Mei Semones Is Bringing Her Jazz-Influenced Indie World to Strange Universe Winter

If you are new to Mei Semones, you will find her music does not fit into just one genre. It blends the smooth feel of jazz, the gentle touch of bossa nova, the relaxed vibe of indie, and the edge of rock, all brought together by her unique bilingual songwriting.

When people ask Mei how she describes her music, she starts with a simple answer. “I would say jazz-influenced indie music,” she says. “But if there’s like a whole conversation, I would probably tell them I’m influenced by jazz and bossa nova, and I also like grunge rock and math rock.”

This blend of styles reflects her creative path. Mei first got into music at age four, when her grandmother bought a piano for her and her sister. She took piano lessons for about seven years, then switched to guitar at 11. She started with a nylon-string classical guitar, but soon realized she wanted something different. “The reason I wanted to play guitar was to play rock music,” she explains.

Soon after, she started taking rock guitar lessons and got her first electric guitar. In high school, a strong jazz program gave her a new direction. She began playing jazz guitar in class and found herself drawn to the style. Around then, she also discovered bossa nova and samba. This journey took her to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she focused on jazz guitar before graduating and moving to New York.

Her influences show this musical background. Mei names jazz legends like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Charlie Parker, as well as João Gilberto, whose bossa nova style shaped her music. She says she does not have specific visual inspirations. For her, it is all about the sound of the guitar lines, the movement, the details, and how different musical styles can exist together without competing.

Creativity has always been part of her family. Her dad is a lifelong musician who plays the euphonium, and her mum works as a graphic designer and illustrator. Even though her mum is not a musician, Mei says both parents have always been creative and have always supported her music.

This strong sense of identity shows up in Mei’s songwriting, especially in her use of both English and Japanese. For her, writing bilingual lyrics is not about marketing or style; it is simply who she is. “I grew up speaking both languages, and it’s been a big part of who I am,” she says. “So for that to be a part of my music just feels natural. I think that it wouldn’t feel as true to myself if I were only writing in Japanese or only writing in English.” It also changes the way listeners connect with her songs. This also affects how people connect with her songs. Mei says she notices the impact of her Japanese lyrics when she performs in Japan, where she thinks her fanbase is bigger because of this connection. She describes how starting a song in English and then switching to Japanese can be surprising to Japanese listeners. " The people who understand it,” she says. “Not to say that people don’t listen to music that has lyrics that they don’t understand anyway, but you can just connect with it in a different way when you understand the lyrics.” This idea is central to Mei’s music. You do not have to understand every word to feel the mood, but knowing the language adds another layer.

Now, Mei is preparing to join Strange Universe Winter, which will take her to Australia and New Zealand for the first time. She says she is excited to perform and to visit new places. “I’ve never been to New Zealand, never been to Australia, so all of that will be very new for me,” she says.

Mei enjoys both small and large shows. Small venues feel close and intimate, while big shows bring the excitement of a large crowd. For this tour, she thinks starting with smaller venues is the right choice. “I love playing small venues because it feels more intimate and you feel closer to the audience and everything,” she says. “But I also love big shows because it’s always fun to play for a lot of people. I think that it’s good that we’re starting out small this time because I feel like that’s kind of what keeps people coming back, if they’re there from the beginning.” That approach makes sense for her music. Mei’s songs seem made for close, attentive listening.

As she gets ready for Strange Universe Winter, Mei Semones brings a sound that is both carefully crafted and very personal. There is some jazz, some indie, some bossa nova, some rock, and a lot of her own style. For audiences in Australia and New Zealand, it is a special chance to see her from the start.