Emma Rawicz is moving to Berlin. She has her bachelor's degree from the Royal Academy of Music under her belt, her debut album CHROMA (2023) has caused quite a stir on the scene, and the duo BIG VISIT (2025) with pianist Gwilym Simcock has cemented her position as an outstanding newcomer. Now it's time to build on this brilliant start and explore new possibilities for artistic development. ‘In jazz, you can never know enough,’ says the London-based saxophonist, who also plays bass clarinet, flute and piano. ‘There is always something new to discover. While you are practising, so many new things are being developed. Jazz is a never-ending source of creativity, and I realised that from one day to the next.’
At the time, Emma Rawicz was twelve years old. She was already learning the violin and classical singing when she attended a big band concert during a summer school. The power of this ensemble, especially the wind instruments, captivated her and steered her musical aspirations in a new direction. Soon after, the saxophone became her instrument. She not only learned the basics at lightning speed, but also had the ambition to make up for lost time: "I was only 15 when I really started playing the saxophone, and it felt late. But in the end, it was cool and worked out well." Emma Rawicz quickly landed on the scene, studied at the Royal Academy and tried to take in as much input as possible that could point her in new directions.
This also includes the sextet with which she has now recorded INKYRA (release date November 2025).
The past three years have seen a meteoric rise for 23-year-old Emma Rawicz. Like many up-and-coming musicians, her career was independently self-managed and slowly growing. By the start of 2025, however, Rawicz had graduated, signed to German label ACT and released her second album, Chroma. She amassed close to 50,000 followers on her Instagram page, won the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Newcomer of the Year and played over 100 dates in 12 months around the U.K. and Europe.
DOWNBEAT / US
But with her latest release, the fusion-adjacent Inkyra, Rawicz comes in full-bloom, an artist with a great vision and voice that uplifts the spirit and taps the soul. […] When Rawicz solos on tenor saxophone, the tune lifts into the stratosphere. She shows off her serious chops in building a soaring improvisation that, at its conclusion, left this listener saying, Whew! ****
Inkyra is also Editor’s choice online
DOWNBEAT / US
With her latest release, the fusion-adjacent Inkyra, Emma Rawicz comes in full-bloom, an artist with a great vision and voice that uplifts the spirit and taps the soul. ****
DOWNBEAT
