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Animaru on Cassette

"No second-guessing, no overthinking. The way I want to live my life is by doing the things that

are important to me, and I think everyone should live that way," says Mei Semones of her

strengthened self-assurance. Through continuously honing in on her signature fusion of indie

rock, bossa nova, jazz and chamber pop in a way that highlights her technical prowess on

guitar, the 24-year-old Brooklyn-based songwriter and guitarist is quickly establishing herself as

an innovative musical force. Since the release of her acclaimed 2024 Kabutomushi EP, a series

of lushly orchestrated reflections on love in it's many stages, Mei has gone on to tour

extensively across the US, cultivate a dedicated following, and write and record her highly

anticipated debut album, Animaru. Meaning "animal" in Japanese, Animaru is the embodiment of

Mei's deeper trust in her instincts - a collection of musically impressive tracks that see Mei

sounding more adventurous, more vulnerable and more confident than ever before.

Mei's newfound assertiveness comes in part from her experiences in the past year, as 2024 was

a transformative year for the Mei Semones band. They shared bills with the likes of Liana

Flores, Elephant Gym and Kara Jackson, among others, and Mei transitioned to doing music

full-time. Amidst the frequent touring, Mei and her five-piece band recorded the album in the

summer of 2024 at Ashlawn Recording Company, a farm studio in Connecticut operated by their

friend Charles Dahlke. To these sessions, she brought a batch of tracks that, not unlike

Kabutomushi, are sophisticated declarations of non-romantic love: love of life ("Dumb Feeling"),

love of family ("Zarigani"), love of music and her guitar ("Tora Moyo"). Animaru exemplifies Mei's

enchantingly wide range as a songwriter and musician, including some of the most challenging

and most straightforward songs Mei has ever written.

The simpler moments on Animaru are equally as captivating as when Mei is shredding on guitar

or her bandmates are carrying out an intricate arrangement. "Donguri," a stripped-down jazz

duo performance between acoustic guitar and upright bass, is the simplest song Mei has ever

written, brought to life by Mei sweetly chronicling (mostly in Japanese) what she imagines life

would be like as a woodland creature living in the forest. The album's penultimate track also

encompasses themes relating to the titular "animaru." Translating to "crayfish," the bright,

effervescent "Zarigani" is a nostalgic expression of love for her twin sister, with Mei singing

"We'll always have each other / I love you like my guitar / I love you like no other." Family is one

of the top loves of Mei's life, with her mom, Seiko Semones, making all of her album and single

artwork. Despite Animaru being a statement of Mei's autonomy and confidence at this point in

her life, it's the various loves that she surrounds herself with - her family, her friends, her band,

her music - that empower her to do things her own way.