If listening to Mei Semones is like tasting a flavor that’s never been tasted before, seeing Mei Semones live is like being able to see a new color.
On Tuesday, April 14, Mei Semones performed for a stop of her Spring Tour at Motorco Music Hall, her first time playing in Durham. This marks almost one year since her debut studio album, “Animaru”.
The Brooklyn, NY-based indie artist fuses jazz and bossa nova with more traditional indie rock to become something truly unique. Translating this to a live band, a viola, violin, bass and drums backed Semones. These combined together created a moving, dynamic sound. The players of all instruments had some form of special synergy, bouncing off each other in perfect synchronicity. This was in support of the themes of her music; love, nature, trust, appreciation.
Opening for the show was singer-songwriter John Roseboro, a fellow New-Yorker and friend of Mei’s. His work takes similar inspiration from bossa nova and jazz, though with his own sonic twist. While opening for Semones, his solo acoustic set, in the best way possible, nearly put the crowd to sleep. The mix of soft but deep vocals and intricate fingerstyle picking was entrancing. Towards the end of the set, Semones came out to add in extra vocals and guitar. This makes sense, as she and Roseboro have many songs together.
Enveloped in immaculate tones, beautifully written music, and a friendly crowd, this night at Motorco was something special, more of an experience than just a show.
— Quinn Eyman