Hiroquest: Genesis is the seventh studio album by American DJ and producer Steve Aoki,[1] succeeding his 2020 album Neon Future IV. The album is a result of Aoki's partnership with collectible card game company MetaZoo Games,[2][3][4] with whom he released an accompanying trading card game pack where one random card shipped with every CD sold. The album was released on September 16, 2022.

Hiroquest: Genesis
Steve Aoki Hiroquest Genesis album cover
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2022
Length71:20
Label
Producer
Steve Aoki chronology
Neon Future IV
(2020)
Hiroquest: Genesis
(2022)
Hiroquest 2: Double Helix
(2023)
Singles from Hiroquest: Genesis
  1. "Stars Don't Shine"
    Released: December 17, 2021
  2. "Kult"
    Released: February 18, 2022
  3. "Stop The World"
    Released: March 18, 2022
  4. "Save Me"
    Released: April 29, 2022
  5. "Kong 2.0"
    Released: May 13, 2022
  6. "Just Us Two"
    Released: June 10, 2022
  7. "Whole Again"
    Released: July 1, 2022
  8. "The Whistle"
    Released: August 5, 2022
  9. "Ultimate"
    Released: August 26, 2022
  10. "Nobody"
    Released: September 15, 2022
  11. "Demons"
    Released: September 15, 2022
  12. "All Hype"
    Released: September 15, 2022
  13. "Stars"
    Released: September 15, 2022
  14. "Movie Star"
    Released: September 15, 2022
  15. "Chi Chi"
    Released: September 15, 2022

Background edit

According to Aoki, "the music is a connecting tissue to this universe that I'm creating. This album tells a fantastical story, but it's also about freedom from restraint. I went right back to my roots—that raw, rock energy and that became the basis of it. From there, I began to explore everything and it sprouted into so many different genres."[5]

Hiroquest: Genesis was released on September 16, 2022, through DJ Kid Millionaire and Dim Mak Records.[1][6] It contains collaborations with Jasiah, Grandson, Mod Sun, Global Dan, Kane Brown, Ricky Retro, Taking Back Sunday, Bryce Vine, Goody Grace, Sueco, No Love for the Middle Child, Santa Fe Klan, Snow Tha Product, Guaynaa, Natanael Cano, KAAZE, John Martin, HRVY, Marnik, Leony, Timmy Trumpet, DJ Aligator, PollyAnna, Georgia Ku, Lil Xan, PnB Rock, and 24hrs.[7]

Concept and structure edit

Hiroquest: Genesis can be described as a concept album, as it follows a main character named Hiro, who exists as a dramatization of Aoki, who embarks on an introspective journey to collect magical rings described in the Black Pullet grimoire, which he must use to save the world.[8]

The album is divided into factions by five interludes called "melodias". The characters in the trading card game each correspond to one of the five factions.[9]

The album is the first in Aoki's Hiroquest series of albums. The second installment, Hiroquest 2: Double Helix, was released on November 17, 2023.[10][11][12]

Remix album edit

Aoki later released a twenty-seven track remixed version of the album, entitled Hiroquest: Genesis Remixed, on November 11, 2022.[13] The remixed version of the songs were produced mainly by artists that did not appear on the original project, though it did feature production by Aoki (on the remix of "Just Us Two") and by Timmy Trumpet (on the remix of "Hiroquest Anthem").

Tour edit

The album spawned a tour, the Hiroquest: Genesis Tour, which begun on February 22, 2023, in Montreal, Canada, and ended on March 16 in New York City.[14]

Artwork edit

The album cover was illustrated by MetaZoo artist Poncho.[citation needed]

