Jun Senoue
Encyclopedia
is a video game composer and musician from Wave Master
, well known for some of his contributions in many Sonic the Hedgehog games. He is also the guitarist for the band Crush 40
, which also contributes to many Sonic the Hedgehog
games.
, Jun became dedicated to rock music
at the age of 12. He began to teach himself to play the electric guitar at 15, and made his first original band recording at the age of 17.
In 1993, after graduating from college with a degree in economics
from Aoyama Gakuin University
in Japan, he joined Sega as a video game composer, doing sound work for games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 3
. He is most well-known for his compositions and songs in Sonic Adventure
.
Senoue moved to San Francisco and continued to compose in-game music and theme songs as sound director for Sonic Team USA games, Sonic Adventure 2
, Sonic Heroes
and Shadow the Hedgehog
, featuring music contributed by his band Crush 40. Senoue also composed a Reala theme, and programmed all sound effects for Sonic Team USA's last game, Nights: Journey of Dreams
.
In 2007, Jun provided three new arrangements for the Japanese console release of OutRun 2 SP, including covers of existing series tracks "Splash Wave" and "Rush a Difficulty", and an original track titled "Lift You Up!". The songs are also available on the "Outrun 20th Anniversary" box CD set.
Jun is also one of 38 composers for the Wii
game Super Smash Bros. Brawl
, having contributed an arrangement of the Angel Island Zone theme from Sonic The Hedgehog 3
, as well as the original versions of many Crush 40 songs such as "Live and Learn".
Jun was also assigned as sound director for Sonic and the Black Knight
and one of the composers for the game Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
.
In 2009 fall, Jun announced to release a new album entitled "The Works", which is a compilation album of songs he has made throughout the years. Containing only 3 Sonic related songs, it mostly features works he has provided for other games. The album was released in Oct.21, 2009.
Jun also worked as the sound director and composer for the game Sonic the Hedgehog 4
, released October 10, 2010. Currently, he is working on mixing tracks from previous Sonic games for the upcoming Sonic Generations
.
, Crush 40 is the name of the project of both Jun Senoue and vocalist Johnny Gioeli
from Hardline
. Their works have spread from their original music made for racing to songs for the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Currently, the band has released three albums and several other songs on video game soundtracks.
entitled "Ready!". The project goes under the name JxJ (Jun x Junko) and is only available in Japan, though copies have made their way stateside through the Jun Senoue fan page.
Wave Master
Wave Master Inc. is a research and development team for Sega, focusing on the soundtracks for various games...
, well known for some of his contributions in many Sonic the Hedgehog games. He is also the guitarist for the band Crush 40
Crush 40
Crush 40, formerly known as Sons of Angels, is a Japanese-American hard rock band formed in 1997 that is best known for their contributions to the soundtracks of several video games, predominantly the Sonic the Hedgehog series...
, which also contributes to many Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog series
Sonic the Hedgehog is the best selling video game series released by Sega starring and named after its mascot character, Sonic the Hedgehog...
games.
Biography
Jun started playing the piano at 3 while living in Japan. After moving to PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Jun became dedicated to rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
at the age of 12. He began to teach himself to play the electric guitar at 15, and made his first original band recording at the age of 17.
In 1993, after graduating from college with a degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Aoyama Gakuin University
Aoyama Gakuin University
, abbreviated AGU, is a Japanese Christian university in Shibuya near Omotesandō, Tokyo, Japan. Aoyama Gakuin University is part of a comprehensive educational institute called Aoyama Gakuin, which includes a kindergarten, an elementary school, junior and senior high schools, and a women's junior...
in Japan, he joined Sega as a video game composer, doing sound work for games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a 1994 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It was developed in the United States by members of Sonic Team working at Sega Technical Institute, and was published by Sega, debuting worldwide in the first half of 1994...
. He is most well-known for his compositions and songs in Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure
is a 1999 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and released on December 23, 1998, in Japan by Sega for the Dreamcast. One of its development titles was Sonic RPG...
.
Senoue moved to San Francisco and continued to compose in-game music and theme songs as sound director for Sonic Team USA games, Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2 is a platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Dreamcast video game console. It was released in North America on June 19, 2001 and in Japan on June 23, 2001 to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. It is the sequel...
, Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes
is a 2004 platforming single-player/multiplayer video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Sonic Team USA. It is the first multiplatform title in the Sonic series, developed for Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox and released in Japan in December 2003, in North America in...
and Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)
Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team. Featuring the titular fictional character Shadow the Hedgehog from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game inauguration of...
, featuring music contributed by his band Crush 40. Senoue also composed a Reala theme, and programmed all sound effects for Sonic Team USA's last game, Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams is a video game for the Wii console developed by Sonic Team and Sega. It is the sequel to the 1996 Sega Saturn title Nights into Dreams......
.
In 2007, Jun provided three new arrangements for the Japanese console release of OutRun 2 SP, including covers of existing series tracks "Splash Wave" and "Rush a Difficulty", and an original track titled "Lift You Up!". The songs are also available on the "Outrun 20th Anniversary" box CD set.
Jun is also one of 38 composers for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
game Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
, having contributed an arrangement of the Angel Island Zone theme from Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a 1994 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It was developed in the United States by members of Sonic Team working at Sega Technical Institute, and was published by Sega, debuting worldwide in the first half of 1994...
, as well as the original versions of many Crush 40 songs such as "Live and Learn".
Jun was also assigned as sound director for Sonic and the Black Knight
Sonic and the Black Knight
is a title within the Sonic the Hedgehog series, released exclusively on Wii as the second entry in the Sonic Storybook series, following on from Sonic and the Secret Rings. The game is directed by Tetsu Katano, who was the lead programmer of the Sonic Adventure titles and Sonic Heroes...
and one of the composers for the game Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, known in Japan as , is a sports video game developed by the Sega Sports R&D Department of Sega Japan. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America, Europe and all other regions. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic...
and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
is a 2009 sports video game developed by Sega. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America and Europe. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee through exclusive license International Sports Multimedia...
.
In 2009 fall, Jun announced to release a new album entitled "The Works", which is a compilation album of songs he has made throughout the years. Containing only 3 Sonic related songs, it mostly features works he has provided for other games. The album was released in Oct.21, 2009.
Jun also worked as the sound director and composer for the game Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
is an episodic platform video game and a sequel in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game was developed by Dimps alongside members of Sonic Team and is intended to be inspired by and similar to the original Sonic the Hedgehog titles on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.Episode I was released in October...
, released October 10, 2010. Currently, he is working on mixing tracks from previous Sonic games for the upcoming Sonic Generations
Sonic Generations
is a 2011 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, produced by Sonic Team for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo 3DS...
.
Crush 40
Originally started as a project band to create music for NASCAR ArcadeNASCAR Arcade
NASCAR Arcade is a racing video game that was released in 2000 for the arcade....
, Crush 40 is the name of the project of both Jun Senoue and vocalist Johnny Gioeli
Johnny Gioeli
Johnny Gioeli is an American hard rock singer. Originally lead singer of the band Hardline, he is also currently the vocalist of Crush 40 and German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell's band...
from Hardline
Hardline
In politics, hardline refers to the doctrine, policy, and posturing of a government or political body as being absolutist and sometimes authoritarian. The hardline position is usually extremist and uncompromising....
. Their works have spread from their original music made for racing to songs for the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Currently, the band has released three albums and several other songs on video game soundtracks.
JxJ
In 2005, Jun released an EP with Japanese voice actress Junko NodaJunko Noda
is a Japanese voice actress. Noda is formerly affiliated with Aoni Production. In addition, Noda is part of the Hinata Girls and she is best known for her work in the Love Hina anime series...
entitled "Ready!". The project goes under the name JxJ (Jun x Junko) and is only available in Japan, though copies have made their way stateside through the Jun Senoue fan page.
Bubblicious Blvd
In 2010, Jun started a new band called Bubblicious Blvd fronted by former Magna-Fi guitarist CJ Szuter. Not much information is available on this project aside from what is provided on the official Myspace page.External links
- Jun Senoue's official fansite
- Wave Master website
- Artist profile at OverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMix, also known as OC ReMix and OCR, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and paying tribute to video game music through arranging and re-interpreting the songs with new technology and software, as well as by various traditional means...