quête:t time

GOSPEL CHRISTMAS Mahalia Jackson is considered the greatest gospel singer of all time. Her goal was to proclaim God‘s word through song. She ushered in the Golden Age of Gospel between 1945 and 1965. Jackson was the first gospel artist to tour Europe. She appeared regularly on tele- vision and radio programs and sang for many presidents and heads of state, including the national anthem at John F. Kennedy‘s inauguration in 1961. At a time when segregation was pervasive in American society, she had great success. She sold an estimated 22 million records, but still had trouble hailing a cab or sim- ply being able to buy something in stores. Her gospel interpretation of Silent Night is still one of the most soulful and impressive versions of the famous Christmas song. The album of the same name is still a classic today and remains unsurpassed.

Rachika Nayar und Nina Keith veröffentlichen am 18. Juli unter ihrem neuen Projekt Disiniblud ein selbstbetiteltes Album!

Rachika Nayar und Nina Keith, aka Disiniblud, treffen sich in Brooklyn, in einem Park, der so klein ist, dass man nicht aneinander vorbeigehen kann, ohne sich zu bemerken. Sie reden. Erst über Musik, dann über alles. Über das, was war, über das, was nicht mehr sein wird. Post-Lockdown-Liebe auf Distanz, als würde man sich an jemandem festhalten, den es nie ganz gab. Buddhismus, Hinduismus, ein Soundtrack, den sie beide als Teenager geliebt haben. Ein Gespräch ohne Worte. Eine Verbindung, die sich anfühlt wie eine längst vergessene Kindheitserinnerung. "Disiniblud", das selbstbetitetelte Album, das am 18.07.2025 via Smugglers Way erscheint, ist das Echo davon. Rachika Nayar und Nina Keith verfolgen unterschiedliche musikalische Ansätze, die sie im gemeinsamen Projekt Disiniblud zusammenführen. Rachika veränderte mit ihrer 2022er LP "Heaven Come Crashing" ihr Repertoire: Statt Ambient-Gitarren setzt sie nun auf maximalistische Synthesizer, tiefe Sub-Bässe und Amen Breaks. Diese Fusion aus Post-Rock und Elektronika wurde von Pitchfork als Best New Music ausgezeichnet und fand Anerkennung in Medien wie The New York Times, Stereogum, Fader und GQ - zudem eröffnete sie Tourneen mit M83. Nina Keith ist bekannt für ihren autodidaktischen Kompositionsstil. Ihr Debüt "MARANASATI 19111" präsentierte sie mit Instrumenten wie Cello, Klavier, Klarinette und Flöte, um persönliche Erfahrungen und Erlebnisse im Zusammenhang mit Gemeinschaftstraumata und paranormalen Ereignissen musikalisch zu verarbeiten. Mit neuen Veröffentlichungen wie "Come Back Different" featuring Julie Byrne erweitert sie ihr Spektrum durch den Einsatz modularer Synthesizer und komplexer Vokalarrangements.





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“My hero’s back,” Madeline Kenney sings on the second track of her newest effort, Kiss from the Balcony. In a sense, she means herself; made with friends Ben Sloan and Stephen Patota across just a few in-person studio sessions in Oakland, these tracks represent a culmination of Madeline’s musings on growth and resilience reaching back years, brought to life through this generative and vibrant collaboration. Close listeners can hear the breadth of stylistic elements and themes carried through from various eras of her work, which all come together in a cohesive and timeless record.

In two week-long intensive sessions, the three collaborators grew these nine songs from fragments, sketches, and seeds. With a background in experimental percussion and sound design, Ben Sloan brings an electronic sound to Kenney’s writing; Stephen Patota provides ingenious guitar melodies throughout and grounds the project in acoustic elements. Kiss from the Balcony was originally intended to be an EP, but the sessions brought forth such fruitful ideation and play that the project was expanded to a full length album. It sits in Madeline’s discography as a thematic and musical progression that sees her iterate on ideas about love and explore new sonic motifs through her work with Patota and Sloan.

