Mei Semones Interview – Roots & New Album ‘Animaru’

Last Updated on 2025-05-01 by a-indie

About Songwriting and Influences

-Why do you sing lyrics in both Japanese and English?
Since I grew up bilingual, I’ve always spoken both languages, so it feels natural to write lyrics in both Japanese and English. When I first started writing songs in middle school and high school, I would only write lyrics in English, but when I got to college I wrote my first song that also had Japanese lyrics, “Hfoas”. This was the first song I ever released and I think it was a turning point for me. I think it was an important first step towards finding my sound — having both Japanese & English lyrics feels the most authentic to who I am as a person, and I am hoping that comes through in the music as well.

Top 3 Influential Albums

-If you were to name three albums that have influenced your music, which would they be? For each album, could you share how it influenced you and any related stories?

John Coltrane『Coltrane’s Sound』
Coltrane’s Sound – It’s hard to pick one Coltrane album, but if I were to pick one I might say Coltrane’s Sound. I just really love his playing, and how his sound is immediately recognizable from the first note. Having a really distinct voice in this way is something that I strive for in my own music. I also feel very connected to the emotion behind his playing, and listening to his music makes my day better, which is something I hope that my music can do for other people as well.

Stan Getz / João Gilberto 『Getz / Gilberto ’76』
Mei Semones: Getz / Gilberto ’76 – Gilberto’s vocals have always been an inspiration to me. I love the way he sings without much embellishment or dramaticism, and his vocal delivery is very straightforward and soft. It feels like he is singing the way he would speak in a conversation, if that makes sense. This straightforward vocal delivery is something I’ve tried to incorporate in my own vocals, and the bossa nova rhythm and chord structures have also had a big impact on my music.

Nirvana 『Nevermind』
Mei Semones: Nevermind – Nirvana was one of my favorite bands when I was younger, and I would say is still one of my favorite bands to this day. Although I don’t think my music sounds very much like them at all, I’m inspired by their great melodies, chord progressions, and lyrics. I also think the music feels very honest, which is something I’d like for people to find in my own music.

Contemporary Artists She Connects With

-Are there any artists you currently connect with? Personally, I thought you resonated with Japanese artists like Ichiko Aoba and Sora Kimijima, as well as artists like Laufey and Soccer Mommy.
I love Ichiko Aoba and Ohzora Kimishima! Aside from that, I think the artists I resonate with the most that are currently making music are John Roseboro & Liana Flores.

Debut Album『Animaru』

-Last year, 2024, you released the EP “Kabutomushi,” were featured in Rolling Stone’s “Artist You Need to Know” and selected for Paste’s “Best of What’s Next.” You also conducted a large-scale tour across the United States. It must have been a tumultuous year. Looking back now, how would you describe that year?
2024 was a really fun year! It was a lot of touring, which I love, and also a lot of writing and recording, which I also love. June of 2024 is when I made the switch to doing music full time, and I am extremely grateful and so happy that I am able to make a living doing what I love — I think it’s all I could ever ask for. Looking back on the year, I would say it was a busy year, but in the best way. I think all of the hard work and touring etc is worth it, and I look forward to doing more of the same type of work this year.

Meaning Behind the Album Title『Animaru』

-After that came the release of your first full album, “Animaru.” First, could you tell us the reason and meaning behind choosing “Animaru,” the Japanese pronunciation of “animal,” as the title? What feelings does it reflect?
The way that I choose the names for my projects is by choosing one of the song titles on the project to be the name of the whole project. Animaru was one of the last songs I wrote for the album, and one of my favorites. I chose Animaru because I think the message in the song encapsulates the album as a whole, and because I think it has a nice ring to it. The main theme of the song is one of the main themes of the album — trusting your instincts and following what you love and what’s important to you.

About the Recording Process

-I understand this album was recorded in the summer of 2024 at Ashlawn Recording Company, a studio on a farm in Connecticut managed by your friend Charles Dahlke, with a five-person band. What ideas and direction did you have in mind during production?
During the recording process, I wanted to create a really polished recording, while still preserving some of the rawness that comes from a live performance. I wanted to capture the energy and incredible musicianship of each of my bandmates. The process of recording the songs was mostly focused on just capturing the songs the way we usually play them, getting the best takes possible for each core part, and then building off of that with extra harmonies / layering / overdubs etc to enhance the sound.