Mei Semones is an artist creating jazz influenced indie pop songs with lyrics in both Japanese and English, currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Drawing from her background in jazz guitar and her Japanese heritage, she uses creative harmonic and rhythmic concepts and two different languages to write her songs. Mei’s influences include John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, Thelonious Monk, João Gilberto, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana. Her music incorporates a variety of genres ranging from jazz & Bossa nova to indie rock, math rock, and folk.

Combining a significant technical proficiency with an avant-garde approach to jazz, Los Angeles saxophonist Sam Gendel came up in the 2010s underground with a forward-thinking approach to the genre. Having made a name for himself under the Inga moniker, Gendel began releasing under his own name in 2017, producing a plethora of experimental projects both individually and with the assistance of his contemporaries. Raised on the works of John Coltrane, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Wayne Shorter, Los Angeles-based jazz musician Sam Gendel took up the saxophone at age ten after buying one from a retired policeman in California for $50.00. Working throughout his teens to master the instrument, Gendel gradually found his own vision among L.A.’s ever-shifting jazz scenes. Breaking through alongside Kevin Yokota (drums) and Adam Ratner (guitar) as Inga, Gendel released his first full-length project as part of the trio with 2015’s en which saw Gendel follow his icons’ spiritual progressions, moving through psychedelic, meditative, and transcendent styles with vision and proficiency. en was followed shortly by 2016’s Volunteered Slavery EP, a project which paid homage to one of Gendel’s early icons through a cover of the titular Kirk track. That same year he made a record with fellow L.A. iconoclast Taylor Mackall titled Saudade. Inga’s May 2017 single “Crossroads” was their last. The first music to arrive under Gendel’s own name was the 2017 project Double Expression, a two-hour odyssey composed primarily of field recordings and one-takes. Using a long-form approach to the genre with 40-minute-plus tracks, the album was inspired by (and sampled from) many of Gendel’s street performances, mimicking their use of a loop station with short recordings from his phone. This was followed just a few weeks later by his debut album, 4444: continuing to work with Ratner and Yokota, the project made a direct shift in sound, diverging from long-form and saxophone-driven material in favor of subdued vocal jazz. Underscored by Ratner’s melodic guitars and Yokota’s measured drumming, Gendel embraced his own vocal experimentation 4444, and displayed his instrumental proficiency while employing his voice to deliver cryptic political opinions and emotional musings. Gendel next pushed his saxophone to its limits for 2018’s sophomore album Pass If Music: Comprised solely of sounds made using his alto sax, the project traversed uncharted territory, with standard notes warped into vocal-esque wails and electronic trills. This was bookended by another collaborative set, Music for Saxofone and Bass Guitar, which saw Gendel team up with Sam Wilkes for a minimalist, exploratory work utilizing the duo’s instrumental talents. Gendel’s third album arrived just over a year later. Titled Satin Doll, the work unpacks Gendel’s extensive list of influences and techniques, blending his experimental tendencies with jazz standards to form a self-described “futuristic homage to historical jazz.” The project eventually saw release in March 2020, with assistance from close collaborators Gabe Noel (electric bass) and Philippe Melanson (percussion). Gendel returned later that year with fourth LP DRM: a futuristic, electronically-driven set, the project derived inspiration from modern mainstream music and Gendel’s experimentation with vintage instruments.

William Tyler Goes West on new studio album due January 25, shares “Fail Safe”

On January 25, William Tyler returns with Goes West, his follow-up to 2016’s Modern Country. Listen to first single “Fail Safe” now, and pre-order Goes West on CD, LP, and limited-edition translucent green Peak Vinyl, the latter of which includes a 24” × 36” full-color foldout poster of the Robert Beatty cover art. All pre-orders will receive Dispatches from Echo Magic, an 8-song bonus CD available only in the Merge store or with the purchase of Goes West at your local independent record store, while supplies last. Recorded with Scott Hirsch at Echo Magic West in Ojai, CA, the CD features early versions of five songs from Goes West plus three other tracks from the session that are only available here.

Listen to & share William Tyler’s “Fail Safe” now

An excerpt from the M.C. Taylor-penned bio:

William and I bonded early in our relationship over Barry Hannah, a hellraising writer from Mississippi who practically reinvented the way that words could be assembled on a page. Like Hannah, William Tyler knows the South—as a crucible of American histories and cultures, an entity capable of expansive beauty and incomprehensible violence, often in the same beat—as his native place, the place that holds him and that he runs from. In the music of William Tyler, the South is not apart from America; the South is America condensed. And like Hannah—and this part is important—William moved to California, where Goes West was written. We don’t know how long William will stay—Hannah lasted just a couple of years, writing in the employ of director Robert Altman—but the change of scenery seems to suit him.

Goes West marks a sort of narrowing of focus for William’s music; it sounds as though he found a way to point himself directly towards the rich and bittersweet emotional center of his music without being distracted by side trips. Perhaps this is down to the fact that William only plays acoustic guitar on the album, a clear and conscious decision considering that he is one of Nashville’s great electric guitarists. The band that performs Goes West alongside William—including guitarists Meg Duffy and Bill Frisell, bassist and producer Brad Cook, keyboardist James Wallace, drummer Griffin Goldsmith, and engineer Tucker Martine—is the best and most sympathetic group of players that William could have assembled to play these songs.

William Tyler is currently performing solo sets on tour with Ty Segall. Stay tuned for more Goes West news by following Tyler on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yasmin Williams is an innovative guitarist and composer known for her unique compositional approach and expansive instrumental style. Her latest album Acadia, released on Nonesuch Records, showcases her evolution from solo performer to collaborative artist, featuring partnerships with notable musicians like Aoife O’Donovan and Immanuel Wilkins.

Williams’ distinctive creative process involves “ruminating” on single notes until compositions naturally emerge. Beyond traditional fingerpicked guitar, she demonstrates mastery of multiple instruments including kora, harp guitar, banjo, and electric guitar. Her music, while rooted in folk traditions, transcends conventional structures to incorporate elements of progressive rock and experimental composition.

Following her acclaimed 2021 album Urban Driftwood, Acadia represents a significant artistic expansion, featuring three distinct sections that move from traditional folk influences to atmospheric soundscapes and experimental arrangements. Williams’ approach emphasizes sustained tones and intricate articulation, creating music that balances technical precision with ethereal, floating melodies.

ABOUT YASMIN WILLIAMS

Yasmin Williams, raised in Woodbridge, Virginia, grew up surrounded by music. Inspired by a wide range of artists—from Chuck Brown to Jimi Hendrix—she began developing her innovative fingerstyle acoustic guitar technique while studying music theory and composition at NYU. Williams has released two previous albums, Unwind (2018) and Urban Driftwood (2021), where she introduced unique approaches, such as playing kalimba and guitar simultaneously. She also incorporates instruments like the kora, harp guitar, and banjo. Despite her use of folk instruments, she resists being categorized within the genre, valuing creative freedom over conformity. Her latest record, Acadia, is out now via Nonesuch Records.