Much of Kiss from the Balcony is a meditation on modern relationships, a feminist and utterly human contemplation of power and who holds it. “Hereditary backward leaning,” she describes in ‘Slap,’ of the female condition; “But no-one ever likes to see the girls break down / So they keep it to the bathroom floor” she sings in the rapturous opener, ‘Scoop.’ While the songs are shrouded in metaphor, the ubiquity of heartbreak and resilience decode much of the internal conflict Kenney depicts. The album sees her recognize the precarity and peculiarity of life and take it by the horns, realizing she controls her own narrative:


She explores the relationships between joy and suffering, choosing to see them as inseparable, two sides of a single coin. “It’s never over / When will they love me?” Kenney asks on ‘They Go Wide,’ describing her positionality both as a woman in relationship and as an indie artist in the modern music industry.

A playful hopefulness pervades the record, providing a sense of revelation in the journey throughout, Kenney’s radical acceptance of life as it is like a lyrical tongue out at the absurd.

Blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa is back with Breakthrough, his powerful new studio album dropping July 18th.

Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey) and co-written with Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd), Breakthrough captures Bonamassa at the height of his creative powers. Expanding his signature sound while staying true to the deep blues roots that launched his storied career, the album promises raw emotion, blistering guitar work, and fresh sonic twists.

With over 50 albums to his name and an unprecedented 28 #1 Billboard Blues Albums, Bonamassa proves yet again that he's not just keeping the blues alive--he's driving it into the future.

* In April the European tour starts.
* Joe Bonamassa has sold well over 4 million records worldwide and has had 20+ #1 Billboard Blues Albums
* Joe Bonamassa has been featured on the cover of virtually every guitar magazine multiple times. His name is notorious among guitarists not only for being a virtuoso, but also for his incredible collection of vintage guitars, gear and memorabilia.

Tracks: Breakthrough / Trigger Finger / I'll Take The Blame / Drive By The Exit Sign / Broken Record / Shake This Ground / Still Walking With Me / Life After Dark / You Don't Own Me / Pain's On Me

Ein Muss für alle Trekkies und Liebhaber epischer Filmmusik: Die Vinyl-Ausgabe des Original Soundtracks zu Star Trek: Generations bringt die majestätischen und dramatischen Klänge eines besonderen Kapitels der SternenflottenGeschichte direkt auf den Plattenteller. Dieser Soundtrack, komponiert von Dennis McCarthy, begleitet den siebten Star Trek-Kinofilm mit emotionaler Tiefe, spannungsgeladener Dynamik und dem typischen orchestralen Stil, der das Franchise über Jahrzehnte geprägt hat. Ob die legendäre Begegnung zweier Captains oder die epischen Weltraummomente – jedes Stück entfaltet auf Vinyl eine besondere Klangwärme und Nostalgie. Diese LP ist nicht nur ein Sammlerstück, sondern auch ein emotionales Hörerlebnis – ideal für ruhige Sternenstunden zu Hause oder als Geschenk für echte Starfleet-Enthusiasten

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their self-titled iconic debut – the UK’s best-selling album of 2004 – Scissor Sisters release a brand-new Limited Edition 2LP.

Taking the world by storm with their eccentric style, high energy, and feel-good lyrics, it’s no surprise that this album, originally released on February 2nd, 2004, catapulted the band to international success. Since then, the album has sold nearly 4 million copies globally, has 300 million streams to date and won ‘Best International Album’ at the 2005 BRIT Awards.

This 20th Anniversary expanded 2LP features hit singles ‘Laura’, ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Take Your Mama’, ‘Mary’ and ‘Filthy / Gorgeous’ alongside a plethora of b-sides and rarities. The 3CD also includes a bonus remixes disc.

For the fourth release on her celebrated record label Uppers and Downers, Dr.Rubinstein returns to the producer's seat with Take This Pill, a new 3-track EP that showcases the dynamic, ever-widening range of her signature acid sound. Lacing lively dancefloor cuts with a dose of personal storytelling and a playful yet honest take on mental health, Take This Pill delivers on Rubi's distinct ability to honor classic rave sensibilities while also always imparting her own unique twist.

The title track journeys from dark, acid-laced electro breaks into a shimmering wash of euphoric synths, energized along the way by drumrolls, hoovers, and a vocal refrain repeatedly voicing the Doctor's prescription: "Take this pill!" More than just a nod to classic XTC bangers, "Take This Pill" explores the emotional spectrum of neurodivergence and the pharmaceutical pathways many embark upon on a quest to "fit in," mirroring the lived experience of internal struggle giving way to external composure.

Things shift up a few gears on track two, the aptly-titled "No Brainer," a relentlessly energetic, no-nonsense stomper designed with the soul purpose of making you move. The track features sidewinding Goa-tinged acid lines swirling through a hard trance kick scape adorned by with soaring strings and shimmering cymbal rolls.

The EP concludes with a gorgeous, melodic rave-infused cut that shows a more tender, reflective side of Rubinstein's repertoire. Referencing one of Rubi's favorite tunes, The KLF's iconic "3 AM Eternal," diaphenous ambient vocals soar over a melancholic acid ballad that, never to be taken too seriously, is punctuated by humorous woops and cheeky rave whistles.
With Take This Pill, Dr. Rubinstein invites listeners into her world-one where vulnerability, humor, and acid rave euphoria collide. A perfect addition to her label's growing catalog, Take This Pill upholds the mission of Uppers and Downers: to collect and circulate timeless, tried-and-true tunes that celebrate the uplifting, affirmative power of rave music.

We presenting the upcoming Posthuman album "The Mind Is A Heavy Burden" coming out on Netherlands based imprint Flatlife Records. The full album arrives as a 9-track purple 12" vinyl and 13 track digital / streaming. This isn't the usual club-ready acid house to be expected from Posthuman of recent years, but instead a callback to their output in the early 2000s and their cassette releases on The Dark Outside. There's still plenty of their signature 303+808+101 sounds throughout but it's overall slower, more introspective and darker.

for the next release on galaxiid, we present "carpet watcher", the long-awaited second album from ishome, the project of russian producer and visual artist mirabella karyanova.

emerging from the far eastern port city of nakhodka, ishome's music has always carried a sense of distance and introspection. her debut album confession (2013) became a cult classic, a fragile, cinematic blend of ambient textures, submerged rhythms and quiet emotion.

carpet watcher was completed in 2018 but remained unreleased until now. like much of ishome's work, it was created with no urgency to be heard, a self-contained world suspended in time. drifting between viscous beats and spectral melodies, the album feels like a memory slowly coming into focus.

from her earliest recordings, mirabella has resisted genre classification. her sound draws from minimal techno, ambient, leftfield pop, outsider art, and the surrealism of soviet-era animation. in her hands, these influences dissolve into something deeply personal, a language of mood and movement rather than style.

beyond the studio, ishome has performed live across europe and russia, including sets at berghain and signal festival, as well as appearances on boiler room and nts. she also creates under the mischievous alias shadowax, where playful chaos replaces introspection. her audiovisual performances, combining original music, iphone-shot footage, digital collage and hand-drawn animation, reveal the full breadth of her artistic vision. dreamlike, humorous and emotionally direct.

ishome rarely releases her music, and when she does, it feels less like a project and more like a postcard from a world she's still wandering through. carpet watcher is the first glimpse into that world in over ten years.

Originally released in 2003, Marcos Valle’s Contrasts combined early noughties production techniques with his trademark Brazilian songwriting brilliance. The album quickly became one of Valle’s most in-demand, with tracks like the triumphant “Parabéns” (which was sampled by Childish Gambino, covered by Tom Misch and remixed by Misa Negra) and bossa beach classic “Agua de Coco”, both becoming firm fan favourites.

Produced by Roc Hunter, and executive produced by Joe Davis, with musicians including Robertinho Silva (percussion), Alex Malheiros (bass), and Marcos’ wife Patricia Alvi (vocals), Contrasts encapsulated Valle’s ever evolving musical vision, bringing together samba, baião, bossa pop, broken beat, house, trip-hop and more, on one era-defining record.

After 22 years, Contrasts is finally set for a double LP vinyl and CD reissue, with the original mix of “Valeu” and “My Nightingale” making it onto the vinyl edition for the first time.

Purple vinyl, limited to 150 copies. Born from the murky industrial depths of Birmingham, UK, Margarita Witch Cult's self-titled debut studio album is a tour-de-force in classic metal, hard rock, doom, and mind-melting psych. A thunderous drum fill propels you into opener 'Diabolical Influence'- a lurching behemoth of a tune that makes easy bedfellows of crushing stoner riffs, Latin incantations, and a simply humongous chorus. The pace quickens with the frantic 'Death Lurks at Every Turn'- a hair-raising thrasher of breakneck snare rolls and unruly guitar solos. 'The Witchfinder Comes' only furthers the sense of foreboding, as tales of torture and pleas for exile fall on the ever-deafening ears of the listener. 'Be My Witch' comes in hot and heavy as a grungy ode to the forbidden, and the blistering 'Annihilation' concludes side A with speed-freak ferocity. The more adventurous and immersive side B is kick-started with 'Theme From Cyclops' - the deft chops of all 3 members being undeniable as we gallop into the ambitious, face-melting journey that is 'Lord Of The Flies'-a belting doom groover that culminates in a classic guitar & bass dual to rival even the most virtuosic of axe-wielders. As we near the end of our perilous sonic expedition, 'Aradia' serves up an instrumental serving of pure downtuned filth, with sleazy swagger and tasteful shredding that give extra provenance to its author's deep bag of tricks. The killer blow comes in the shape of the simply savage 'Sacrifice'- an unholy exhibition of undeniable force. The duality of the track makes for an experience that leaves our sweet listener reeling- the bludgeoning weight of its monstrous main-riff giving way to razor-sharp verses and a tripped-out, mind-bending psych jam- only to come crashing back to crushing reality as the final, fatal notes ring out. With their debut LP, Margarita Witch Cult have crafted a timeless, merciless beast- one that will chew you up and spit you out, yet somehow keep you crawling back for more.

Margarita Witch Cult captured lightning in a bottle with their 2023 debut- a blink-and-you'll-miss-it behemoth that saw the band thrash and burn through Europe and the UK, picking up legions of fans and touring with the likes of Cancer Bats, Monster Magnet and Nebula. Now, the Birmingham trio are set to pick their teeth with the bones of their own past- as their second LP 'Strung Out In Hell' takes everything that was so compelling about their debut and turns the knob up to 11; rips off the knob; throws the knob into the fires of hell and cackles maniacally in the wake of its demoniacal glory. From top-to-tail, 'Strung Out In Hell' is a cloven hoof to the chest; a dizzying descent through infernus. It will caress you only to chew you up and spit you out. It is the soundtrack to the afterparty of all life on earth. Succumb to its sordid siren song. Bolder, stranger, and downright more mean, there's no better time to jump on the Margarita Witch Cult train- and it's going straight down, fast.

Gold Nugget Vinyl, limited to 400 copies. Margarita Witch Cult captured lightning in a bottle with their 2023 debut- a blink-and-you'll-miss-it behemoth that saw the band thrash and burn through Europe and the UK, picking up legions of fans and touring with the likes of Cancer Bats, Monster Magnet and Nebula. Now, the Birmingham trio are set to pick their teeth with the bones of their own past- as their second LP 'Strung Out In Hell' takes everything that was so compelling about their debut and turns the knob up to 11; rips off the knob; throws the knob into the fires of hell and cackles maniacally in the wake of its demoniacal glory. From top-to-tail, 'Strung Out In Hell' is a cloven hoof to the chest; a dizzying descent through infernus. It will caress you only to chew you up and spit you out. It is the soundtrack to the afterparty of all life on earth. Succumb to its sordid siren song. Bolder, stranger, and downright more mean, there's no better time to jump on the Margarita Witch Cult train- and it's going straight down, fast.

Never Sleep charity tape series heads for Etruria with a late 90s mix from one of the masters.

Gaetani sophist Claudio Coccolutto quantifies joy with a blend of Balearic, House and Prog. A frivo- lous journey through the golden spectrum of dance music and hosted by ??.

Showcasing a smoother than buttered muffuletta mix style, deep grooved sequential ecstatica and layered love for the summertime balcony terpsi-chorean. Utilising Pioneer 800 sound design filter elements, slowly simmered percussion and magne-tised around the good time driving force of House music. Coccolutto brings the positivity, uplifting vocal tenderness and cavorting XTC for a master-class in slow burning velocity.

Claudio Cocculutto passed away in March 2021 and is well known for his community work, politics and love of dance music.

