pop!

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatboxing</span> Percussion using voice

Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines, using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve vocal imitation of turntablism, and other musical instruments. Beatboxing today is connected with hip-hop culture, often referred to as "the fifth element" of hip-hop, although it is not limited to hip-hop music. The term "beatboxing" is sometimes used to refer to vocal percussion in general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shlomo (beatboxer)</span> Musical artist

Simon Shlomo Kahn, known professionally as SK Shlomo and previously as Shlomo, is a British singer-songwriter, beatboxer, music producer and live looping technologist.

Killa Kela is a British beatboxer and rapper from West Sussex. He is widely considered to have been the first beatboxer from the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Turner (musician)</span>

Joel Turner is an Australian beatboxer, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer best known for the Australian hit song "These Kids". As a beatboxer, he is recognised for his trademark sounds such as his "third voice", cowbell, teeth beats and bass guitar. He was the victor at the Beatbox Battle World Championship in 2005 and retained the title until 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beardyman</span> English musician

Darren Alexander Foreman, better known as Beardyman, is a British multivocalist, musician and comedian from London known for his beatboxing skills and use of live looping.

Singapore hip hop is a collective of hip hop music, graffiti arts, deejaying/turntablism, break dancing and beatboxing, which are performed by hip hop enthusiasts who are of Singapore descent mainly from the four races of the metropolis; the Chinese, Malays, Indians and the Eurasian. This article and its contents are exact up-to-date, through first-person written documents and oral accounts. This article focuses primarily on Singapore hip hop icons, discography, historical events, DMC World DJ Championship representatives, in and out of Singapore. This article also focuses on how Singapore has its hip hop origins and culture scene in South East Asia in the mid-1980s, largely due to the country's geographically international sea port location for military and worldwide trading connections, one of which is, with the United States where the hip hop culture was originated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vineeth Vincent</span> Indian beatboxer

Vineeth Vincent is a Beatboxer, Musician, emcee and performing artist from Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He is considered one of the biggest beatboxers in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Deyanov</span> Bulgarian beatboxer

Alexander Deyanov, known as SkilleR, is a beatboxer from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Known as the 'fast mouth' from the East, 'Hip Hop Hrbacek', 'Dr. Leo Marvin', and 'Brainiac 14'; he has brought the art of beatboxing to mass attention in Bulgaria. In 2012, he was named the third Beatbox Battle World Champion in Berlin, defeating Alem of France in the final.

Kim Nocifs also known by his stage name K.I.M. is a French beatboxer, known for electronic and dubstep style beats. K.I.M. began beatboxing in 2007, making his international début in 2009 at the French Team Beatbox Championship. With his group Nocifs Sound System, K.I.M won the competition. He also won the same competition the following year. In 2011, K.I.M. won the French Beatbox Championship. He is now a member of Team Paname with their French slogan: "Le beatbox c’est mieux maintenant."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRNFX</span> Musical artist

Terry Im, better known by his stage name KRNFX, is a Korean-Canadian beatboxer and singer. He is perhaps best known for his participation in the first season of Canada's Got Talent in 2012, as well as winning the first Canadian Beatbox Championships in 2010 and his YouTube videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatbox House</span> American beatbox crew

The Beatbox House is an American beatbox crew based in New York City originally consisting of six beatboxers. The Beatbox House has since its formation helped many beatboxers along their journey.

Terry Lewis, also known by his stage name Kid Lucky, was an American beatrhymer, beatboxer, singer-songwriter, teacher, and activist born in New York City. He coined the term "beatrhyming", which he defines as "rapping, singing or performing spoken word while beatboxing simultaneously".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaila Mullady</span> American beatboxer

Kaila Mullady is an American beatboxer, beatrhymer, musician and actress. She won on Beatbox Battle World Championship 2015 & 2018 by category solo female. She is a former member of the Beatbox House crew. Kaila is a current member of the improv rap group Freestyle Love Supreme under the name Kaizer Roze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Shinozaki</span> American musician

Gene V Shinozaki, better known as Gene Shinozaki and formerly GVSBeatbox, is a Japanese-American beatboxer, singer-songwriter, street performer, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer. He is currently a member of the beatbox crew Beatbox House and half of the world-champion tag team Spider Horse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatbox Battle World Championship</span> International beatboxing event

The Beatbox Battle World Championship (BBBWC) is hosted triennially hosted by Beatbox Battle Tv in a week-long festival held in Berlin, Germany. Face-to-face beatbox battles take place in five different categories:- individual male, individual female, tag-team, loop station and crew battle. In 2015, more than 150 national or major event champions of beatboxing gathered from 50 or so countries, after qualifying to participate in the world event by winning their respective national championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berywam</span> French beatbox crew

Berywam is a French beatbox crew based in Toulouse, France. They won the French Beatbox Championship 2016. Their EP was released on 2 June 2017. They also won the Beatbox Battle World Championship 2018 in crew category.

Yoon Dae-woong, better known as Bigman, is a South Korean beatboxer, singer-songwriter, composer and producer. Bigman is perhaps best known as Top 8 in the Asia Beatbox Championship 2017, as well as got to viral from his wildcard winner video in upload YouTube. Bigman officially signed under Sidus HQ and made his debut with released single album DAY BY DAY on May 31, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alem (beatboxer)</span> French beatboxer

Maël Gayaud, better known as Alem is a French beatboxer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest beatboxer of his generation as well as one of the best technical beatboxer in the world.

Sota Kato, better known as SO-SO is a Japanese beatboxer, looper, singer-songwriter and producer. He is currently a member of the beatbox crew SARUKANI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SungBeats</span> Beatboxer and busker

Sung Lee, professionally known as SungBeats, is a beatboxer, live looper, and former busker based in New York City. He is best known for winning Amateur Night at the Apollo (2014), and the American Beatbox Championships, Loopstation (2018).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tihn, Daniel (16 August 2023). "The Maltese beatboxer who accidentally found her voice". Times of Malta. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Bugeja, Michael (10 June 2012). "Beatboxing her way to the top". Times of Malta. Retrieved 4 September 2023. Indeed, she's the only Maltese beatboxer performing at an international level
  3. Marks, Kiara Borg (8 May 2023). "From Too Hot To Handle To Insatiable: Maltese Artist's Original Songs Featured On Eight Netflix Shows". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  4. Urpani, David Grech (2 April 2021). "'This Is Crazy!': Maltese Beatboxer's Music Features On New Netflix Series By The Creators Of Money Heist". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  5. Bugeja, Michael (10 June 2012). "Beatboxing her way to the top". Times of Malta. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 Bugeja, Michael (2 March 2014). "Learn to beatbox". Times of Malta. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  7. Cilia, Johnathan (3 August 2023). "'Honoured And Excited!' Malta's Dana McKeon Will Be Hosting Berlin's Beatbox World Championships". Lovin Malta.