Aaron “Heatbox” Heaton (aka The One Man Entertainment System), personifies a true renaissance musical pioneer in his prime. How does Heatbox level up an impressive decade-plus career spanning multiple lanes of otherworldly creative mastery? He writes and produces a seminal work of musical comedy, the 2023 release of Hilarious & Epically Legendary.
Next, Heatbox builds a live show experience poised to ignite a Twin Cities music scene already on the verge of exploding! So, how far can this Minneapolis-born, hip-hop-influenced Northside kid who fell in love with drum beats and mouth sounds go? Heatbox has proven that’s an open question.
If we rewind his career we find Heatbox touring and headlining festivals landing him on bills with acts like Boyz II Men, Ceelo Green, Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, Wu-Tang Clan, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Arrested Development, Umphrey’s McGee, and a now legendary live collaboration with Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) at SXSW. The journey includes acclaimed performances on huge international platforms including at the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, on NBC’s The Sing Off, and on the hit NBC show America’s Got Talent.
How does Heatbox explain it all? “I have what I call Beatmania. Basically, I have music in my head 89% of my life. Like my head is an antenna that picks up music from the universe”. This is all fertile ground as Heatbox rides the wave of a creative rebirth, thus, Hilarious & Epically Legendary is born. This full-length album is a step inside the richest expression yet of what the Heatbox universe is all about. Epic tracks like “Bad Internet Friend”, “I Bought a Bat”, and the much-anticipated fan favorite “Inigo Montoya” are a ride in the velvet lined laugh chariot that is this album.
Hilarious & Epically Legendary is a special treat you can’t seem to put down. Having made some friends along the way, A-list Twin Cities music legends populate this comedic tapestry and remind the listener that the “Minneapolis Sound” is very much still alive. In fact it’s a key piece of what makes this record so familiar and exciting. Yet, at the same time, Hilarious & Epically Legendary is uniquely Heatbox.
Does it all make sense? Maybe. But one thing is for sure, this album is indeed… Hilarious & Epically Legendary.
