1. A sound you’ve felt—even if you didn’t know the name

You might not know who Hiroyuki Sawano is yet. However, if you’ve watched any intense anime in recent years, chances are you’ve heard his music.

After all, Sawano is the composer behind iconic soundtracks from titles like Attack on Titan, Solo Leveling, 86, and The Seven Deadly Sins. With a unique style, he blends orchestra, synthesizers, and powerful vocals into layered compositions that reflect tension, melancholy, and momentum in every scene.

Now, in November 2025, he’s set to perform his first solo concert in the United States, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. That’s a perfect reason to revisit his journey—and discover why his compositions move even those who’ve never watched a single episode.

2. The signature sound of a storyteller

Sawano started playing piano as a child, but he wasn’t the type to stick to sheet music. He enjoyed playing with sounds. Creating atmospheres. Improvising.

At 17, he decided to pursue composition professionally. And although he didn’t come from a prestigious music school, he began studying on his own, sending out demos and looking for opportunities—even without industry connections.

His first major milestone was the soundtrack for the drama Iryu: Team Medical Dragon in 2006. Since then, his musical language has evolved into something that transcends genres and borders.

Sawano composes like someone who breathes images.
He writes for emotions and atmospheres—not formulas.
That’s why his soundtracks build bridges between the epic and the intimate.

3. The voice as an instrument of the soul

His musical signature is almost cinematic: orchestral layers, heavy guitars, synthetic percussion, and choirs that sound like they belong in a post-apocalyptic opera.

But what truly sets him apart may be his use of vocals.
Sawano writes lyrics in invented languages, broken syllables, or phonetic English.
Not because he wants to be cryptic—but because he understands that the human voice can move people without needing to explain.

In doing so, he transforms singers into human instruments. And creates songs that speak to something deeper than words.

4. Works transformed by his music

The list of anime he’s scored is long. In addition to the ones already mentioned, it includes:

• Aldnoah.Zero

• Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

• Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga

• Seraph of the End

• Kingdom

• The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These

• Thunderbolt Fantasy

What do all these series have in common?
Moments of intense emotional rupture. And it’s precisely in those moments that Sawano’s soundtracks take over—not merely as background, but as an invisible protagonist.

5. The vocal collective that amplifies his identity

Sawano doesn’t work alone. In fact, he runs a parallel musical project called SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], dedicated to vocal collaborations.

Some of the most frequent voices in this project include Eliana, mpi, mizuki, Laco, Aimer, SennaRin, and XAI. Each one brings a distinct sound, and Sawano composes with those voices in mind—as if each song were sculpted around the person who will sing it.

The result is so distinctive that many listeners can recognize a “Sawano vibe” from the very first chord.

6. A concert that marks a turning point

On November 14, 2025, Hiroyuki Sawano will hold his first major solo concert outside Japan:
“Hiroyuki Sawano Live in Los Angeles 2025”, at the Peacock Theater.

With guest appearances by Eliana, XAI, SennaRin, mizuki, Laco, and mpi, the show will feature music from various phases of his career—including full soundtracks from Attack on Titan and Solo Leveling.

More than a concert, however, this event is shaping up to be a true gathering point for anime fans, soundtrack lovers, and anyone who believes music can also tell stories.

7. And if you’ve never seen a single anime?

Even if you’ve never watched any of these series, just try listening.
Sawano’s compositions don’t need context to be felt. They tell stories on their own.

Some composers write for a scene.
Sawano seems to write for them—and beyond them.