Japanese Neo-Classical Composer Makoto Sawai Releases New Single “Nagi”

Japanese musician and composer Makoto Sawai has released his new single “Nagi” today, the third track pulled from his upcoming EP ‘Kaze,’ set for release through London-based independent label Bigo & Twigetti on July 17. Listen here.

Inspired by the feeling of a gentle breeze, the five pieces on ‘Kaze’ are built around piano, with soft saxophone woven through the core melodies to add further texture. Sawai builds a quiet sense of intrigue into the music, layering an underlying melancholy beneath the calm surface. The EP marks Sawai’s first release on Bigo & Twigetti since last year’s ‘Weaving Time’ EP.

Sawai explained that wind takes many forms, from a gentle breeze to a pleasant gust to a full storm, and that this EP was built specifically around that gentler end of the spectrum. He described wanting listeners to feel like they’re riding on that breeze, letting themselves be carried through different places with their eyes closed.

‘Kaze’ will be available across streaming services and other DSPs starting July 17.

Sawai has built a reputation as a musician with a genuinely distinct sensibility, expressing his music primarily through saxophone and piano. His melodies carry a persistent sense of wanderlust, while his tone consistently leans into melancholy, a combination that’s become the defining signature of his work.

Bigo & Twigetti, the London-based label behind the release, has built its reputation blending classical music, electronica, and sound design, having adopted a digital-first approach well before much of the wider classical music industry caught up. That early strategy has helped the label’s artists reach tens of millions of streams per month, along with regular radio play across the UK and beyond. Known for encouraging genuine experimentation and creative freedom, the label has attracted musicians more commonly found recording Hollywood soundtracks or touring with major rock bands, drawn to a space where they can stretch their sound in new directions.

‘Kaze’ Track Listing:

“Sei”

“Kan”

“Nagi”

“You”

“Kou”