Listen to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s self-curated funeral playlist

Ryuichi Sakamoto’s management has shared a playlist titled Funeral, curated by the late musician and composer himself. Released on May 15, his management expressed on social media, “We would like to share the playlist Ryuichi has been privately compiling to be played at his own funeral to accompany his passing. He truly was with music until the very end.” The playlist consists of 33 tracks, including some of Sakamoto’s favourite music such as pieces from Bach, Debussy, and Ravel. It begins with the 11-minute composition Haloid Xerrox Copy 3 (Paris) by Alva Noto, a frequent collaborator of Sakamoto’s.

In addition to the playlist, a posthumous compilation record has been released through Milan Records to celebrate Ryuichi Sakamoto’s lifelong career. Titled Travesía, the compilation features 20 tracks from Sakamoto’s extensive discography spanning over four decades. Originally created as a surprise gift for his 70th birthday, the album pays tribute to Sakamoto’s remarkable journey through various styles and sounds over the years. Filmmaker Alejandro Iñárritu, known for works like The Revenant and Birdman, curated the compilation.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, who battled cancer, passed away on March 28, 2023, at the age of 71. Listen to the Funeral playlist below.