With her debut full-length album Animaru, Mei Semones invites listeners into a world shaped by instinct, joy, and genre-defying musicality. Blending bossa nova, indie rock, jazz, and chamber pop with quiet emotional clarity, she reflects on self-assurance, non-romantic love, and the creative power of collaboration. In this intimate interview, Mei opens up about her songwriting process, the energy of Brooklyn, recording among crickets and farm animals—and how Animaru came to life.

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Animaru is described as a reflection of your deeper trust in your instincts. What inspired this shift toward self-assurance, and how did it impact the way you approached songwriting for this album?

The songs on Animaru were written during a time when I was able to shift more of my time & energy towards my music, and focus more on what I love. I think that inspired some of the confidence & self assurance in the album! Songwriting-wise, my process has remained similar to past releases — I usually start with guitar parts/harmony first, then melody, then lyrics last.

The title Animaru comes from the Japanese pronunciation of “animal.” What does that word mean to you in the context of this album, both musically and emotionally?

“Animaru” is one of my favorite songs on the album, and it felt like an appropriate title because it encapsulates some of the main themes that I have found in the album, like trusting your instincts and leading life with what you love. I also think it reflects the bilingual nature of the music well, since it’s a Japanese pronunciation of an English word.

Your music blends bossa nova, indie rock, jazz, and chamber pop so seamlessly. How do you navigate these genres in your writing and arranging process without losing cohesion?

For me it’s just about making music that I love. I’ve listened to & studied different types of music, and so as a result of that, my own songwriting and guitar playing is influenced by those different types of music. To me it feels natural to blend together what I’ve learned from the music I love to make something new and distinct to myself.

“Dumb Feeling” is a beautiful ode to your love for New York City. How has living in Brooklyn shaped your identity as an artist and influenced your music?

I think Brooklyn is a great place to live as a musician — there are so many different venues and studios etc. It’s also inspiring to be surrounded by people who are very talented and working very hard. I’m not sure how to put it into words but I think New York has a very special energy to it!

On Animaru, many of the songs express non-romantic love – for family, friends, and your guitar. Why was it important to center these types of love, and how did you channel that emotionally?

I think the songs just naturally end up being about those things — I usually just write about whatever is on my mind, and that tends to be the things that are important to me and the things that I love!

You recorded the album at a farm studio in Connecticut with your five-piece band. What was that experience like, and how did the environment influence the recording process?

It was great! I think being in that environment allowed me to focus on the album, and it was nice to have a dedicated period of time for me and my band to all be together in the same space working on the songs. There were lots of farm animals and crickets etc, and some of those noises definitely made their way into the songs.

“I can do what I want” is said to be one of your most technically challenging tracks. What drew you to push your boundaries on that song, and what does it represent in the context of the album?

I think it’s always fun to write something that is challenging, and then hopefully gradually get better at it over time. It keeps things interesting for me, and for my band too. We all love playing our instruments so it’s nice to write a song that has some sort of emphasis on musicianship. In the context of the album it relates to one of the main themes — doing what you love / what’s important to you!

Your mother, Seiko Semones, created the album artwork. Can you talk about the collaborative dynamic between you two and what it means to have family so closely tied to your creative vision?

My mom has been so supportive of my project and I am very grateful that she has been willing to work on the artwork for it! I usually have a general idea of what I want the artwork to be, and then she executes it / figures out a way for it to make sense as cover art. She is one of the people in this world that knows me the best, and I think that is reflected in the artwork.

Many fans connect with the quiet vulnerability in your music. How do you balance emotional openness with musical complexity in your compositions?

I honestly haven’t thought about it too much! I usually just focus on writing music that I like and that is interesting to me, in combination with lyrics that are straightforward and honest, and I hope for there to be a nice balance between those two things.

Now that you’re stepping into the spotlight with your first full-length record, what do you hope new listeners take away from Animaru?

I hope the album brings people joy and comfort, and inspires people to lead their lives doing what they love.

You’ve toured with artists like Hippo Campus and are heading on your own North American tour. How do live performances influence your understanding of your own songs?

I think performing live is a great way to get closer to my songs. Playing them every night on tour helps me get better at performing them, and also allows me to deepen my emotional connection with them. It also is an opportunity for the songs to evolve and change, and become the best version they can be for a live setting.

To see Mei Semones perform in Vancouver, buy tickets HERE.