Meet Sohei Narita

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sohei Narita a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sohei, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

In my daily life, I am always searching for “sounds” that fit each moment, whether it’s an emotion I’m feeling, time spent with friends, or something as simple as the color of the coffee mug I’m holding. I often ask myself: If I were to express this moment purely through sound—without using words—what kind of pitch, harmony, rhythm, beat, or orchestration would best convey it?
I have had this habit for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would play this game alone, imagining sounds to match my everyday experiences. I take inspiration from these seemingly ordinary moments, expand on those impressions, and think about how I can translate them into a musical composition or performances. By making this a natural part of my daily life, I feel that my artistic sensitivity becomes clearer and more refined over time.

To me, music is storytelling—whether I’m listening, composing, or performing. Even before I became a musician, I was first and foremost a listener. Since childhood, whenever I would listen to music, I saw colors and landscapes in my mind. Reading sheet music felt like reading a novel, as if I were following the story embedded in the notes. Music has always been a way to immerse myself in a personal world of stories. I never consciously thought of it that way—it was simply how I assumed everyone experienced music. Now, as I compose and perform on stage, I approach music with that same mindset. Regardless of the genre or style, I always keep storytelling at the core of my work. As a saxophonist, I tell stories through emotion, imagery, colors, shapes, and the movement and expressions of imagined characters through musical elements—chords, rhythm, feel, melody, dynamics, tone, and articulation. My goal is to bring out the world within a piece and share it with the audience.

Of course, immersing myself in various musical works and other forms of art, reading extensively, and engaging in discussions with open-minded colleagues are also important aspects of maintaining creativity. However, what truly sustains me as a musician is the continuous habit of composing in my mind, even if only internally, as I move through daily life. This constant engagement with music keeps my creative energy alive.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Early Beginnings in Music.
I first started learning music at the age of three. My older sister was taking piano lessons, and I remember wanting to be part of that world, so I started piano lessons as well. I picked up the saxophone when I was 11, after joining my middle school’s brass band. I continued playing in the band throughout middle and high school, a total of six years.
However, early in my second year of high school, I had a realization: “I’ve played in a brass band club for years, but I don’t have a single piece that I can perform solo.” That thought left me feeling both frustrated and motivated. I wanted to study music more seriously, so I decided to enroll in Showa University of Music, where I majored in classical music.
To be honest, it wasn’t that I had a particular passion for classical music at the time—I simply wanted to improve as a saxophonist. Classical training for saxophone requires a deep understanding of modern and contemporary music, and my four years at Showa University were invaluable. I learned how to approach music and performance professionally, and, most importantly, I spent countless hours practicing, developing both my technical skills and my ability to express myself through music.

Discovering My Own Musical Identity.
After graduating, I spent four years in Tokyo performing and teaching. During that time, I constantly asked myself, “What does it mean to create music that is truly my own?” I had developed strong technical skills as a saxophonist, but I wasn’t sure if the music I was playing at the time truly reflected what I wanted to express.
Additionally, whenever I stepped on stage with my saxophone, people would often assume I was going to play jazz, saying things like, “Oh, so you’re a jazz musician?” That happened so frequently that it made me reconsider my path. I thought, “If I’m going to pursue a professional career as a saxophonist, shouldn’t I take the time to study jazz seriously?” More than anything, I wanted to grow as a musician.
In January 2015, I moved to New York to study jazz performance at The City College of New York (CCNY). My time at CCNY was life-changing. The professors I met, especially Steve Wilson and my mentor Jason Rigby, had a profound impact on me—not just as a saxophonist, but as a creator, an artist, and a person. The friendships I built during that time were just as meaningful, and many of those connections remain strong to this day.

Composing and Producing My Own Music.
After graduating from CCNY in 2017, I recorded my own compositions in New York before returning to Japan in 2018. That same year, I released “Lights in the Distance,” an album where I not only performed but also composed and produced every track.
Building a musical work from the ground up was a huge step for me. It was an experience that marked a major milestone in my growth as a musician. At the same time, it deepened my desire to write more of my own music and further explore my own artistic expression.
In 2022, after four years of performing and composing in Japan, I returned to New York to pursue a Master’s Degree in Jazz Composition at Queens College. I completed my Master of Music in December 2023.

