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Mei Semones released “2 Hands,” the second single from her forthcoming album Howl, following the album’s title track. The song features South Asian tabla and lyrics in Japanese and English, while its video shows Semones performing with her longtime band.
Mei Semones has released “2 Hands,” the second single from her upcoming album Howl, accompanied by a music video featuring her performing with her longtime bandmates. The track adds South Asian tabla to Semones’ mix of styles and includes lyrics in both Japanese and English.
“2 Hands” follows the release of Howl’s title track the previous month, according to Stereogum’s report. The album is Semones’ follow-up to her debut, Animaru, and her first release for Verve/Interscope. The source lists Howl’s release date as Jan. 15, but does not state the year.
The song’s arrangement incorporates South Asian tabla into Semones’ blend of jazz-influenced guitar, bossa nova rhythms, chamber-pop arrangements and indie rock. She sings in Japanese and English about devotion to music, describing a commitment that continues throughout her life.
The video shows Semones playing with Ransom McCafferty, Noah Leong, Claudius Agrippa and Noam Tanzer. Director Jacob Rodier and the rest of the video team are credited by Semones in her comments to Stereogum. The publication’s report was written by Saeka Shimada.
A Song Centered on Bandmates
The release presents “2 Hands” not only as a new preview of Howl, but also as a statement about Semones’ relationship with the musicians who perform alongside her. She told Stereogum that the song is about feeling lucky and grateful to play with her band, and said she wanted the video to show what making music with them is like.
For listeners, the video offers a direct look at the longtime group behind the performance, while the single gives another indication of the range of sounds Semones is bringing to her next album. The use of tabla is a specific new element identified in the report; the source does not describe it as a wholesale change in her approach.
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From Animaru to Howl
Semones’ previous album, Animaru, was described by Stereogum as a polished, distinctive combination of jazz guitar, bossa nova, chamber pop and indie rock. The publication named her an Artist To Watch the year before its report on “2 Hands,” citing that debut album.
Semones has announced Howl as the follow-up and shared its title track before releasing “2 Hands.” The new album is her first for Verve/Interscope, according to Stereogum. The source says it is due Jan. 15 and points readers to a preorder, but gives no year or further track-list details.
““Everyone in my band is such an incredible musician and I feel so lucky and grateful to play with them, and that’s what this song is about!””
— Mei Semones, speaking to Stereogum
Album Date and Tracklist Details
The source report gives Howl’s release date as Jan. 15 but does not identify the year. It also does not provide the full tracklist, further release plans or details about the album beyond its label and the singles shared so far. No additional information about the video’s production or the musicians’ individual contributions is included.
Howl’s Scheduled January Release
Howl is scheduled for Jan. 15, according to the report, and is available for preorder through the link cited by Stereogum. The next confirmed milestone in the supplied material is the album’s release; it does not specify whether another single, video or promotional appearance is planned before then.
Key Questions
What is “2 Hands”?
“2 Hands” is a single by Mei Semones and the second song released from her upcoming album Howl, following the album’s title track.
What is distinctive about the song’s arrangement?
The track incorporates South Asian tabla into Semones’ mix of musical styles and includes lyrics in Japanese and English.
Who appears in the “2 Hands” video?
The video features Semones playing with her longtime bandmates Ransom McCafferty, Noah Leong, Claudius Agrippa and Noam Tanzer. Jacob Rodier directed it, according to Semones’ comments reported by Stereogum.
When does Howl come out?
The source lists the release date as Jan. 15, but does not specify the year. It identifies Howl as Semones’ first album for Verve/Interscope.
Source: stereogum.com
