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MEI SEMONES
“Kurayami” b/w “Get used to it” + “Itsumo” (Bayonet)
Add date: 10.28.2025
Release date: 10.22.2025
Links:
Apple Music
Bandcamp
Bayonet Records
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Official Website
Spotify
Tidal
TikTok
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Today, the inimitable (and indefatigable!) Mei Semones shares two new singles, “Kurayami” and “Get used to it,” which are available for pre-order in 7" format now. Freshly off releasing “Itsumo,” her most recent standalone single, which follows her critically acclaimed debut album, Animaru, which was released in May, Semones is showing no signs of slowing down. Later this month, she plays New York’s Nightclub 101 as part of Bayonet Records 10th Anniversary Party, before returning for two shows at the top of the new year as part of Winter Jazzfest.
Of “Kurayami,” Mei says “‘Kurayami’ means ‘darkness’ in Japanese, and this song is about growing up in Michigan and reminiscing on what it was like hanging out with my friends. Being a kid was really fun and I was happy, but I remember there was a point where we started to lose our innocence and I think this song is about that feeling. It’s one of the more technically difficult songs I’ve written, and it took some practice to get to the point where I could sing and play it at the same time. There’s lots of fun tempo changes, odd meters, wide interval arpeggios, and fast licks, and I think the band arrangement is really creative too.” “Kurayami” is accompanied by a stylistically rich and cinematic video filmed in Japan and directed by Takuto Shimpo.
Of “Get used to it,” Semones explains that the song is “about the beauty in solitude and being alone, how to move on from something that was important in your life but still leave space for it, and my love for the guitar and music. It’s the second song I wrote on my nylon string, and the changes and melody are somewhat inspired by Thelonious Monk. The instrumentation is more minimal than our other songs -- just me (guitar & vox), upright bass, and drums. We were going for a live jazz trio sound, so there’s not really any layers or anything. It’s just a straightforward recording of the 3 of us playing the tune, and I think that was the best way to capture the feeling behind the song.”
“Itsumo” puts on display what New York Times calls “her virtuosic, culture-hopping music.” Reflecting on the track, she says: “‘Itsumo’ is the first song I ever wrote and recorded on a nylon string guitar. For me the song is about learning to be strong, and the strength that music has given me. I like the contrast between the bossa-style groove and bop-inspired string lines in the first half of the song and the distorted guitar layers and heavier rhythm section in the rock/grunge ending!”
Apple Music
Bandcamp
Bayonet Records
Official Website
Spotify
Tidal
TikTok
YouTube
Today, the inimitable (and indefatigable!) Mei Semones shares two new singles, “Kurayami” and “Get used to it,” which are available for pre-order in 7" format now. Freshly off releasing “Itsumo,” her most recent standalone single, which follows her critically acclaimed debut album, Animaru, which was released in May, Semones is showing no signs of slowing down. Later this month, she plays New York’s Nightclub 101 as part of Bayonet Records 10th Anniversary Party, before returning for two shows at the top of the new year as part of Winter Jazzfest.
Of “Kurayami,” Mei says “‘Kurayami’ means ‘darkness’ in Japanese, and this song is about growing up in Michigan and reminiscing on what it was like hanging out with my friends. Being a kid was really fun and I was happy, but I remember there was a point where we started to lose our innocence and I think this song is about that feeling. It’s one of the more technically difficult songs I’ve written, and it took some practice to get to the point where I could sing and play it at the same time. There’s lots of fun tempo changes, odd meters, wide interval arpeggios, and fast licks, and I think the band arrangement is really creative too.” “Kurayami” is accompanied by a stylistically rich and cinematic video filmed in Japan and directed by Takuto Shimpo.
Of “Get used to it,” Semones explains that the song is “about the beauty in solitude and being alone, how to move on from something that was important in your life but still leave space for it, and my love for the guitar and music. It’s the second song I wrote on my nylon string, and the changes and melody are somewhat inspired by Thelonious Monk. The instrumentation is more minimal than our other songs -- just me (guitar & vox), upright bass, and drums. We were going for a live jazz trio sound, so there’s not really any layers or anything. It’s just a straightforward recording of the 3 of us playing the tune, and I think that was the best way to capture the feeling behind the song.”
“Itsumo” puts on display what New York Times calls “her virtuosic, culture-hopping music.” Reflecting on the track, she says: “‘Itsumo’ is the first song I ever wrote and recorded on a nylon string guitar. For me the song is about learning to be strong, and the strength that music has given me. I like the contrast between the bossa-style groove and bop-inspired string lines in the first half of the song and the distorted guitar layers and heavier rhythm section in the rock/grunge ending!”