Mei Semones Announces Sophomore Album and North American Tour

Mei Semones, the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, has unveiled her sophomore album, Howl, alongside a North American tour. The follow-up to her 2025 debut Animaru, Howl is set to be released on January 15 through Verve and Interscope. The lead single, also titled Howl, along with a visual directed by Takuto Shimpo, captures a Tokyo convenience store setting.

Writing about the album's inspiration, Semones reflected, "Sometimes making music feels like howling into the universe... 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."

The album consists of 11 tracks, including Howl, 素直になりたい, 2 Hands, Akumu, Chichibu, Towards Manhattan, Senro, Hoteru, Korokke, Monster, and Kira Kira. Semones will embark on her North American tour starting February 24, visiting New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and her hometown of Ann Arbor. The complete tour dates are as follows: New York on February 24 at Lincoln Center, Boston on February 25 at The Sinclair, Portland, Maine on February 26 at SPACE, Montreal on February 27 at Theatre Fairmount, Toronto on March 1 at Concert Hall, Ann Arbor on March 2 at The Ark, Chicago on March 3 at Thalia Hall, Cleveland on March 5 at Mahall’s, Philadelphia on March 6 at Union Transfer, New York on March 6 at Webster Hall, Washington, D.C. on April 9 at 9:30 Club, Carrboro, North Carolina on April 10 at Cat’s Cradle, Atlanta on April 11 at Terminal West, Nashville on April 13 at Third Man Records, Dallas on April 16 at Texas Theatre, Houston on April 17 at White Oak Upstairs, Austin on April 20 at Mohawk, Tucson on April 21 at La Rosa, San Diego on April 23 at Music Box, Los Angeles on April 24 at Fonda Theatre, San Francisco on April 26 at The Castro, Portland, Oregon on April 27 at Aladdin Theater, Vancouver, British Columbia on April 28 at Commodore, Seattle on April 30 at Neptune Theatre, Boise on May 1 at Shrine Basement, Salt Lake City on May 2 at Kilby, Denver on May 4 at Bluebird, Lawrence, Kansas on May 5 at Bottleneck, St. Louis on May 6 at Off Broadway, Lexington, Kentucky on May 7 at The Burl, Columbus, Ohio on May 8 at Ace of Cups, Pittsburgh on May 9 at Spirit Hall with Aron!