Shamik hears music in his head, and uses beatboxing to bring it to life. He covers a wide a variety of genres in his captivating live show of vocal percussion. Since 2001, he has been on a mission to spread the artform of beatboxing everywhere he can. Shamik has performed across North America, India, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

He began singing at the age of 4 with his older brother, Vivek Shraya (Kuskus Records), and always had a knack for making sounds. This transformed into his ability to mimic voices and music. Shamik's taste in music was all over the map as he listened to rhythms and melodies to learn. When he reached high school he learned of an artform called beatboxing. Over the next few years, he began studying the work of other beatboxers including The Fatboys, Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh and Rahzel. In 2001, Shamik met fellow beatboxer Sami Elber aka Unkle $am (Ace Records). They shared ideas, and with Elber's help, Shamik slowly learned the basics of beatboxing. He isolated sounds like the kick, snare, and bassline to slowly build his skills. After performing together at shows, parties, fundraisers, and on street corners, Shamik began to get noticed in his hometown of Edmonton.

In 2005, Shamik was invited by Degree (Subterranean Sound) to open for the 3 time World DMC champion DJ Craze (Cartel Records) of Miami. This show was a pinnacle in his career as his live show was witnessed by music promoters from Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. They realized that booking Shamik to open for headliners would bring the crowd to the dance floor. He continued his growth by beatboxing all over Western Canada, and eventually moved to Calgary. In 2006, Shamik opened for his hero and the world's #1 beatboxer, Killa Kela. This impacted Shamik a great deal and inspired him to believe that the possibilities are endless. Beatboxing is often associated with hip hop music, so Shamik decided to perform at every kind of show no matter what genre. This helped him cover more ground as he performed at several festivals including: Rothbury Festival (Michigan), Vancouver Island Music Festival (BC), Shambhala Music Festival (BC), Strawberry Moon Festival (Ontario), Colours of Ostrava Festival (Czech Republic), Edmonton Fringe Festival (Alberta), Harrison Hot Springs Festival of the Arts (BC), Sunburn Festival (India), Indian Electronica Festival (New York), Komasket Festival (BC), North Country Fair (Alberta), Sasquatch Gathering (Alberta), and Motion Notion (Alberta). Shamik's goal has always been to make believer out of doubters, and he has been doing his own bookings since he started beatboxing. Since 2005, he organized 3 straight successful summer festival tours, an East Coast tour in Halifax and Fredericton, and 2 headlining tours in Asia.

Beatboxing opens the eyes of people because there are no instruments involved. The most important aspect about it is that Shamik is having fun while doing it. He hopes to continue to travel with his music, record on his and other artists' projects, and to share it throughout his journey.

HIGHLIGHTS THIS PAST YEAR:
-performed alongside Oka (Soultree United) at Quartier Dix30 in Brossard, Quebec.
-opened for DJ Nu-mark (Sequence) at Shambhala Festival (BC).
-performed with Bow & Arrow Circus at Komasket Festival (BC).
-opened for FreQ Nasty (Skint) at Motion Notion Festival (Alberta).
-performed between Thievery Corporation (Eighteenth Street Lounge) and Bassnectar (Om Records) to 10 000+ people at Rothbury Festival (Michigan).
-performed with Z-Trip (Hollywood Records) in Calgary.
-performed with Tanya Tagaq (Jericho Beach Music) at Strawberry Moon Festival (Ontario) and Colours of Ostrava Festival (Czech Republic).
-opened for Rusko (Sub Soldiers) in Calgary and Edmonton.
-performed with Kutmasta Kurt (Threshold Recordings) in Bangkok and Koh Samui, Thailand.
-25 shows in 16 cities in Asia from Dec 07-Feb 08.
-recorded a video with Skratchy Seal that passed the 30 000 hits mark on Youtube in 6 months.


Shamik has been blessed with the opportunity to open for/ performed alongside:

-Electronica/ Hip Hop:

AK 1200, Akshai Sarin, Ali B, All Good Funk Alliance, Andy C, Autobots, B-Traits, Bassnectar, Bass Society, Bonobo, Brockie, Capital J, Chase & Status, Chili Thom, Christopher Lawrence, Cilvaringz, Concord Dawn, Craze, Dara, Dean, Degree, Delhi 2 Dublin, Demolition Man, Derb, Dieselboy, Dom & Roland, Fort Knox 5, Freaky Flow, Freq Nasty, Friction, Ganga Giri, General Midi, Hype, Johan Gielen, John B, Kai Tracid, Kenny Ken, Kenzie Clarke, Kev, Killa Kela, Kool Herc, Krafty Kuts, Kutmasta Kurt, Lord, Malente, Mama Miche, Maneesh The Twister, Marcel Woods, Marcus Visionary, Mat The Alien, Mathematics, MC Daddy Earl, MC GQ, MC J. Messinian, MC Juakali, MC Sharpness, MC Skibadee, MC Vandal, Merk Meny, Method Man, Myagi, Neal K, Neighbour, Nesh, Octo, Oka, Phantasy, Phil York, Preach, Q-Bert, Rap, Reid Speed, Rich-E-Rich, Ronin, Ryan Ruckus, Salah Edin, Shimon, Shout Out Out Out Out, Shy FX, Skool of Thought, Skratch Bastid, Skream, Smalltown DJ's, Spilt Milk, Spooky That Subliminal Kid, Stanton Warriors, Street Life, Subswara, Sueside, Tanya Tagaq, Team Canada DJ's, The Glitch Mob, Thievery Corporation, Top Cat, Transient Vortex, UK Apache, Vinyl Ritchie, Vivek Shraya, X-Ecutioners, Yoji Biomehanika, Z-Trip, and Zilla.

-Rock/ Blues/ Pop/ Folk:

Autorickshaw, Bill Bourne, John Boutte, Laurelle, Marigolds, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Mihirangi, Paul Ubana Jones, Scott Cook, Shaa'ir & Func, Skeena Reece, Slammin All Body Band, Tim Williams, and Tippy Agogo.

Discography
Shamik's full length "Equal Eyes," album was released in 2007. It is available on iTunes here:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=281421610

Shamik may be reached by phone for an interview at:
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