Mitski

I started listening to Mitski's music around 2020—though it wasn't until 2024 that I truly immersed myself in it, as the music became deeply intertwined with memories from that earlier time. I hold Mitski in high regard; her music can shatter you and leave you feeling wretched if you truly let it sink in. Her songs act like a mirror—people find their own pain and thoughts reflected in them, and naturally, they form a deep connection. What I love most about her music is the lyrics. They are beautifully surreal, fragile, and possess a sorrowful beauty that defies description. She is a sensitive artist who writes with her entire being—emotions, thoughts, and flaws alike—capturing the raw, primal essence of the human experience. So yes, I love Mitski. Furthermore, I respect the way she presents her identity as an artist. You may recall an interview where she stated, "On stage, I am an artist; off stage, I am an ordinary person, and no one has any business with me." While the exact wording may vary, this statement clearly articulates her artistic philosophy and her refusal to be a mere puppet of the industry and the public; she draws a firm boundary between Mitski the artist and Mitski the ordinary individual. This might seem ordinary or expected at first glance, but in today's capitalist-driven era—which seeks to erase the identity of art and the artist by churning out songs tailored for social media trends, selling the artist's persona, and stripping them of their ideas, authenticity, and humanity—Mitski has courageously rejected this. She does it all to protect her art, and frankly, that is the quality I appreciate most in any artist.