AN OXFORD ‘beatboxer’ will be performing at one of England’s most prestigious venues after being spotted in a competition.

Scott Latham, known as ‘Layth’, from Headington, will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall to launch a one-day Urban Arts exhibition.

The 20-year-old student, who is studying geography at Sussex University, was asked to perform at the Load exhibition after organisers saw him compete and win during the London heat of the UK Beatboxing Championships.

Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion where the artist makes musical sounds using their mouth, tongue and lips, sometimes all at the same time.

Mr Latham said he had been perfecting the art form for the last four years.

He said: “I became interested in it and looked up a couple of tutorials on line and taught myself.

“I don’t really have anyone in particular who inspires me, but I’m influenced by breaks, dubstep, drum and bass and Breakstep.”

The exhibition at the historic London venue will turn the walls of the loading bay, which is three floors underground and usually only used for behind the scenes work, into a gallery of graffitti and street artwork.

One level of the exhibition will depict the story of the Royal Albert Hall’s 138-year history from hosting one of the first showcases of electric lighting and a suffragette rally, to Winston Churchill’s first war time TV broadcast from the hall.

The second will feature 10ft high murals of artists and musicians who have performed at the hall and the third, where Mr Latham will be performing, will feature street art and the work of up-and-coming ‘graffers’, from the UK graffitti scene.

Mr Latham, added: “It is exciting.

“It’s quite hectic because I will be doing my exams the same time and I have the UK finals of the Beatboxing Championships a few days after, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

The event will be launched with a private viewing on Monday, June 15, and the exhibition will then open to the public for one day only on Monday, June 22.

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk