You may recognize Mitski’s 2018 hit “Nobody” from the 2021 TikTok Trend it inspired. Learn more about the budding indie pop star here!
Mitski’s career trajectory is far from similar to many of her counterparts. In a world in which the music industry is becoming increasingly dependent on social media, Mitski’s music spoke for itself, through emotionally moving, relatable lyrics and a unique combination of rock ballads and bouncing indie pop. The Japanese-American singer-songwriter left the music industry and social media in 2019, and her current online accounts are run by her manager for professional purposes only. Even now that she has returned to touring, she has requested that people not use their phones at her concerts, as she feels it causes a disconnect between herself and her fans.
Yet despite her lack of a social media presence, her song “Nobody”, released back in 2018, sparked a humorous TikTok trend just last summer in 2021 that ushered in an entirely new demographic of fans. Since changing her mind and returning to music, Mitski has already added to her list of accomplishments: from her song finding a spot on former President Barack Obama’s favorite songs of 2021 list, performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, opening for Harry Styles in Europe this spring, and of course, the release of her new album, Laurel Hell, last month. Get to know more about Mitski below.
Mitski Released Her First Two Albums While Still In College
Initially, Mitski enrolled at Hunter College to study film. In realizing that her true passion was in music, she transferred to SUNY Purchase to study studio composition. Her first two albums, Lush, and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, were released as student projects. Today, songs from both albums have thousands of TikTok videos under them, specifically “Brand New City” and “Strawberry Blond.”
She Opened For Lorde On The Melodrama Tour In 2017
Lorde’s famously theatrical Melodrama Tour hosted numerous opening acts for its different regions, with Mitski as one of her North American openers. Mitski hadn’t topped the mainstream charts just yet, but her and Lorde certainly both have a knack for capturing intense emotions through songwriting.
Her song “Nobody” Sparked A Viral TikTok Trend
Mitski’s recent return to the industry and the press still hasn’t led to her return to social media. She has stated that she feels that her deeply personal writing leads fans to feel like they deserve to know everything about her life, so she prefers to keep things private, but that didn’t stop listeners from enjoying her music. Users would lip synch to the song and pair it with funny captions, seemingly running away from their problems or insults. Even Jimmy Fallon took part in the trend.
@jimmyfallon♬ Nobody – Mitski
Her First Single From Her Latest Album Was Listed First On Barack Obama’s Favorite Music of 2021
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama both famously partake in pop culture and entertainment. The pair is even set to produce a series of films with Netflix. Every December, Barack Obama releases a list of his favorite songs and films to commemorate the new year. This year, Mitski’s first single from Laurel Hell, “The Only Heartbreaker,” was first on the list, even though it was released just days before the end of the year.
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Mitski Performed Her Song “Stay Soft” On Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Dressed in a flowing white outfit and surrounded by soft colorful lights, the performance was a preview of her international tour. The indie pop track was the perfect addition to the show that night, and gave fans the sneak peak they craved. The performance was her late night television debut.
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Mitski Is Set To Open For Harry Styles On The European leg Of His Love On Tour
Many of Harry Styles’ opening acts have gone on to find great success––Orville Peck began collaborating with the artists of his dreams and had a song featured in Euphoria, and Madison Cunningham was nominated for a Grammy. With Mitski already on the rise, the possibilities seem endless.
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Be on the lookout for this indie pop star who is rapidly climbing the charts–you just may find your new favorite song to dance or cry to, or even your new favorite TikTok trend.
