Mei Semones – Zarigani
Today, Mei Semones — the 24-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and virtuosic guitarist — releases the new single and video “Zarigani” from her first full-length album, Animaru, out May 2nd via Bayonet Records.
“Zarigani,” translating to “crayfish,” is a bright, effervescent track that is a nostalgic expression of love for her twin sister. Mei sings; “We’ll always have each other / I love you like my guitar / I love you like no other.” Family is one of the primary 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.
Of the track’s sonic qualities, Semones says, “‘Zarigani’ encapsulates a lot of the genre blending I was trying on this album. The bright, intricate, fast-moving bossa-type verses strongly juxtapose the simpler-sounding indie rock-like choruses. The main lick that repeats before each chorus was inspired by a melodic minor Coltrane lick. The name of the song means crayfish, and comes from memories of catching crayfish in the creek with my sister when we were little.” Of the video, she says, “The music video is very special to me because my sister and her friends are in it, as well as my friend’s adorable dog Mortimer!”
Inspired by the Japanese pronunciation of the word “animal,” 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 SEMONES TOUR DATES
Thu. Apr. 3 – Amsterdam, NL @ Tolhuistuin ~
Fri. Apr. 4 – Antwerp, BL @ Trix ~
Sat. Apr. 5 – Paris, FR @ Petit Bain ~
Sun. Apr. 6 – Paris, FR @ The Mixtape
Wed. May 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
Thu. May 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live*
Fri. May 30 – Washington, DC @ The Atlantis*
Sat. May 31 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room*
Mon. June 2 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5*
Tue. June 3 – Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR*
Wed. June 4 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar*
Fri. June 6 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups*
Sat. June 7 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall*
Sun. June 8 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club*
Mon. June 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry*
Wed. June 11 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch*
Thu. June 12 – Toronto, ON @ Longboat Hall*
Fri. June 13 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB*
Sat. June 14 – Boston, MA @ Red Room Cafe 939*
Fri. July 11 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Sat. July 12 – Austin, TX @ Parish
Tue. July 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Wed. July 16 – San Diego, CA @ Quartyard
Fri. July 18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
Sat. July 19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Mon. July 21 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall
Tue. July 22 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Wed. July 23 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Sun. July 27- Minamiuonuma, Japan @ Fuji Rock Festival
~ supporting Panchiko
* with John Roseboro
#mei_semones