Mitski

Mitski Miyawaki (born Mitsuki Laycock; September 27, 1990) is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter. Mitski self-released her first two albums, Lush (2012), and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013), while studying at Purchase College's Conservatory of Music. After graduating, she released her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek (2014), through Double Double Whammy. It was followed by Puberty 2 (2016) and Be the Cowboy (2018), released on Dead Oceans.

Mitski
Mitski performing at St Jerome's Laneway Festival in 2019
Background information
Birth nameMitsuki Laycock
Born (1990-09-27) September 27, 1990
Japan
OriginNew York City
GenresIndie rock
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
Years active2012–present
Labels
Websitemitski.com

Early life

Mitski Miyawaki was born Mitsuki Laycock[1] on September 27, 1990 in Japan to an American father and a Japanese mother.[2] While growing up she moved frequently due to her father's job at the United States Department of State, living in thirteen countries—including Turkey, China, Malaysia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—before eventually settling in the United States.[3][4][5] Mitski says she was eighteen when she wrote her first song.[6]

Career

After enrolling at Hunter College to study film, Mitski decided to pursue music instead and transferred to Purchase College's Conservatory of Music, where she studied studio compositions. During her time at Purchase College, she recorded and self-released her piano-based first and second albums, Lush (2012) and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013), as student projects.[7][8][9]

After graduating, she served as the vocalist for the short-lived prog-metal band Voice Coils[10] and began work on her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, which was released on November 11, 2014, through Double Double Whammy. The album represented a sonic departure from Mitski's orchestral and classical piano background found in her first two albums, exchanging it for raw, impulsive guitar.[9] It garnered acclaim from numerous publications.[11][12][13][14]

On December 22, 2015, Mitski signed with Dead Oceans before releasing new music the following year.[15] She announced her fourth studio album, Puberty 2, on March 1, 2016, and shared the lead single, "Your Best American Girl".[16] She released another single, "Happy", before the release of the album on June 17.[17] The album was recorded over a two-week period at Acme Studios in Westchester County, New York and was produced by longtime collaborator Patrick Hyland.[18] The album received widespread acclaim from music critics.[19]

In a 2016 episode of the Cartoon Network show Adventure Time, her song "Francis Forever" was covered by Olivia Olson as the character Marceline the Vampire Queen.[20]

On February 21, 2017, the Pixies announced US tour dates with Mitski as a supporting act.[21] On May 1, a compilation album consisting of 100 songs by different artists titled Our First 100 Days was released. It includes Mitski's cover of One Direction's song "Fireproof". The compilation aims to raise funds for organizations that support causes threatened by Donald Trump's proposed policies.[22] Mitski played a cover of the song in 2015, but that version has since been taken down.[23] Mitski also covered Frank Sinatra's 1951 classic "I'm a Fool to Want You" for the 7-Inches For Planned Parenthood compilation album.[24] On October 4, 2017 Lorde announced Mitski will be an opening act for selected dates as part of her Melodrama World Tour.[25][2] On November 1, a short film starring Mitski called Sitting was released.[26]

Mitski performing at a concert in Seattle, WA in October, 2018.

On April 20, 2018, Mitski teamed up with the experimental band Xiu Xiu on the song "Between the Breaths" for the soundtrack of the sci-fi comedy film How to Talk to Girls at Parties, based on the short story of the same name.[27]

On May 14, 2018, Mitski's fifth studio album, Be the Cowboy, was made available for pre-order without prior announcement. The lead single, "Geyser", was released on the same day alongside its accompanying music video.[28] The second single, "Nobody", was released on June 26 accompanied by a music video,[29] and the third and final single to precede the album, "Two Slow Dancers", was released on August 9 alongside a lyric video.[30] Be the Cowboy was released on August 17, through Dead Oceans.[31] It was critically acclaimed and named the album of the year by publications including Pitchfork,[32] Vulture[33] and Consequence of Sound.[34] Mitski shared new song "Cop Car" in January 2020[35], a never-released piece from the soundtrack of The Turning.[36]

Personal life

Mitski reflects her cross-cultural identity as "half Japanese, half American but not fully either", a feeling that is often reflected in her music, which occasionally discusses issues of belonging.[5][37] Mitski expressed the tension of being a private person and her discomfort with the attention that comes with being in the public eye, therefore preferring to keep her personal life private.[38]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
BEL
(FL)
[39]		 CAN
[40]		 IRE
[41]		 SCO
[42]		 UK
[43]		 US
[44]		 US
Alt.
[45]		 US
Indie
[46]		 US
Rock
[47]
Lush
  • Released: January 31, 2012[48]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
 —————————
Retired from Sad, New Career in Business
  • Released: August 1, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
 —————————
Bury Me at Makeout Creek —————————
Puberty 2 137—————[upper-alpha 1]191832
Be the Cowboy
  • Released: August 17, 2018
  • Label: Dead Oceans
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
 1879956406452637

