Shirokuma is taking a year out to work on the new 2013 OCTOBUSE project, for the latest songs and updates,. please visit

https://soundcloud.com/octobuse

Shirokuma is an innovative musical project created by Liverpool born writer and producer Mark Corrin. The songs are frequently collaborative affairs and feature many local and international guest vocalists and musicians. Shirokuma is always very keen to work with other interesting artists. The tracks that Shirokuma produces constantly evolve and mutate in terms of style and genre, but they can often be characterised by elements of male / female vocal interplay, surrealist lyrics, catchy melodies and short song lengths. The playful and varied musical backings are woven from electronic and organic sound sources and have previously incorporated elements from such styles as psychedelic pop, punk, electronica, French pop, comedy, folk, chiptune, grunge, drum n’ bass, surf and hip hop.

For a bit of history…Shirokuma’s early demo CDRs made him a regular favourite on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 Show for the final five years of its broadcast (1999 – 2004). Rob Da Bank and FloMotion’s Nick Luscombe continue to be radio supporters, whilst Shirokuma was made single of the week by both Steve Lamacq and Phil Jupitus during their time at BBC 6 Music. A debut album “Secret Moves At The Midnight Chess Club” was released via Manchester label Faith & Hope records in 2005, which yielded a joint NME single of the week, “Moonlight In The Afternoon”. The track, which the paper curiously confessed “makes us want to have sex in dressing-up clothes”, was also remixed by Max Tundra (Domino Records) and Andy Votel (Twisted Nerve \ B-Music \ Finders Keepers). An EP on Twisted Nerve records came next, before Shirokuma began working with the Manchester electronic & future rock label Valentine Records.

Shirokuma is also very active on the Manchester underground live music scene, and variously helps promote, MC and perform at the Valentine Records club nights (previously “To Amy With Love” and “Rebellious Jukebox”). The most recent club night “TagoMago” ran at (the 2012 BBC voted best British pub), The Lass O Gowrie in Manchester. Guest artists who performed at the nights included Damo Suzuki from Can. Shirokuma currently runs an open mic night at Jabez Clegg in Manchester on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month from 6:30pm.