Mei Semones' Tsukino is a mesmerizing fusion of jazz, bossa nova, and indie rock from a new artist who’s unafraid to push all the boundaries in pursuit of something wholly her own.
At just 23, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Mei Semones is certainly making her own way through the world of indie music. Her debut EP, Tsukino, is a stunning introduction to her signature blend of jazz, bossa nova, and angular indie rock, now getting its first-ever physical release. For Semones, fusing these styles and genres isn’t just a creative choice, it’s more personal than that. “Blending everything that I like together and trying to make something new - that’s what feels most natural to me,” she explains. “It’s what feels most true to who I am as an artist.”
Originally self-released, Tsukino is a six-track showcase of Semones’ ability to come up with intricate yet welcoming songs. From its shimmering, plinking guitar tones to its asymmetrical time signatures, the EP shows off both technical mastery and feeling. Now paired with her second EP, Kebutomushi, Tsukino is ready to reach a wider audience, one that will undoubtedly be captured by Semones’ unique vision.
Semones’ quest began in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she started piano lessons at just four years old and picked up the electric guitar at age eleven. Her passion for jazz blossomed in high school, eventually leading her to Berklee College of Music, where she honed her craft in guitar performance. It was there that she met her current bandmates, including violist Noah Leong and violinist Claudius Agrippa. Their contributions add a multidimensional softness to Semones’ precise, virtuosic guitar work, creating a sonic wonderland that’s both lush and intricate.
Lyrically, Tsukino explores themes of infatuation, devotion, and exposure, delivered in a mix of English and Japanese. Semones’ heartfelt lyrics are paired with sweeping string arrangements and wild instrumentals, ending up somewhere between intuitive and innovative. Standout moments on Tsukino include the wistful “Engetsu” with its delicate string interplay, and “Hoshi No Ko,” where jazzy guitar lines intertwine with her tender vocal touch. Each track feels like exploring a world unto itself, ornately pieced together yet totally relatable, a reflection of human emotion in its rawest form. This is a chance for music lovers to discover the cathartic magic of her sound, one that’s as technically dazzling as it is emotionally intense.