Track listing edit

Hiroquest: Genesis track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hiroquest Anthem"Steve Aoki3:18
2."Astrals Melodia"Aoki0:42
3."Kult" (with Grandson featuring Jasiah)
2:57
4."Movie Star" (featuring Mod Sun and Global Dan)
  • Aoki
  • Daniel McMannis
  • Dell Ngonga
  • Derek Smith
  • Gazzo
3:33
5."Move On" (with Kane Brown and Ricky Retro)
3:11
6."OIO Melodia"Aoki0:34
7."Just Us Two" (with Taking Back Sunday)3:48
8."All Hype" (featuring Bryce Vine)
  • Aoki
  • Joe Kirkland
  • Aaron Harmon
  • Bryce Vine
  • Dusty Kessler
3:16
9."You Don't Get to Hate Me" (featuring Goody Grace)
  • Aoki
  • Benjamin Shapiro
  • Benny Mayne
  • Evan Gartner
  • Branson Gudmundson
  • Mason Sacks
  • Gazzo
  • Miles Wesley
2:58
10."Russian Roulette" (featuring Sueco and No Love for the Middle Child)
2:39
11."Diasos Melodia"Aoki0:35
12."Ultimate" (with Santa Fe Klan featuring Snow Tha Product)
  • Aoki
  • Max Styler
  • Claudia Madriz Meza
  • Ángel Quezada
3:33
13."Chi Chi" (with Guaynaa)
  • Aoki
  • Elof Loelv
  • Jean Carlos Santiago Perez
  • Oplus
  • Tiago da Cal Alves
3:30
14."Kong 2.0" (with Natanael Cano)
  • Aoki
  • Natanael Cano
  • Andres Farias
3:22
15."Extants Melodia"Aoki0:42
16."Whole Again" (with Kaaze featuring John Martin)
3:30
17."Save Me" (with Hrvy)
  • Aoki
  • Lewis Thompson
  • Gabrielle Alpin
  • Harvey Cantwell
  • Lawrie Prime-Martin
  • Max Styler
2:46
18."Stop the World" (with Marnik and Leony)
  • Aoki
  • Emanuele Longo
  • Leonie Burger
  • Vitali Zestovskih
2:59
19."The Whistle" (with Timmy Trumpet and DJ Aligator)
  • Aoki
  • Al Agami
  • Timothy Smith
  • Ali Movasat
  • Casper Weinrich
  • Hoger Lagerfeldt
2:11
20."Stars Don't Shine" (featuring Global Dan)
  • Aoki
  • Max Styler
  • Gazzo
3:41
21."Taurobons Melodia"Aoki0:45
22."Nobody" (featuring PollyAnna)
3:01
23."Demons" (featuring Georgia Ku)
  • Aoki
  • Albin Nedler
  • Bonn
  • Georgia Ku
  • Jim Levine
2:46
24."Stars" (featuring Lil Xan)3:05
25."Perfect" (featuring PnB Rock and 24hrs)4:04
26."Black Pullet"Aoki4:03
Total length:71:20

Notes

  • "Russian Roulette" contains an interpolation of "Funeral" by Sueco.
  • "Perfect" was silently removed from streaming services shortly after the album’s release, though it is still present on physical copies. Later, it was reissued as part of Aoki's album Hiroquest 2: Double Helix (2023).
  • "Black Pullet" runs for 3:29 on streaming services, compared to the standard 4:03 on physical editions.

References edit

  1. ^ a b HiROQUEST: Genesis by Steve Aoki, September 16, 2022, retrieved April 21, 2023
  2. ^ "MetaZoo Games LLC Announces Partnership with Steve Aoki". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Jarvis, Matt (July 30, 2021). "Celebrity DJ and Pokémon fan Steve Aoki is working on a trading card game". Dicebreaker. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "Steve Aoki Becomes a Full Equity Partner at MetaZoo Games". icv2.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Steve Aoki Releases Latest Album HiROQUEST: Genesis". Cultr. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  6. ^ ABS-CBN News Team. "Steve Aoki to drop new album HiROQUEST on September 16". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Lim, Sheila (September 17, 2022). "Steve Aoki Delivers Latest Experiential Album, HiROQUEST: Genesis [Review]". EDM Identity. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "MetaZoo, Steve Aoki Work with Spotify for New Release | License Global". www.licenseglobal.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Steve Aoki releases new album 'Hiroquest: Genesis' | New Day". Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Madarang, Charisma (August 18, 2023). "Steve Aoki Expands His Universe with New LP 'HiROQUEST: Double Helix'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (August 18, 2023). "Steve Aoki Announces Concept Album Featuring Paris Hilton and Akon". Variety. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Johnson, Laura. "Steve Aoki Announces Tenth Album 'HiROQUEST: Double Helix' Feat Paris Hilton, Akon And More - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "HiROQUEST: Genesis Remixed by Steve Aoki". Apple Music. November 11, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Gilmore, Grant (January 9, 2023). "Steve Aoki Announces Dates for 2023 HiROQUEST: Genesis Tour". EDM Identity. Retrieved April 21, 2023.