Less than a year after dropping her debut album, Animaru, Mei Semones is showcasing the material written during her tour stops in 2025 with the Liana Flores-featuring single, “Koneko,” from the upcoming EP, Kurage, out April 10 via Bayonet Records. Semones will also open for American Football on their LA show at The Wiltern on May 23.
For those unfamiliar with the Brooklyn-based artist (watch the Grimy Goods TV interview with Mei), Semones’ aptitude for moving through genres effortlessly will be immediately clear from one listen to any track from her already impressive discography.
The same is true for “Koneko,” a sweet tribute to the friendship between Semones and Flores, a fellow singer-songwriter who continually pushes herself artistically.
“I wrote this song about my first time in London in April of 2025,” said Semones. “I was staying with Liana, and the imagery in the lyrics is inspired by our time together…I hope that the song will make people smile and remind them of the pureness of a good friend.”
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From the start of “Koneko,” there’s no mistaking Semones’ specific style of guitar-playing that brings in her love of bossa nova and jazz. While her instrument would be more than enough to create a pleasant atmosphere, the subsequent arrangements and inclusion of Flores’ vocals make for a listening experience that’s the audio equivalent of a fluffy cloud.
While prior tracks like “Itsumo” stand out for their seesaw between lush instrumentation and sudden bursts of rock, “Koneko” is allowed to frolic in the banquet of strings, soft guitar plucks, and a duet between Semones and Flores.
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Even if you didn’t know the song was about their friendship, it’s clear from how finely crafted it is that they are cut from the same cloth which produces the best singer-songwriters.
See Mei Semones in LA at The Wiltern on May 23.
Listen to “Koneko” the new single from Mei Semones and Liana Flores.
Watch the Grimy Goods TV Interview with Mei Semones