After years of sonic exploration with guitars and electronics in addition to other projects (Lost Girls, Moon Relay, Jenny Hval), Håvard Volden has returned to his main instrument with renewed curiosity and a new band. On this album, the guitar takes center stage, with alternative tunings and an exploratory approach forming the foundation for a new musical direction. The result is a beautiful album with an honest and organic sound, and the perfect blend of jazz and alternative pop/rock. The music is rooted in jazz but also draws inspiration from early tape music—think Joe Meek, and Luc Ferrari—as well as folk traditions from all over, new age, and the raw energy of experimental rock, likeVelvet Underground. The result is a collection of instrumental compositions where guitar, synthesizers, bass, and drums interweave in dynamic interplay. At times, the pieces are loose and expansive; at others, they are rhythmically precise and compressed—like instrumental pop songs with an open structure. And to add to the pop cultural pallett; the cover photo is taken on tour with Jenny Hval in front of the ”Twin Peaks” mountains. With music that thrives on dynamics and improvisation, most of the album was recorded live in the studio. This album is an exploration of the guitar’s potential, where echoes and tape machines extend the instrument’s rhythm, resonance, and tonality. A playful, dreamlike, and uncompromising record that embraces the power of collaboration.

Dirty Dynamite is the seventeenth studio album from Swiss melodic hard rock/heavy metal band Krokus.

Well received by critics, partly due to the surprising element of their Beatles cover of “Help”.
The band origins from the seventies, and have since sold over 15 million records, toured the world and received gold and platinum discs in the US and Canada. The legendary English journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said:

“If you look at the long-term output of this band, Krokus is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years”.

Dirty Dynamite is available as a limited edition of 666 numbered copies on silver coloured vinyl and includes an insert with lyrics

To mark 10 years since SOPHIE’s game-changing singles collection PRODUCT, Numbers are celebrating with a special edition featuring 11 songs across Deluxe Vinyl and Compact Disc.

This anniversary release includes bonus tracks, track-by-track slide posters, and a SOPHIE PRODUCT Card. Physical editions are now available for pre-order and released on 11th July 2025.

SOPHIE classics ‘BIPP’, ‘LEMONADE’ and ‘VYZEE’ are joined by two immaculate PRODUCT-era songs ‘OOH’ and ‘GET HIGHER’ recorded and produced at the time, each with colourful single artwork completing the set.

‘OOH’ is one of SOPHIE's earliest productions that has been through several revisions since 2011. It was one of three original tracks that Numbers had signed when SOPHIE uploaded the song alongside 'BIPP' and 'ELLE' to her Soundcloud, and while it had been through several iterations and speed changes, this finalised version was completed by SOPHIE in 2019.

SOPHIE once described ‘OOH’ as “hi tech club dance pop”. Musically speaking, the earworm hook is carved out by her signature portamento-infused synths and candy-coated lyrics, a firm cult classic approved by AG Cook and Charli XCX. Initially titled 'MAKE RESPECT', the track was first performed live by SOPHIE in 2011 to a handful of lucky people at a beach afterparty surrounding Sonar Festival, Barcelona and later that year at Manhattan's New Museum. The vocal was recorded as the first track in the same one-day recording session as SOPHIE's debut single 'NOTHING MORE TO SAY', released on the Huntley & Palmers label, where Sophie's songwriting was performed by the London vocalist Jaide Green.

The genesis of the ‘OOH’ and ‘NOTHING MORE TO SAY’ recording session is lore-worthy in its own right: after watching Jaide Green perform live with Olly Murs during the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, SOPHIE reached out and invited Jaide to record in her home bedroom studio.

‘GET HIGHER’ was born during joyous sessions in 2013, when SOPHIE’s beat was introduced to the vocalists Cassie Davis and Sean Mullins. The track feels like a visionary precursor to ‘Vroom Vroom’, and doesn't sound out of place next to the sub-clang intensity of SOPHIE’s ‘HARD’ and ‘MSMSMSM’. Striking a playful balance between blissed-out hyperpop and club-ready Atlanta trap, it showcases SOPHIE’s signature, laser sharp sound design. Originally released as a bonus track on the Japanese CD edition of PRODUCT, ‘GET HIGHER’ has remained a hidden gem.

A groundbreaking producer, songwriter and performer, SOPHIE's visionary approach reshaped the landscape of pop and electronic music. Emerging in the early 2010s, SOPHIE introduced a hyper-detailed, futuristic sound defined by metallic textures, elastic basslines, and an uncanny blend of synthetic and emotional tones. Collaborating with artists including Charli XCX, Madonna, Vince Staples and Arca, SOPHIE helped pioneer a new pop movement while challenging conventions around identity, genre and production. SOPHIE's work continues to resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on a generation of artists and listeners alike. Discography: PRODUCT (2015), OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES (2018), SOPHIE (released posthumously, 2024).

