“She’s done it again!” Mitski fans likely screamed in unison. Though still teary and aching from her lyrics, they ventured online to celebrate.
Mitski, a Japanese-American singer known for her albums Be the Cowboy and Bury Me at Makeout Creek, has released her eighth album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me (NATHTM). The album’s opening single, “Where’s My Phone?” comes as a wonderful surprise to many as she steps back into her punkier “wild woman” indie-rock sound.
Throughout the album, Mitski declares her love for cats alongside other equally important topics. She reflects on ideals and society’s view of her in “Dead Woman,” while listing the pros and cons of being a city girl in “In A Lake.”
NATHTM embraces its drama and lavish costumes to intensify the tale of a mad woman, who was introduced in the music video for “Where’s My Phone?”
The woman endures ridiculous situations like working to pay for her cat’s house in “That White Cat,” while saving another girl from falling into the same traps in “Where’s My Phone?” The pressure piles up, and the woman chooses to live in a distorted reality over the struggles of the real world.
The album features a combination of accepting the past, living with loneliness, defying societal expectations, and most noticeably, a question that lingers in the shadows of every song: is the weight of it all reason enough for insanity? As the album comes to an end, the woman comes to terms with her answer and, at last, makes herself heard.
NATHTM holds an eerie resemblance to Mitski’s 2019 album Be the Cowboy, which also features a made-up persona, but NATHTM is without a doubt her most elaborate concept album.
She relies on intricate storytelling to draw in listeners, using it to build anticipation for the classic Mitski drop. Unlike the heavy bassline crowding every track on Bury Me at Makeout Creek, NATHTM takes a softer approach.
Mitski’s dedication to crafting an intimate environment for fans has taken her tour on a unique turn. Instead of large venues, Mitski performed for four nights in none other than Hollywood High School.
Clips of the shows revealed an auditorium packed with eager teens, as were the colorful photoshoots where fans could walk inside the walls of the album or send messages to Mitski. The crowded space became more personal as Mitski sang, selecting niche fan-favorites over some of her biggest hits.
Her time spent at Hollywood High won’t be forgotten; the performances serve as a reminder of what Mitski means to people.
NATHTM, in all its extravaganza and weirdness, has proven to be one of her most intimate albums. It’s a solid album, and already one of my favorites of hers. But, the album requires an audience who will listen with an open mind, prepared to be confused by the crazy.
Fans must welcome embarrassment and heartbreak, as Mitski does on her jazz-inspired track, “I’ll Change for You.” It’s only then that her odd lyrics will start to fit, miserable songs will become painfully relatable, and Mitski will find her way into your heart, too.
