Samurai Music is arguably one of the most important labels in the history of the genre. Since their launch in 2007, Samurai Music has consolidated its name as one of the most respected labels in Drum & Bass who are known for consistently delivering quality music with every release.
Owned by DJ Presha, an acclaimed name in the scene, the New Zealander has always ensured that Samurai releases are distinctive for their high-quality artistic direction and highly collectable vinyl packages. The label historically, has always been careful with their approach in every release whether the artist is a newcomer or an established name. Samurai Music is responsible for giving the scene some seminal releases from the likes of Klute, Dub Phizix, Calibre, Tokyo Prose, State of Mind and many more.
Continuing their trend of pushing experimental Drum & Bass, the label has released a new series of 12"s called as Samurai Hannya. The series is based on the mythical masks of a Noh drama (a form of traditional Japanese theatre). Hannya masks capture the stages of transformation of a female character as she undergoes a metamorphosis into a demon/ogre.
The 12”s for the series are named after these 3 stages/masks and feature all new tracks from the Samurai Music roster created specifically for this project. The series also introduces a new Russian artist Roho with his tune “Totemz”, two collaborations from the label head honcho DJ Presha (with Homemade Weapons & Ancestral Voices) alongside label regulars Homemade Weapons, The Untouchables, Torn, Artilect, Last Life, Antagonist, and for the first time on Samurai Music, Weaponry artists Torana.
Listen to the series here :
Tracklist:
12” Tracklists
Hannya White (Ghost) | 葵上
01. The Untouchables - Bushi Ronin
02. Ancestral Voices & Presha - Niflheim
03. Last Life - Rotterdam
04. Antagonist - Ministry
Hannya Red (Snake) | 道成寺
01. Artilect - A Message
02. Presha & Homemade Weapons - The Claw
03. Homemade Weapons & Roho - Kifuka
04. Torana - Amok
Hannya Black (Demon) | 黒塚
01. Homemade Weapons - Omen
02. Torn - Dance On The Bones
03. Homemade Weapons & Torn - Isolation
04. Roho - Totemz