Leeds beatboxer through to UK Championship finals

Ryan Trevis, 23, - aka ‘Crmpts’ - is through to the finals of the prestigious competition which showcases the vocal talents of some of the most cutting-edge artists in underground live music.

It will be Ryan’s third time in the Championships - previously in 2012 and 2013 - and he said this time he is gunning for top prize in both the solo round and the loop pedal, which allows artists to record and build up the music live. Ryan, a music production student at Leeds Beckett, only recently picked beatboxing back up after taking a break in 2014.

He said: “I’ve been practising every day. I’m excited for the solos and excited for the loop. Having these past three years out has been good for me and I’m ready to come back into it, definitely.”

Ryan, who lives in Hyde Park with three others, said he’s began beatboxing at a young age.

“I starting trying to play the drums but my mum wouldn’t let me have a drum kit - she said it was too loud. So I thought ‘what’s a cheap alternative’ and started beatboxing.

“I taught myself it from YouTube.

“I’d say it took me about a year before I was pretty happy with what I was doing and had the basics down. I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”

Ryan said he was “never really a shy kid” and would perform for friends at school or at talent shows.

“Everyone seemed to love it.”

He took a break from beatboxing in 2013/2014 to concentrate on music production and DJ-ing but took it back up after being asked to beatbox on stage at Butlins for seven weeks.

“That was my first beatboxing job and after that I got back into it.”.

He says his housemates are used to hearing him beatbox - especially now he’s preparing for the championship finals.

“I practice whenever. Whenever I’m not around people to annoy. When I’m cooking or in the shower.”

Ryan, who has busked in Leeds a few times, said the long-term dream is a career in music.

“It’s not just to be able to beatbox but music in general. I want to make music for other people and myself and sell music and play music. I’d love it to be my main source of income. I don’t want to do anything else. That’s always how I’ve been.”

The championship finals are in London on November 26.