Current Projects and Future Goals.
Right now, my focus is on expressing a musical world that is uniquely my own, drawing from all of my experiences and influences. I have two main projects now, Jazz Quintet and Duo Project with Sanchez Fernandes. For my Jazz Quintet project, while deeply respecting jazz’s rich history and intricate musicality, I’m trying to integrate influences from various styles: sing-able melodies, classically influenced orchestration, exciting chord progressions derived from jazz harmony, and dramatic developments reminiscent of musical music. My goal is to create a sound that is uniquely mine.
And a Duo Project with my best friend/ musical partner Sanchez Fernandes. Our project is centered around R&B but also explores jazz, pop, funk, and other styles in a more experimental and free-spirited way. The most exciting part of this project is that I’m not working alone. Sanchez and I have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, which allows us to challenge and inspire each other in ways we can’t achieve on our own.

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited to focus more on recording and live performances, bringing these projects to life on a larger scale. I look forward to what’s to come!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First of all, The Ability to Try Fearlessly and Keep Learning Humbly. Curiosity and a hunger for knowledge are powerful driving forces in any pursuit. Some may see learning outside of their field as a detour, or feel that stepping into new territory is daunting. However, it is precisely because we venture into unfamiliar areas that we gain valuable insights, and these diverse experiences make us more unique and original.
I believe it’s important to approach new challenges without fear and to commit to learning with patience and dedication. Knowledge and information can be acquired by studying, but skills and experience take time to develop. Even if results aren’t immediately visible, there are things that can only be gained through persistent and humble learning over time.

Secondly, The Ability to Imagine Freely and Think Creatively. Imagination is the starting point for every new goal. If you can’t visualize your own path forward, it will be difficult to achieve your ambitions. The ability to freely imagine what you want to accomplish, what you want to express, and the kind of future you envision for yourself is essential.
At times, extensive knowledge and experience can limit our imagination, confining us within the boundaries of what is considered “realistic.” In today’s world, where useful information is so easily accessible, finding the “correct answer” is not particularly difficult. However, in order to go beyond conventional wisdom, we need the ability to think broadly, to imagine possibilities from different angles, and to explore ideas beyond what seems immediately practical. This kind of free thinking is crucial for progress.

Thirdly, Self-Love and Respect for Others. Understanding and accepting your own individuality, without comparing yourself to others, is incredibly important. Everyone has a unique personality and strengths. Sometimes, we may feel that our personal traits don’t align with the field we are pursuing. However, that doesn’t mean we have to give up. It simply means that our path may look different from those around us.
You don’t need to follow the same route as others. Move forward in your own way, at your own pace. Embracing yourself as you are and carving out your own path is what truly matters. Denying yourself and denying others are equally misguided actions. By accepting yourself and respecting those around you, you open up a path that only you can walk.

At the foundation of these three qualities is the ability to plan and take action. Your plans may change, and your steps may be small, but what matters is that you continue to move forward. No one else can define your progress or determine your direction—it is entirely your own. Above all, I encourage you to stay true to yourself and never lose sight of who you are.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, absolutely! I’ve had the collaborations with photographers, contemporary dancers, performing artists, painters, and musicians from a wide range of genres. Working with artists from different fields presents unique challenges and perspectives, and through these collaborations, I’ve discovered new ideas and experienced significant growth.

Beyond music production, I’m also interested in building a unique artistic vision for my work—this includes photography, video, artwork, and even fashion related to my releases. If you are someone who enjoys creating new artistic experiences and would like to collaborate, I would love to hear from you.

If you’re interested, feel free to reach out to me via Instagram. I look forward to connecting!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soheinarita/

Image Credits

Yew kong Ng/ KB Ansari/ Akiyuki Tamame