Felix Zenger
Helsinki, Central Finland, Finland | INDIE
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Won't Say A Thing
Propsit, 2011
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FELIX ZENGER OFFERS A MOUTHFUL OF SOUNDS ON DEBUT ALBUM
Beatboxer Felix Zenger released his debut album “Won't Say A Thing” on 20 April 2011.
The record is almost entirely based on vocal sounds. First single Pitkät Päivät Täällä (feat. Asa &
Kari Tapio) features the last studio recording of late Finnish schlager icon Kari Tapio and has gained
wide media attention.
Zenger spent 18 months working on the record with Kari Saarilahti (Don Johnson Big Band), who
also produced and mixed the album. “We spent a few years in the studio recording a poor man's
version of drums. I have to admit the whole thing is somewhat childish”, Felix says with a laugh. “But I
couldn't be happier with the end result.”
Felix recruited a swarm of high-profile guest stars for the album; Bahamadia (Erykah Badu,
Gangstarr), Blu (The Roots, Talib Kweli) and Kid Koala (Gorillaz, Björk, Radiohead) are some of the
artists featured. Finnish collaborators include soul star Tuomo, Don Johnson Big Band vocalist
Tommy Lindgren, rapper Redrama and trumpeter Verneri Pohjola.
”The record is quite a mishmash of different styles – from afrobeat to steel-pumping disco house, from
electro hip hop to glitch,” Felix says. “On the other hand, the human voice is the common thread that
ties all the elements together, and I have never believed in limiting myself to a specific style of music.”
During the last years Zenger has toured places such as Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany,
Japan, South Korea, China, Mexico, El Salvador, Spain, France, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia
and Scandinavia. He has shared the stage with the likes of Pharrell Williams (N*E*R*D), Kid Koala,
DJ Q-Bert, Don Johnson Big Band and Iiro Rantala New Trio, and opened up for Kanye West, James
Brown, Good Charlotte, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.
Zenger threw a record release party for “Won't Say A Thing” on April 20 in Helsinki, and during
summer 2011 he will appear on stages around Finland, one of them being the main stage at Pori Jazz
Festival.
Felix Zenger is the most popular Finn of all time on YouTube: his beatbox video has over 28 million
views to date. “I'm obviously expecting the record to sell at least as many copies”, Felix says. With a
straight face.
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