STARWOLF スターウルフ

スターウルフ
Synthesizers + Samplers: Suma Hirashi studied composition at Shobi College of Music and worked as an intern at Kadokawa Daiei Studio before scoring a series of Anime shorts on Niconico, a Japanese video hosting service. 

Drums + Percussion: Matsuo Skana was a member of noise band Black Sesame and is frequently seen busking around the Shinjuku JR Station with custom-built percussion instruments.
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The duo became aquatinted after Hirasi spotted Skana on the street, performing on a gamelan instrument made from PVC pipes and paint can lids. He approached him about collaborating for one of his Niconico shorts, and they have continued working on small projects since 2014.

U•LOT liaison for STARWOLF - Kay Nara
As a writing exercise, the duo would occasionally explore - and record in - empty spaces outside Tokyo (see Okutama Industrial Nichihara Dormitory) or reference sections of manga as inspiration. One such publication was 'Smoke Demon Ryūji', written by Jiro Tokimatsu. Hirashi & Skana would find themselves circling back to Tokimatsu's work multiple times for inspiration, building small cues for different passages in the storyline. By February 2023 they had spent close to a year with the book, while simultaneously researching traditional music and building unconventional instruments. The resulting soundtrack is a kaleidoscope of mood, character study, and cinematic depth -- ironically for a publication that has since gone out of print. Percussionist Matsuo's sister, Kay Nara, was instrumental in the promotion and design of the completed product.


DISCOGRAPHY:

[ULOT028] Released November 3rd, 2023

1. 序章 [prologue]
2. 村が燃える [Village Burning]
3. 灰の子供 [Child of Ash]
4. 黒竹の夢 [Black Bamboo Dream]
5. 潮来 ジュン [Itako Jun]
6. 刃の兄弟だけ [Brother by Blade Alone]
7. 忠誠心 [Loyalty]
8. 赤い床 [Red Floor]
9.ライジング・息子 [Rising Son]
10. 白目 [White Eye]
11. 山の門 [The Mountain Gate]
12. 偲ぶ [Remember]
13. 自殺 [Jisatsu]
14. 化生 [Transformation]
15. 死の輪 [Circle of Death]

Based on the manga by Jiro Tokimatsu, 'Smoke Devil Ryuji' is the story of a young boy who, through protective sorcery, survives the total devastation of his village, set ablaze by a land-hungry warlord. 

After years of surviving alone and cursed with an ash-grey complexion, young Ryū is found and - by complete coincidence - adopted by the very same warlord. Neither of them recognize each other's true identity and a strong bond is formed between the two. 

Time passes, discoveries are made and Ryū is forced to choose between revenge for the family he's long forgotten, or sacrificing the 20-year bond with a man he thought he knew.




Matsuo Skana - Drums + Percussion 

Suma Hirashi - Synthesizers + Samplers 


Produced by STARWOLF at Takoōdio Lab, Okinawa 


Representation for U•LOT Records Japan - Kay Nara 

Art Direction & Design - Bento™



White Eye Infinite
[ULOT029] Released December 1st, 2023

1. ホワイトアイ無限 [white eye infinite]
2. 海の嵐 [sea storm]
3. 冬の木 [the winter tree]

Three additional pieces born out of their recent work on the soundtrack to 'Smoke Devil Ryuji'. The central piece, '白目 white eye infinite' is an extended version of 'white eye', taken from the original score; a singular meditation on voice, electronics and distant percussion. Both 'sea storm' and 'winter tree' are workshop pieces that assisted in production, but were unused in the final score. 



SINGLES / REMIXES:

落下 (falling)
Taken from ARTIFACTS: Sampler 01
[ULOT 008] Released September 3rd, 2020




Taken from ARTIFACTS: Sampler 1.5 [bonus tracks]
[ULOT 013] Released December 12th, 2020

From Peachboy RE: B / Released Oct 22nd, 2021
Part of a series of 12" releases from Peachboy (Chicago). Later included in the full-length Peachboy: Reconstructed [ULOT 021]
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