Starfucker

Starfucker, later shortened to STRFKR, is a German indie electro group associated with synthesiser-led indie pop, electronic and dance-oriented pop. The act forms in Germany and is listed as a group with Mike Kilian as a member. The same name is also used by a separate girl-fronted grunge rock band from Leuven, Belgium, active from 2007 to 2009.

Background and formation

The project begins as a live-oriented band built around Josh Hodges, who also records as Sexton Blake. Hodges wants to turn his work into a more lighthearted project and recruits Shawn Glassford of Mr. Fredrick and Ryan Bjornstad of Junkface. Their early shows include instrument swapping, dual drumming, stage diving and elaborate costumes, which draw attention to the group. Dylan Magierek signs the band to Badman Recording Company after seeing these performances.

Hodges and Magierek take home recordings to the Type Foundry to complete the debut album with additional layering. The self-titled record appears in 2008 and is followed by a record deal with Polyvinyl.

Releases and development

The debut album gains notice for its dance-friendly hooks. Multi-instrumentalist Keil Corcoran joins in 2009. The group later considers changing its name, with PYRAMID and Pyramiddd among the options, but keeps the Starfucker name for Reptilians, released on Polyvinyl in 2011.

Lineup changes continue, with Bjornstad leaving and touring guitarist Patrick Morris becoming a full-time member in late 2011. The band then shortens its name to STRFKR in 2012 and completes work on Miracle Mile, released in 2013. That album becomes its first entry on the Billboard 200, reaching number 178.

With Hodges, Glassford and Corcoran as a reduced lineup, STRFKR releases Being No One, Going Nowhere on limited-edition vinyl in late 2015, with a full release following in 2016. It appears on several Billboard charts, including vinyl, rock, alternative, independent and Heatseekers Albums, where it reaches number one.

Archives and later work

Polyvinyl issues a three-part Vault series in 2017, drawn from demos recovered from Hodges’ failing laptop. Vault, Vol. 1 appears in February, Vault, Vol. 2 in July and Vault, Vol. 3 in December, completing a 64-track set.

For the fifth studio album, Hodges revisits material from 2014 sessions in Amsterdam with Mathias Janmat and David Hoogerheide. With their input, and with Hodges, Glassford and Corcoran working from the material, the group develops a more atmospheric and low-key sound built around acoustic guitar and synthesizers. Future Past Life is released on Polyvinyl in 2020.

Later that year, Hodges issues Ambient 1, an instrumental-synth release under the STRFKR name.

Related work

After returning to Portland, Oregon, following a four-year period in New York City, Hodges releases two Sexton Blake records on Expunged, including Plays the Hits, a lo-fi album of 1980s covers.