Hippo Campus and Mei Semones

Mei Semones is a Japanese-American artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, known for her jazz-influenced indie pop. Her music blends indie rock, bossa nova, and chamber pop with bilingual English and Japanese lyrics, showcasing technical guitar skills. Notable releases include the Kabutomushi EP (2024) and debut album Animaru (2025). She has collaborated with artists like John Roseboro and Liana Flores. Semones was recognized by Paste as "The Best of What's Next" in 2024.

Minneapolis-based band Hippo Campus is a four-piece of childhood friends: singer Jake Luppen, guitarist Nathan Stocker, drummer Whistler Allen and bassist Zach Sutton. Their fourth album, Flood, features absorbing arrangements and massive hooks.