Rol3ert x SURF Music "savior" Remix Contest Winners Announced

We set out to choose two winners. We couldn't. Three remixes stood apart from the rest, so rather than leave one out, we added a third prize.

Grand Prize: Rikuto Nagira (Japan): $2,000 USD
Second Prize: Lemon City (Korea): $1,500 USD
SURF Prize: SYO (Japan): $1,000 USD

$4,500 USD in total - The prize money is provided by Exciter Records and SURF Music and will be awarded to the winners through SURF Music. For SYO, it's a second SURF Music win: he previously placed in a 2026 sampling contest run with tribe (the label founded by Nujabes) and Hypebeast. New names from Japan and Korea, and a familiar one finding his way back - that's the story we like best about how these campaigns play out.

As stated in the original announcement and this campaign's official rules, if you'd like to release your own remix, please contact Exciter Records directly: info@excitermusic.com

What happens to these remixes next

Something unique happens to these three remixes next.

1. A store-exclusive release in Japan. Each winning remix becomes a purchase bonus with Rol3ert's debut album 「meet me in my head」, out October 21, 2026 on Exciter Records - Rikuto Nagira's remix at Tower Records, Lemon City's at HMV, SYO's at Disk Union. Buyers get a card with a serial code to download the remix as a WAV file.

2. Pressed to 7-inch vinyl. All three remixes are cut across two 7-inch records - Vol. 1 (Tower Records): Rikuto Nagira's remix backed with the original “savior”; Vol. 2 (HMV / Disk Union): Lemon City's remix backed with SYO's. 20 copies go to buyers at each store by lottery, 60 in total. Entries run October 21–November 21, 2026.

3. A digital release, planned for later (release date TBD).

A remix that started as an open brief on SURF ends up on a record, with your name on it. That's the part we're proudest of.

In their own words

The three winning producers on what drew them to “savior,” what they did with it, and what it means to see their remix reach record stores in Japan.

Rikuto Nagira

What drew you to Rol3ert's “savior,” and what did you do with it? What did you want to change, keep, or push somewhere else?

When I first heard Rol3ert’s ‘savior,’ I was immediately drawn to its catchy yet effortless melody, and the way it blends elements of alternative rock and new wave so naturally. I also really loved the nostalgic feel of the track. When I later found out about the remix contest, I had been experimenting with a particular approach to drops that I was really into at the time, and I felt like it could work really well with the chorus of ‘savior.’ That gave me the idea to take on the remix and see where I could take it.

How does it feel to have your remix pressed to a 7-inch record?

I’m truly happy about it. I grew up listening to music on CDs, so there’s something really special about knowing that a piece of music I was involved in will exist as a physical record, rather than only as a digital file. It’s a really meaningful feeling to have the music live on in a tangible form.

Your track is going into the physical retailer TOWER RECORDS in Japan. What does that mean to you?

I’ve discovered so much great music through TOWER RECORDS over the years. I especially loved browsing the ‘TOWER RECOMMEND’ section, and whenever I visited a store, it was always the first place I’d head to. TOWER RECORDS has always been a place where I’ve discovered new music, so I’m really happy and grateful to have the opportunity for my remix to reach so many music fans through a place that has been such an important part of my own journey as a listener. And more than anything, I’m genuinely excited for Rol3ert’s debut album as a listener myself. I’ve already pre-ordered it online, so I can’t wait for it to arrive!

Lemon City

What drew you to Rol3ert's “savior,” and what did you do with it? What did you want to change, keep, or push somewhere else?

We were really drawn to the song’s polished, pop-oriented feel and the unique character of Rol3ert’s vocals, so with the remix, we wanted to bring out the appeal of the vocals and melody as much as possible. At the same time, in the second verse, where the Japanese lyrics come in, we wanted to create a new sense of variation by having the female vocalist respond with a different melody, almost as if they were answering each other. We also wanted to incorporate both artists’ languages by writing lyrics in Japanese and Korean. Finally, we built the remix around a synth bass to create a dynamic energy with a different character from the original track.

How does it feel to have your remix pressed to a 7-inch record?

Up until now, we’ve only released digital music, so we’re really happy that our remix is going to be released as a physical record. We’ve also had a goal of releasing our music on vinyl someday, so it’s incredibly exciting to feel like we’ve gotten a little closer to making that dream a reality. It also feels very special to have our music created in a tangible, physical form for the first time.

Your track is going into the physical retailer HMV in Japan. What does that mean to you?

We’ve both loved J-pop since we were young, and whenever we visited Japan, we would stop by record stores and talk about how amazing it would be if our music were someday stocked there. We’ve always had this vague admiration for the Japanese music market and a dream of releasing our music there, so it feels surreal and incredibly meaningful to see our music make its way into the very stores we used to dream about, in a way we never could have imagined. We’re truly grateful for this opportunity.

SYO

What drew you to Rol3ert's “savior,” and what did you do with it?

Honestly, it’s simple: I just thought, this is so cool, amazing! (laughs) At the same time, I wanted to be able to play this track at my own DJ sets, so I made a remix that keeps as much of the original’s charm as possible while giving it a club-ready edge.

How does it feel to have your remix pressed to a 7-inch record?

It feels like a dream. I’ve never actually bought a record for myself, so this will be the first record I’ve ever held in my hands. To think that, in this day and age, a track of mine would come out on vinyl… I’m genuinely moved.

Your track is going into the physical retailer Disk Union in Japan. What does that mean to you?

I remixed this track with DJ sets in mind, so it’s an honor to have an opportunity like this. I’ve mostly been working as a songwriter lately, so I’m hoping this becomes a chance to reach a new audience.

Who is Rol3ert?

Debut album 「meet me in my head」 · Exciter Records · out October 21, 2026

Born in the U.S. in 2005, Rol3ert moved to Japan at age two and grew up there. He began his solo career in earnest in January 2025, writing mostly in English while drawing naturally on the melodic sensibility of Japanese and J-pop music.

A cover he posted to Instagram introduced him to listeners overseas, and his original songs have since found their way onto playlists and social feeds well beyond Japan. In 2026, he was selected for Spotify’s RADAR: Early Noise 2026, won the Radio Special Award at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026, and was named among Rolling Stone’s Japan picks for “Future of Music.”

He’s performed in Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan - where his solo show sold out - and has played major festivals in Japan, including SUMMER SONIC.

rol3ert.com