Dan Cleaver

Dan Cleaver aka Beat Cleaver is a multi-disciplinary vocalist (beatboxer & rapper) live looping virtuoso, improviser, live streamer and events facilitator based in Bristol. Dan has a wealth of experience on stages, festivals, busking and live streaming with music. 

Dan runs regular music events across the country including free open jam events for vocalists to experience freestyle improvisation called Cypher Space. Working alongside artists such as Harry Mack, AriatHome, Beardyman, The Beatbox Collective, JFB & many more. 

Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and the role of music in your life up until now?

My name is Dan aka Beat Cleaver and I am a full-time performing musician & events facilitator. Music has been a constant pulse in my life but I typically struggled with education in the creative sense so I didn’t undertake classical training.

At 12 years old I began to teach myself beatboxing and my musical world opened up! At 16 I began DJing at various party scenes before I acquired my first loop station. This was the ultimate door into what later became my solo artistry as Beat Cleaver. I worked on creating entirely improvised compositions alongside two vocalists with a comedy music group called Bars Against Humanity for many years until the global lockdown pushed me into live streaming. 

In this phase of life I taught myself keys, music theory, production and freestyle rap then took to performing solo on festival and venue stages. I have been educating others for 6 years on vocal arts, production and improvisation as well as curating multiple diverse music events in Brighton & Bristol. 

What/who inspired you to want to become a musician?

My biggest inspirations would have to be Beardyman & Harry Mack who are both improvising masters. 

Could you share with us a musical and/or life highlight? How did it make you feel?

The pinnacle of my professional endeavors would have to be my experience performing at O2 Shepards Bush to 6000 attendees which was an incredible (and terrifying) experience for any artist. Then I would have to mention my event: Cypher Space. An inclusive open mic/jam hybrid where I live compose instrumental beats for vocalists to perform, freestyle or experience the stage for the very first time! It is my proudest achievement to date and has been very much loved by the growing community that attends. 

Could you say a few words about how music relates to mental health from your perspective?

Music is my most direct of therapy. By this I mean the way I can process my emotions and thoughts with the way I access music has been one of the most healing experiences in my life. I enjoy all parts of music: I love dancing, listening, talking about music, performing, supporting & learning. I think these attributes have positively contributed to the benefit of my mental health.

What do you feel you can offer to a participant? What are your areas of special interest?!

I am very enthusiastic about individual creative practices. By this I mean that I respect the diversity of creativity to adapt my teaching techniques to suit the individuals’ priorities be that in creating lyrics, producing tracks, performing live and more. One special interest of mine would have to be Genre Theory which is a method to break down musical theory into digestible segments to easily understand how certain styles of music are made and created. 

Why is being part of Seed Sessions important to you?

Seed sessions saved me at a time when I needed it the most. I have had a lot of experience with mental health, adversity and particularly bereavement. Seed Sessions accepted me as a participant and I’ve been a better musician and a more grounded person ever since. The input seed sessions provided me is incredibly positive and I will always be passionate about the work that is done here.