Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter Shane Sato returns with Wavelength, an expansive sophomore album that finds him pushing further into the intersection of jazz, indie R&B and soul. Released May 15, 2026 via Mixto Records, the 11-track collection is warm, melodic and deeply collaborative, tied together by themes of love, connection and the calming, connective pull of water.
For Sato, that sense of connection is both musical and personal. Born and raised in Southern California and of Japanese-American heritage, he has built his music around the meeting of different cultures, sounds and influences. His 2025 debut, Until We Meet Again, established him as an artist to watch, earning critical attention, a series of notable collaborations and more than a million streams.
With Wavelength, Sato expands that foundation considerably. The album brings together an impressive community of artists, including saxophonist Braxton Cook, indie-pop artist Box Dreams, R&B vocalist Oli-J and Japanese-American R&B songstress Nao Yoshioka, among others. Rather than treating jazz, soul and R&B as separate musical worlds, Sato allows them to naturally overlap throughout the album.
The lead single, “Never Let You G,” is a soulful meditation on love and devotion that grew out of a spontaneous jam session just days after Sato's wedding. Created with Nashville vocalist Oli-J and co-producers Coastal and Clay Sauter, the track captures the album's emphasis on organic collaboration and emotional immediacy.
Elsewhere, “Deep Dive” takes a moodier, more indie-oriented approach. Born from late-night sessions with Box Dreams frontman Adam Rhodes, the song explores the feeling of falling into new love, with Rhodes' raspy vocals complementing the cooler, jazz-influenced textures of Sato's production.
“Surfliner” may be the album's most direct expression of its Southern California identity. Inspired by the coastal train route of the same name, the neo-soul and jazz-inflected track features Braxton Cook's warm, breathy saxophone. Its relaxed pulse mirrors the experience of watching the California coastline pass by, emphasizing atmosphere over urgency.
On “Clouds,” acclaimed musician Reuben James contributes both his jazz virtuosity and soulful vocal presence, while “Pulse” moves in a more lo-fi, dance-oriented direction with producer and musician Coastal.
Across Wavelength, Sato's arrangements favor texture, groove and atmosphere without sacrificing melody. The album feels less like a collection of genre exercises than a continuous musical environment—fluid and constantly shifting while retaining a recognizable sonic identity.
That quality makes Wavelength a natural progression from Sato's debut. The new album is more expansive in both its collaborations and its musical vocabulary, yet its underlying purpose remains straightforward: using music to create connection and uplift.
Available on vinyl and digitally through Mixto Records, Wavelength marks a defining new chapter for Shane Sato, an artist increasingly comfortable occupying the space between jazz, neo-soul and contemporary R&B. With local performances planned and a larger tour expected later in the year, the album also sets the stage for Sato to bring its warm, fluid sound into a live setting.
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