A Quick Q&A with Mei Semones

The one-of-a-kind artist answers questions about where her passion for music comes from and what to expect from her next release!

Your sound is difficult to summarize in just a few words, but how would you describe it if you had to in a brief way?

Jazz-influenced indie J-pop.

Can you describe some key points in the evolution of your music interests?

My grandma bought my family a piano when I was four, and I started taking lessons. Around the age of eleven, I was inspired to switch to guitar because of a scene in the movie Back to the Future. In high school, I was introduced to jazz [music], and in college I got more into jazz and wrote my first song with Japanese lyrics. 

What was your experience like moving to New York, and has the New York music scene changed your sound in any way?

Moving to the city was a hard transition at first, especially since I had just graduated college and was trying to figure out what to do. But I became really comfortable after the first year and love New York so much. I am influenced a lot by my friends and bandmates in the city, [including] Noah Leong, Claudius Agrippa, Noam Tanzer, Ransom McCafferty, and John Roseboro. 

How was the tour with Bratty, and do you have a favorite moment from the tour?

The tour with Bratty was amazing! It was my first time going on a solo tour, so I was scared about that, but it ended up being a really uplifting string of shows. I think one of my favorite moments was the show in Atlanta. It was the first stop on the tour, so I was really nervous, but the crowd was so kind and attentive and made me feel really welcome. I think that show gave me the confidence I needed and set the tone for the rest of the tour.

What can you reveal about your upcoming EP, Kabutomushi, and how will it differ from your past releases?

Kabutomushi is different from my past releases in that I explore a little bit more of an indie-rock/math-rock style. This [is] also my first time experimenting so much with odd meters. Arrangement-wise, I think the viola, violin, and rhythm sections are really locked in and working together more than [in my] previous releases. Similar to my previous releases, there are glimpses of jazz harmonies throughout, and a couple of the songs have a bossa-inspired feel.

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?

Thank you for listening!

Keep up with Mei Semones on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.