Mei Semones is a Brooklyn-based artist and songwriter. Heavily influenced by jazz, Mei produces pop songs with a signature fusion of indie rock and bossa nova that highlight her technical prowess as a guitarist. Lyrically, she writes songs in both English and Japanese. A graduate of The Berklee College of Music, Semones has three EPs under her belt, Tsukino (2022), Sukikirai (2022) and Kabutomushi (2024). Mei and her band have since cultivated a dedicated following across the U.S. through extensive touring in support of these releases. Her debut full-length album Animaru, was released on May 2nd 2025.

PRS: Congratulations on the recent release of your debut album Animaru, are you planning to tour in support of this new release?

Mei: Thank you so much! Yes, we'll be doing our first ever US national headline tour May-July, followed by Fuji Rock Festival in Japan and a couple headline shows in Taipei & Seoul.

PRS: Historically, who have been the most influential guitarists on your own playing and songwriting?

Mei: I think the guitarists I have been most influenced by are Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Grant Green.

PRS: You’re known for having lyrics in both Japanese and English, do you find that one serves your creative process more than the other?

Mei: Not particularly! Both are a big part of my songwriting, and I think having the combination of both languages in my lyrics has been important in finding my distinct voice as an artist.

PRS: We often see you performing with your 594 Hollowbody, are there any other PRS models that you’ve got your eyes on?

Mei: I would definitely be interested in trying out some of the other hollow body guitars, as well as some of the classic solid body guitars! I picked my 594 Hollowbody based off of feel alone, so I am curious how the other models compare.

PRS: What do you love the most about your PRS guitar in general?

Mei: What I love the most about my PRS guitar is how comfortable it is. It fits my hands and fingers perfectly, and it's also quite light and fits my body well. It feels like an extension of myself, and I would compare it to the feeling of having a reliable best friend :)

Connect with Mei:

www.meisemones.com

Mei on Instagram (@mei_semones)

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Photo Credits: Alec Hirata & Derek Kwok