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title EP details
Audiotree Live
  • Released: July 1, 2015[50]
  • Label: Audiotree
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"First Love / Late Spring"[51] 2014 Bury Me at Makeout Creek
"Townie"[52]
"I Don't Smoke"[53]
"I Will"[54]
"Your Best American Girl"[16] 2016 Puberty 2
"Happy"[17]
"Between the Breaths"[27]
(with Xiu Xiu)		 2018 How to Talk to Girls at Parties (Soundtrack)
"Geyser"[28] Be the Cowboy
"Nobody"[29]
"Two Slow Dancers"[30][55]
"Cop Car" 2020 The Turning (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Fireproof"[22]
(One Direction cover)		 2017 Our First 100 Days
"I'm a Fool to Want You"[24]
(Frank Sinatra cover)		 2017 7-Inches for Planned Parenthood
"Let's Get Married"[56]
(Bleachers cover)		 2019 Terrible Thrills Vol. 3
"Susie Save Your Love" (with Allie X) 2020 Cape God

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Strawberry Blond" 2013 Jovon Outlaw [57]
"Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart" Ryan Galloway [58]
"Shame" Alan Wertz [59]
"Humpty" Jovon Outlaw [60]
"Class of 2013" [61]
"I Want You" [62]
"Because Dreaming Costs Money, My Dear" Heather Barcelo [63]
"Circle" Alan Wertz [64]
"Townie" 2014 Allyssa Yohana [65]
2015 Faye Orlove [66]
"Your Best American Girl" 2016 Zia Anger [67]
"Happy" Maegan Houang [68]
"A Burning Hill" Bradley Rust Gray [69]
"Geyser" 2018 Zia Anger [28]
"Nobody" Christopher Good [29]
"Washing Machine Heart" Zia Anger [70]
"A Pearl" 2019 Saad Moosajee and Art Camp [71]

Awards and nominations
YearAwardsCategoryWorkResultRef.
2017 Libera Awards Video of the Year "Your Best American Girl Nominated [72]
2019 Album of the Year Be The Cowboy Nominated [73]
Best Live Act Herself Nominated
Best Rock Album Be The Cowboy Nominated
Creative Packaging Nominated
Music Video of the Year "Nobody" Won

Notes
  1. Since "Puberty 2" did not enter the Billboard 200 but did peak at number 81 on the Billboard charts#Top Current Albums chart.[49]
gollark: You broke wofl.
gollark: Congratulations.
gollark: https://www.strawpoll.me/17450135/ ← HAVE YOUR SAY!
gollark: But rejigged to use a vanilla BIOS.
gollark: It uses the potatOS sandbox system.

