Bankless Monk at SXSW 2024

NEWS

Mar 18

Written By Tateki Matsuda

Summary & Key Takeaways

Beatboxing Zen monk Yogetsu Akasaka returns to SXSW 2024—our second year with Bankless Monk.
He performs March 13th at 11:00 PM at the Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas.
Yogetsu became a Zen Buddhist monk in 2015 and blends traditional Buddhist chants with live looping, beatboxing, and handpan.

Yogetsu Akasaka: The Beatboxing Monk Returns to SXSW 2024

I’m so glad that we made it here again. Bankless Monk started two years ago, and this is our 2nd year at SXSW. My former podcast guest is going to steal the show. Yogetsu Akasaka, the renowned Japanese Buddhist priest and beatboxer, will make waves again after his debut at the festival last year. He takes the stage on March 13th at 11:00 PM at the Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas—a venue that suits music built to blend spirituality with sound.

Who is Yogetsu Akasaka?

Born and raised in Tokyo, Yogetsu started as a street performer, beatboxing in cities like London, Sydney, and New York. In 2015 he became a Zen Buddhist monk, following his father’s footsteps. After 2.5 years at the Soto Zen Buddhism Monastery in Japan, he returned to Tokyo and began merging his spiritual practice with his musical talent.

Today he combines traditional Buddhist chants with live looping, beatboxing, and the haunting melodies of the handpan. His music—often called "organic electronica"—guides listeners toward inner peace, and it resonated worldwide during the pandemic, with performances viewed over 11 million times.

At SXSW 2024, the Central Presbyterian Church gives his set a serene, meditative frame, where electronic sound meets ancient practice. Yogetsu, featured in Vice Magazine and other international outlets, treats performance as a form of meditation and a tool for mental wellness—a respite to slow down, breathe, and find inner peace in a world full of stress and anxiety.

If you're at SXSW 2024, don't miss it. You can follow Yogetsu on social media and stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube for updates on performances and new releases—and add his SXSW 2024 set to your schedule.

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