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Austin Fox 狐 Reveals Latest Album Genkurō 源九郎
Rising Virginia rapper Austin Fox 狐 has unveiled his latest masterpiece in the form of brand-new album Genkurō 源九郎. This album weaves a captivating narrative inspired by Japanese culture, mythology and martial arts philosophy, delivering a profound musical experience that transcends boundaries.
Genkurō 源九郎, a shapeshifting fox spirit, takes centre stage in this unique musical journey. In Japanese lore, the fox spirit is known for its role in assisting Minamoto Yoshitsune against the forces of Yoshitsune’s own brother, Yoritomo Yoshitsune. Austin’s deep appreciation for anime and Japanese culture, reflected in the Japanese kanji for “fox” in his name (狐), motivated him to create a project that pays homage to these influences while connecting them to his personal life.
As Austin Fox 狐 explains, “Genkurō 源九郎 is a story of love and dedication to one’s craft. It is a take on loyalty to yourself and those around you who deserve it. It is another opportunity to discover who I am as an individual.”
The album draws inspiration from the teachings of Japan’s legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, who went undefeated in over 60 duels and authored the famous Book of Five Rings. Musashi’s philosophy emphasises the importance of strategy and discipline in mastering swordplay and, by extension, life itself. Each of the book’s five sections corresponds to one of the elements (earth, water, fire, wind, void/space). Austin Fox 狐 found a serendipitous connection to Musashi’s themes in his own discography, where his first five project releases unintentionally align with these elements. This realisation inspired the creation of Genkurō 源九郎 as the sixth release in his catalogue.
The album delves into themes of loyalty and love, building upon the artist’s previous works such as Ranger396v and SCORIAN VALLEY. Austin Fox 狐 explores the loyalty exhibited by Genkurō toward Yoshitsune, mirroring the loyalty he feels toward his closest allies and his lover. Genkurō 源九郎 serves as a culmination of the lessons learned from his previous projects, offering a refined and skilful execution of his artistic vision.
One notable aspect of Genkurō 源九郎 is that it marks the first time Austin Fox 狐 has chosen not to feature any other artists on his album. The creative process for this album was a natural and deeply personal journey, resulting in verses and songs that exceeded his own expectations.
The album’s focus track, “Lady Shizuka”, exemplifies the overarching theme of love and dedication. Through its poignant lyrics, Austin Fox 狐 emphasises the importance of his relationship, acknowledging the brilliance of his lover and his commitment to resolving any challenges that arise.
Genkurō 源九郎 is more than just an album; it’s a testament to the power of artistic expression and self-discovery. Austin Fox 狐 invites listeners to embark on this extraordinary musical adventure, exploring the depths of love, loyalty and personal growth. Genkurō 源九郎 is available to buy/stream now on all platforms.
Keep up to date with the latest from Austin Fox 狐:
Aaron makes music about meaningful topics that rocks and grooves – and sometimes it even skanks on a rock steady beat!
His new song ‘Geeks’ has been released on all major music platforms on November 15th. It is an anthem for the heroes of the digital age: computer nerds, also known as geeks. It is driven by an off-beat ska guitar, a sticky bass line and a groovy brass section. The icing on the cake is a jazzy saxophone solo.
“I have always loved Ska, I even saw the Specials, the Selecter and Madness live in their heydays”, says Aaron. “I chose the topic although I am not a geek myself, but I have a lot of sympathy for them. Geeks are often frowned upon because they can be socially awkward, but they are the ones who are building a better world. So I think they deserve an anthem.”
The music video is mostly made up of typography, minimalistic ASCII graphics and heavily pixelated images – it surely looks geeky! Watch it here:
Aaron writes catchy songs that are made for people who like meaningful, uplifting topics and guitar-driven, hand-made sounds. His musical journey started young but it wasn’t until he discovered Bitcoin and became so invested in it that he used music to express his new found joy.
“It’s mostly rock music, with excursions into funk, soul and other styles I grew up with. In general, it’s guitar-driven and hand-made, often with a punkish energy and beatlesque harmonies. What all my songs have in common are meaningful lyrics about being in the here and now, about transforming disturbing emotions into wisdom, about being in the flow, things like that.” says Aaron in an interview.
“I have always been making music and writing songs, starting with a punk rock band when I was 15. However, I never saw it as a career. I played in several bands in my teenage years and my early twenties, but after my media studies in Berlin and Rio de Janeiro I focused on other things. I first worked in TV production and then founded one of the first Internet agencies in Germany. I discovered Bitcoin in 2011 and became fascinated by it. I wrote five books about it, made lots of promotional videos and educational series for Bitcoin and blockchain companies, and organised events. I even wrote some songs about Bitcoin, which became quite popular in the community, like my Reggaeton about the Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador. People always liked that my songs are catchy and provocative. It was by the end of 2023 that I decided to go full in on music. It’s what I enjoy the most, so now I want to fully follow my passion.”
Since May 2024, his songs have been streamed more than 250,000 times on Spotify and his music videos have been viewed more than 350,000 times on YouTube.
Read more about Aaron King: http://aaron-koenig.net/press/
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