References
  1. "Artist to Watch: Mitski". Young Hollywood. September 18, 2018.
  2. Tolentino, Jia. "The Misreading of Mitski". The New Yorker. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  3. "Meet Mitski, An Electric Folk Singer Making Sad Songs For Grown-Ups". The FADER.
  4. "Growing Up Mitski". The L Magazine. October 23, 2014.
  5. "Puberty 2". Dead Oceans. June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  6. Talbot, Margaret (July 1, 2019). "On the Road with Mitski". ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  7. "Taking All of Mitski". Impose Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  8. "In Sight Out: Mitski". Pitchfork. September 19, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  9. Donelson, Marcy. "Mitski | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  10. "Voice Coils = prog metal from mems of Mitski, Roomrunner, Extra Life, Porches & more, playing 7" release show at DbA". BrooklynVegan. September 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  11. "Mitski:Bury Me At Makeout Creek Album Review". Pitchfork. November 14, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  12. "Premiere - Brooklyn Newcomer Mitski's Spellbinding 'I Will'". NME. October 21, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  13. "Bury Me At Makeout Creek Album Review". Rolling Stone. December 18, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  14. "Holding the Audience Hostage, With a Wail;Mitski Leaves Her Mark at the Knitting Factory". The New York Times. December 19, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  15. "New Artist // Dead Oceans Signs Mitski". Dead Oceans. December 22, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  16. "Mitski announces new album, Puberty 2, shares lead single "Your Best American Girl"". Consequence of Sound. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  17. "Mitski was "Happy" once on new single — listen". Consequence of Sound. May 3, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  18. "Q&A: Mitski Goes Back To Her Roots On Puberty 2". June 8, 2016.
  19. "Reviews for Puberty 2 by Mitski". Metacritic. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  20. "Watch Marceline Sing A Mitski Song On Adventure Time". Stereogum.
  21. "Pixies Add U.S. Tour Dates With Mitski". Pitchfork. February 21, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  22. "Our First 100 Days". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  23. "Mitski Covers One Direction's "Fireproof": Listen". Pitchfork. April 7, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  24. Gray, Julia (October 19, 2017). "Mitski – "I'm A Fool To Want You" (Frank Sinatra Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  25. Strauss, Matthew (October 4, 2017). "Run the Jewels and Mitski Touring With Lorde". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  26. Sodomsky, Sam (November 1, 2017). "Mitski Stars in New Short Film SITTING". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  27. Yoo, Noah (April 20, 2018). "Mitski Links With Xiu Xiu for New Song "Between the Breaths"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  28. Boilen, Bob (May 14, 2018). "Mitski Shares And Talks About New Song And Album". NPR. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  29. "Mitski Presents New Single, "Nobody", and Accompanying Video". Dead Oceans. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  30. Daramola, Israel (August 9, 2018). "Mitski – "Two Slow Dancers"". Spin. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  31. "Be the Cowboy by Mitski on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  32. "The 50 Best Albums of 2018 - Page 5". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  33. Jenkins, Craig (December 3, 2018). "The 15 Best Albums of 2018". Vulture.com. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  34. "Top 50 Albums of 2018". Consequence of Sound. December 3, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  35. "Mitski Shares New Song "Cop Car": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTp2r2xNFfM&t=55s
  37. "Don't Cry for Mitski". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  38. Caramanica, Jon (June 2, 2016). "Mitski's 'Puberty 2' Mines Her Scars for Raw Meaning". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  39. "Mitski – Be The Cowboy". ultratop.be. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  40. "Mitski Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  41. "IRMA – Irish Recorded Music Association". www.irma.ie. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  42. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  43. "MITSKI | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  44. "Mitski Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  45. "Mitski – Chart history: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  46. "Mitski – Chart history: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  47. "Mitski – Chart history: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  48. "Lush". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  49. "Mitski: Chart History: Top Current Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  50. "Mitski – Audiotree Live". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  51. Rettig, James (May 14, 2014). "Mitski – "First Love/Late Spring" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  52. Geffen, Sasha (September 16, 2014). "Exclusive Song Premiere And Interview: 'townie,' Mitski". Interview Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2018. We're also excited to premiere "Townie," the rollicking second single from Bury Me at Makeout Creek.
  53. Saunders, Jack. "Mitski, "I Don't Smoke"". Impose. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  54. Capri, Katie. "Stream "I Will" by Mitski". Impose. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  55. Colburn, Randall (August 9, 2018). "Mitski shares the wistful, starry-eyed "Two Slow Dancers": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  56. "Let's Get Married". Bleachers. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  57. "Mitski – Strawberry Blond (Music Video)". Vimeo. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  58. "Mitski – Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart". YouTube. June 24, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  59. "Mitski – Shame". YouTube. July 2, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  60. "Mitski – Humpty". YouTube. July 17, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  61. "Mitski – Class of 2013". YouTube. July 24, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  62. "Mitski – I Want You". YouTube. August 8, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  63. "Mitski – Because Dreaming Costs Money, My Dear". YouTube. August 22, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  64. "Mitski – Circle". YouTube. August 29, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  65. "Sunday Video: Townie". Rookie. November 9, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  66. Fitzmaurice, Larry (March 9, 2015). "Mitski Gets Animated In The Video For "Townie"". The Fader. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  67. "Mitski – Your Best American Girl (Official Video)". YouTube. April 13, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  68. "Mitski – Happy (Official Video)". YouTube. May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  69. "Mitski – A Burning Hill (Official Video)". YouTube. October 11, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  70. "Mitski – "Washing Machine Heart" Video". Stereogum. November 1, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  71. "Mitski – A Pearl". YouTube. January 31, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  72. Gensler, Andy (April 25, 2017). "Radiohead, Run The Jewels, Bonobo, King Gizzard Lead A2IM's Libera Award Noms: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  73. BWW News Desk (March 28, 2019). "A2IM Announces 2019 Libera Award Nominees". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 10, 2020.

Further reading
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