Michelle Zauner

Michelle Zauner has established herself as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music and literature. Best known as the singer, songwriter and guitarist behind Japanese Breakfast, she has built a career blending dreamy, shoegaze-inspired indie pop with intimate, often deeply personal storytelling.

Zauner first broke through with Japanese Breakfast’s debut album, “Psychopomp,” in 2016, a record she initially intended as a farewell to music but which instead launched her into critical acclaim. That momentum carried into “Soft Sounds from Another Planet” in 2017, which expanded her audience and secured her place on international stages. Her third album, “Jubilee,” released in 2021, became her most celebrated project yet, earning Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album while marking her first entry on the Billboard 200.

In addition to her work in music, Zauner has become an acclaimed author. Her 2018 essay “Crying in H Mart” for The New Yorker led to her bestselling memoir of the same name, published in 2021. The book, a moving meditation on grief, family, and Korean American identity, debuted near the top of the New York Times nonfiction list and remained there for more than a year. While a film adaptation of “Crying in H Mart” was initially in development with Orion Pictures, Zauner announced in early 2025 that the project was on hold following industry strikes and creative setbacks.

Zauner’s creative reach extends beyond music and writing. She has produced essays for outlets including Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar, hosted the food-centered video series “Close to Home,” and co-founded the short-lived but warmly received project BUMPER with Ryan Galloway during the pandemic. Her willingness to experiment across disciplines has made her a multifaceted cultural figure, equally at home in a recording studio, on stage, or behind the page.

In 2023, Zauner relocated to Seoul, South Korea, to immerse herself in the Korean language and begin work on a second book chronicling that experience. She also began writing and recording material for a new Japanese Breakfast album. That project, “For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women),” produced by Blake Mills and released in March 2025, leaned into heavier guitar textures and darker themes while maintaining her gift for lush, melodic songwriting.

Now an artist whose career bridges continents and mediums, Zauner continues to evolve while staying rooted in the intimate storytelling that has defined her work. Whether through music, memoir, or the stage, she remains a singular voice chronicling loss, identity, and resilience with honesty and grace.