Mitski

Mitski, born Mitsuki Laycock and also known as Mitski Miyawaki, is a Japanese-born American singer-songwriter recognized for her contributions to indie music and alternative pop. She spent her childhood in several countries, including Turkey, China, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, before settling in the United States due to her father's work with the United States Department of State. Initially studying film at Hunter College, Mitski shifted her focus to music and attended SUNY Purchase College's Conservatory of Music, where she studied studio composition. During her time at Purchase, she recorded and self-released her first two albums, "Lush" and "Retired from Sad, New Career in Business."

Her third studio album, "Bury Me at Makeout Creek," marked a stylistic shift toward a guitar-driven sound and was released through Double Double Whammy. Mitski later signed with Dead Oceans, releasing "Puberty 2," "Be the Cowboy," and "Laurel Hell." The album "Laurel Hell" reached the top ten in several countries and peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard 200. Songs such as "Your Best American Girl" and "Happy" from "Puberty 2" expanded her audience, with "Your Best American Girl" being named one of the top songs of the decade by Rolling Stone. She has toured with Pixies and opened for Lorde on select dates of the Melodrama World Tour.

The single "Nobody" from "Be the Cowboy" gained viral popularity on TikTok, leading to a resurgence in streaming and the album's re-entry into the Billboard Top 200. Mitski co-composed "This Is a Life" with Son Lux for the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once," earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Her seventh studio album, "The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We," featured the single "My Love Mine All Mine," which became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. A concert film, Mitski: The Land, and a live album, The Land: The Live Album, accompanied this release. Her eighth studio album, "Nothing's About to Happen to Me," further expanded her discography.

On stage, Mitski is known for integrating theatrical gestures, choreography, and moments of stillness, creating immersive live music experiences. Across eight albums, she has developed a catalog that resonates within the indie and alternative music scenes, noted for its emotional depth and personal yet universal themes.