Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Management Shares Musician’s “Last Playlist,” Which He Prepared for His Own Funeral

Ryuichi Sakamoto died on March 28, having been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021 and throat cancer in 2014. When his management initially announced the news of his death, the team wrote that the late artist had been engaging with music in his home studio as often as his health would allow: “He lived with music until the very end.” Today, the late composer’s management team shared what’s called the artist’s “final playlist.”

Sakamoto, his management said, privately worked on the 33-song collection “to be played at his own funeral to accompany his passing.” The collection includes classical works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel. It opens with an 11-minute piece from Sakamoto collaborator Alva Noto. There are soundtrack pieces from Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, as well as works by David Sylvian and Bill Evans Trio. It closes with Laurel Halo’s “Breath” from 2020’s Possessed. Find the playlist below, along with Laurel Halo’s reflection on her inclusion.

Read the Afterword “Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Borderless Brilliance.”

Laurel Halo:

Like many in the electronic music community, I was deeply saddened by Ryuichi’s passing. We had exchanged some emails about six months prior, talking about a potential collaboration that never came to pass. I had no idea he was working on this playlist, and to have work included among his collaborators and such timeless music in this way is an uncanny honor beyond comprehension. That the track is called “Breath” and last on the playlist is not lost on me. I would like to think this is his sense of humor shining through. I’m grateful to Ryuichi for his encouragement and enthusiasm: it’s a reminder to openly share love and appreciation for one another.