Mei Semones announces second album, Howl

Howl will be Semones' first release on Verve/Interscope, and follows her 2025 debut, Animaru. While her first album celebrated independence and the different forms of love surrounding her, Howl delves into the complexities of life and growing up, moving through difficult memories, experience of joy and day-to-day moments. The announcement of the album arrives with lead single and title track "Howl", alongside a music video filmed in Tokyo and directed by longtime collaborator Takuto Shimpo.

"Sometimes making music feels like howling into the universe," Semones says. "I make music because I like it, because it feels instinctual — but it also connects me to people close and far. I like to think of this music as my howl."

Discussing the video concept, she adds: “I was so happy I got to shoot the ‘Howl' music video in Tokyo with Takuto Shimpo and his team! 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.”

Howl was recorded at Power Station in Manhattan, the studio that has hosted sessions for Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and Tony Bennett. The songs see Semones joined by a full ensemble, including viola player Noah Leong, violinist Claudius Agrippa, bassist Noam Tanzer and drummer Ransom McCafferty, all creating broader arrangements around her voice and guitar.

Howl artwork

Howl tracklist

"Howl"
"素直になりたい"
"2 Hands"
"Akumu"
"Chichibu"
"Towards Manhattan"
"Senro"
"Hoteru"
"Korokke"
"Monster"
"Kira Kira"