This track, performed by Carlos on the whistle, was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto for the Japanese movie SHINING BOY & LITTLE RANDY.

You can see here some images of Carlos recording the tune in Sakamoto’s studio in the East Village, Manhattan.

As it often happens in Sakamoto’s work, there are several versions recorded. This is another one, also from the soundtrack album, with Xurxo Núñez playing percussion.

Sakamoto also plays “Shining Boy” live solo.

It wasn’t the first or the only time Carlos was called by Sakamoto to record his music. They met through a mutual friend, the late French producer and composer Hector Zazou. Soon after that, Sakamoto had called Carlos to record ‘The Land Song’ written for the opening of Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, included in the album “Chasm”. You can listen here to a remix.

The most recent work they did together was for the soundtrack of “Silk”

Sakamoto visited Galicia and was very impressed by the Medieval stone orchestra sculpted in Santiago Cathedral. Please see photo of him visiting with Carlos.

Carlos also worked in the soundtrack of Japanese animation movie Tales from Earth Sea, from legendary Studio Ghibli, directed by Goro Miyasaki and based on Ursula Le Guin’s novel. It even became an album exclusively for Japan. Here you can see some images from the recording in Tokyo.

Núñez has often toured in Japan and played with many Japanese musicians, from the Kodo Drummers in their wonderful festival in Sado Island, to Okinawan musicians such as Koja Misako.

Carlos first played in Japan with the Chieftains in 1994, participating in the Great Music Experience (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi, INXS…)