Darren Percival

Seeing it done before your eyes is a fantastic experience.

A jazz artist of talent, imagination and skill, Darren has over twenty years of professional musical experience working as an entertainer, a recording artist, a vocal coach and innovator.

There's a strong Bobby McFerrin ('Don't Worry Be Happy') influence in his music, but the apprentice almost supersedes the master; not only does Darren posses an out-of-this universe voice with an incredible range, but he's charismatic, egoless and wickedly funny.

He constantly interacts with the audience, and you can't help but get swept away, singing and clapping along because you want to, not because you feel like you have to. His original material is just as show stopping as his covers of Ben E. King ('Stand By Me'), D'Angelo ('Brown Sugar', with a hilarious 'Aussie' version) and James Taylor ('Traffic Jam').

As a solo act, Mr Percival can deliver whatever performance suits his environment from Corporate Dinners, conference ice-breakers to team building workshops. At just about every performance he will ask the crowd to yell out a word that he can use to build an entire new song and arrangement in front of them.

Russell Crowe was so impressed by it, he asked Mr Percival to support the Oscar-winning actor's band, the Ordinary Fear of God, on a five-month tour.

Now taking the corporate scene by storm, the Mr Percival show is a unique and memorable act.

Mr. Percival commanded standing ovations in celebration of an artist who must and will be in the ultimate hall of honour. A Capella, performance artist, sleight of hand. Call it what you wish, because he does defy pigeon-holing, but one thing's for sure, Mr. Percival, with a voice created by angels, is a festival of talent in his own right.

Every now and then you'll be at a performance and witness something extraordinary. Something you and that particular audience share as one of those unforgettable experiences that you never saw coming.

As musicians go, Mr Percival (aka Darren Percival) travels light. A Mr Percival performance requires only Percival, his microphone and a few electronic pedals with which he records and loops his voice to create beats, basslines, harmonies and melodies. The result is a rather special take on a cappella. Using only his voice, Mr Percival can sound as cavernous and rich as a Brooklyn gospel choir or as thoroughly danceable as your favourite hip-hop DJ.

A jazz artist of talent, imagination and skill, Darren has over twenty years of professional musical experience working as an entertainer, a recording artist, a vocal coach and innovator.

On his quest to find something unique, two random events led to the birth of the Mr Percival project. First, Percival saw a DVD of Bela Fleck bassist Victor Wooten looping layers of sounds using his bass guitar and a loop pedal. It inspired him to buy his own looping machine to layer and manipulate his vocals. After practising with the machine for 12 months, he invested in a few more pedals, giving him enough options to create a complete soundscape using only his voice.

Next, he saw an advertisement for singers to participate in a New York workshop with one of the masters of a cappella singing: Bobby McFerrin of Don't Worry, Be Happy fame. Alongside 150 other singers from around the world, Percival was taught McFerrin's art of "spontaneous vocalisation". Darren credits McFerrin for teaching him "how to walk on stage by myself".

As a solo act, Mr Percival can deliver whatever performance suits his environment. At just about every show he will ask the crowd to yell out a word that he can use to build an entire new song and arrangement in front of them. Now taking the corporate scene by storm, the Mr Percival show is a unique and memorable act.

Russell Crowe was so impressed by it, he asked Mr Percival to support the Oscar-winning actor's band, the Ordinary Fear of God, on a five-month tour.

WORKSHOPS
"Get into the Loop" with the Amazing Mr Percival

Motivate your staff with genuine engagement techniques in a safe and dynamic environment. Open communication and understanding with energising interactive vocalisation exercises that excite and invigorate the audience without being invasive to personal space or personalities styles.

With 20 years experience in the music industry conducting corporate workshops to open air festivals, Mr Percival knows how to immediately connect with people from all walks of life to create a safe and truly unique workshop or team building experience.

All workshops are tailored to the conference theme, and Mr Percival creates a tailored song with the involvement from the audience within the first 5 minutes of being on stage. He reinforces the key messages of the conference through uplifting and rhythmic music that has a resonates with the audience long after the conference has finished.

CONFERENCE AND DINNER ENTERTAINMENT
Darren offers a unique and interactive show perfect for lunch or dinner which highlights his amazing vocal talents and involves his audience to help make wonderful music. This act never fails to wow!

 

Client Ovations: Some people respond to art by challenging and transforming the mainstream culture. Mr.Percival isn't what you expect. There are few artists who live in their instrument. Literally. A single voice, multiplied to an ensemble via the magic of a looping pedal, Mr.Percival creates a world of music and sound. His vocal origami ranges from the tribal sounds of 'Down In Africa' to the dirty, hip-grinding groove of 'Brown Sugar'.

The Age, Melbourne

Mr. Percival is an engaging, enigmatic performer taking the audience on a vocal journey, exploring and creating musical landscapes. With his edgy wit and his laid back attitude the 'Out Of The Loop' show is unrestrained and run. Really fun!

Sydney, Australia