Hexagonal rising star Hyas & Parisian underground mainstay Aurèle join forces on their latest five-track EP, “Spider Rituals”. This release navigates the realms of techno, breaks, and UK inspired wobbling frequencies.

The journey begins with the 140 BPM head-turner, “Craig Mild” where an enchanting witchcraft ambiance intertwines with classic Roland drum machines and emotive Yamaha synth chords.
A2, “Pryorities” propels you straight into the heart of a sweaty basement, layered with naughty boys samples and a wonky bassline supplement that keeps the energy alive.

Flipping to Side B, we dive into the grooviest cut of the record, B1 – “Wow Seen”, certified banger material avidly tested by the French duo prior release… spoiler : it works every time. B2, “Bueno Dub” ventures into frowning-and-vibing territories, serving up a potent mix of daggering basslines, breakbeats, and off-kilter pop samples. Finally, B3 – “Cash Mire” closes the record on an ambient note, featuring deep 808s that seamlessly pull you in a deep bass bath.

With a commitment to blending influences, Hyas & Aurèle present this ambitious opus as a collaboration between their respective labels, Bardouin Music and Demi-Monde.

'Mei Semones' sweetly evocative blend of jazz, bossa nova and math-y indie rock is not only a way for her to find solace in her favorite genres, but is an intuitive means of catharsis. "Blending everything that I like together and trying to make something new - that's what feels most natural to me," says the 23-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. "It's what feels most true to who I am as an artist." Plinking guitar tones and asymmetrical time shnatures exemplify her forays into angular indie rock more now than ever before, especially on her debut Bayonet Records single "Wakare no Kotoba"-its wide-interval arpeggios in odd meters being some of the most technically difficult guitar work Mei has ever implemented in her songwriting. Translated to "parting words" in English, the self-described "anti-love song" serves as a farewell to a toxic friendship, complete with orchestral swells and crashing guitars. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Semones began playing music at a young age, starting out on piano at age four before moving to electric guitar at age eleven. After playing jazz guitar in high school, she went on to study guitar performance with a jazz focus at Berklee College of Music. College is where she met her current bandmates, including string players Noah Leong and Claudius Agrippa, whose respective viola and violin add softness and multidimensionality to Mei's intricate guitar work. After releasing a slew of singles and an EP in 2022, coinciding with her move to New York City, Mei and her band have since gone on to collaborate with post-bossa balladeer John Roseboro and embark on their first-ever tour with the melodic rock outfit Ravi, Semones chronicles infatuation, devotion, and vulnerability in her songs, complete with sweeping strings, virtuosic guitar-playing and heartfelt lyrics sung in both English and Japanese, that have all become part of her sonic trademark: ornately catchy, genre-fusing compositions serving as the backdrop to tender lyrics touching on the universalities of human emotion.

'Mei Semones' sweetly evocative blend of jazz, bossa nova and math-y indie rock is not only a way for her to find solace in her favorite genres, but is an intuitive means of catharsis. "Blending everything that I like together and trying to make something new - that's what feels most natural to me," says the 23-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. "It's what feels most true to who I am as an artist." Plinking guitar tones and asymmetrical time shnatures exemplify her forays into angular indie rock more now than ever before, especially on her debut Bayonet Records single "Wakare no Kotoba"-its wide-interval arpeggios in odd meters being some of the most technically difficult guitar work Mei has ever implemented in her songwriting. Translated to "parting words" in English, the self-described "anti-love song" serves as a farewell to a toxic friendship, complete with orchestral swells and crashing guitars. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Semones began playing music at a young age, starting out on piano at age four before moving to electric guitar at age eleven. After playing jazz guitar in high school, she went on to study guitar performance with a jazz focus at Berklee College of Music. College is where she met her current bandmates, including string players Noah Leong and Claudius Agrippa, whose respective viola and violin add softness and multidimensionality to Mei's intricate guitar work. After releasing a slew of singles and an EP in 2022, coinciding with her move to New York City, Mei and her band have since gone on to collaborate with post-bossa balladeer John Roseboro and embark on their first-ever tour with the melodic rock outfit Ravi, Semones chronicles infatuation, devotion, and vulnerability in her songs, complete with sweeping strings, virtuosic guitar-playing and heartfelt lyrics sung in both English and Japanese, that have all become part of her sonic trademark: ornately catchy, genre-fusing compositions serving as the backdrop to tender lyrics touching on the universalities of human emotion.