Last year, Mei Semones released her debut album Animaru and we named her an Artist To Watch. Since then, the idiosyncratic indie artist has joined the big leagues. She's announcing her new album Howl today, and it'll be first for her new label home Verve/Interscope — a major leap from Bayonet. The title track is out now, and it shows she's deserving of the ascent.
"Even if I give my everything it's not enough/ I don't mind, I'll do this every day until I turn to dust." These are the stunning opening lyrics of "Howl," delivered in her usual theatrical whispers. "I was so happy I got to shoot the 'Howl' music video in Tokyo with Takuto Shimpo and his team," Semones says. "My idea for the video was 'convenience' store worker by day, guitar-obsessed werewolf at night, and I love how Takuto was able to perfectly bring that idea to life in this video."
It's a great video that matches the playful sound of the tune. Watch below.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Howl"
02 "素直になりたい"
03 "2 Hands"
04 "Akumu"
05 "Chichibu"
06 "Towards Manhattan"
07 "Senro"
08 "Hoteru"
09 "Korokke"
10 "Monster"
11 "Kira Kira"
TOUR DATES:
10/15/26 - New York, NY @ Lincoln Center
02/24/27 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair *
02/25/27 - Portland, ME @ SPACE *
02/26/27 - Montréal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount *
02/27/27 - Toronto, ON @ Concert Hall *
03/01/27 - Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark *
03/02/27 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
03/03/27 - Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s *
03/05/27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
03/06/27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall *
04/09/27 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
04/10/27 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
04/11/27 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
04/13/27 - Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records
04/15/27 - Dallas, TX @ Texas Theatre
04/16/27 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Upstairs
04/17/27 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk
04/20/27 - Tucson, AZ @ La Rosa
04/21/27 - San Diego, CA @ Music Box
04/23/27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre
04/24/27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Castro
04/26/27 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
04/27/27 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
04/28/27 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
04/30/27 - Boise, ID @ Shrine Basement
05/01/27 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby
05/02/27 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird
05/04/27 - Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
05/05/27 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
05/06/27 - Lexington, KY @ The Burl
05/07/27 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
05/08/27 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall
* = aron! supporting
Howl is out 1/15 on Verve/Interscope. Pre-order it here.
