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Mei Semones has released “2 Hands,” the second single from her upcoming album Howl, according to Stereogum. The song features South Asian tabla, lyrics in Japanese and English, and a music video with Semones’ longtime bandmates; the album is scheduled for Jan. 15 on Verve/Interscope.
Mei Semones has released “2 Hands,” the second single from her upcoming album Howl, with a music video showing her performing alongside her longtime bandmates. The track brings South Asian tabla into Semones’ blend of styles and features lyrics in Japanese and English; Howl is scheduled for Jan. 15 on Verve/Interscope, according to Stereogum.
Stereogum reported that “2 Hands” follows the album’s title track, which Semones shared the previous month. The outlet describes the new song as a devotion to music itself. In the lyrics quoted in the report, Semones sings of giving her “two hands” and “whole heart,” and describes a path that continues for as long as she lives. The song moves between Japanese and English.
The accompanying video features Semones with Ransom McCafferty, Noah Leong, Claudius Agrippa and Noam Tanzer, identified by Stereogum as her longtime bandmates. Semones said she wanted the video to convey what it is like to play music with them and to draw attention to their musicianship. She also thanked director Jacob Rodier and the rest of the video team.
Howl is Semones’ follow-up to her debut album, Animaru, and her first release for Verve/Interscope, Stereogum reported. The supplied report gives the album’s release date as Jan. 15 but does not specify the year. It also says the album is available for preorder.
A New Chapter After Animaru
“2 Hands” offers listeners a second preview of Howl and a clearer indication of how Semones is approaching the new record: the song adds tabla to her existing mix of guitar-led and pop-oriented sounds. That makes the single relevant to listeners tracking the follow-up to Animaru, while the video foregrounds the ensemble playing behind the release rather than presenting Semones alone.
The album is also a label milestone. Stereogum identifies Howl as Semones’ first for Verve/Interscope. The report does not detail what the arrangement means for her career or distribution, so the confirmed point is the label change itself. The Jan. 15 date gives listeners a stated release target, though the missing year in the supplied material limits how precisely the schedule can be placed.
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From Animaru to Howl
Stereogum named Semones an Artist To Watch the previous year, citing her debut album Animaru. The outlet characterized that record as combining jazzy guitar, bossa nova rhythms, chamber-pop arrangements and indie-rock intensity. This description provides a point of comparison for “2 Hands,” whose use of tabla adds another element to the musical palette described in the report.
Before this single, Semones had announced Howl and released its title track. “2 Hands” is the second single reported from the album. The article’s source is a Stereogum report by Saeka Shimada; the details here reflect that report and the information supplied with it.
““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, as quoted by Stereogum
Release Date Details Still Missing
The supplied report lists Howl as due Jan. 15 but does not state a year. It also provides no further release schedule, track list, or details about the album beyond the title track and “2 Hands.” Those details should not be assumed from the report.
The source describes tabla as part of the track but does not identify the performer or provide recording credits. It does not specify whether the video was released on the same platform or at the same time as the single. The report also characterizes the song’s themes and sound, while Semones’ direct comments specifically address her band and the video.
Howl’s Scheduled January Release
The next stated milestone is the release of Howl on Jan. 15, with Verve/Interscope named as its label and preorders available according to Stereogum. The year is not included in the supplied report, so readers should look for a date clarification in any subsequent announcement.
Further album details, including a complete track list and additional singles, are not provided in the source material. For now, “2 Hands” and the previously released title track are the confirmed previews described in the report.
Key Questions
What is Mei Semones’ new single?
She has released “2 Hands,” the second single reported from her upcoming album Howl.
What is featured in the “2 Hands” video?
The video shows Semones performing with longtime bandmates Ransom McCafferty, Noah Leong, Claudius Agrippa and Noam Tanzer. Semones said she wanted it to reflect playing music with them.
What instruments or musical elements are noted in the song?
Stereogum reports that “2 Hands” incorporates South Asian tabla. The article also describes Semones’ broader sound as mixing several styles, including jazzy guitar and bossa nova rhythms.
When does Howl come out?
The supplied report lists the release date as Jan. 15 on Verve/Interscope, but does not specify the year.
What language are the lyrics in?
The lyrics move between Japanese and English, according to Stereogum.
Source: stereogum.com
