Laurel Hell Album Review

Mitski’s songs convey complex themes about memory and loneliness with poetic grace; her latest, Laurel Hell, is no exception.

Indie singer-songwriter Jenna Lee has built up a dedicated following among young Asian women and queer people alike, who enjoy her theatrical grandeur and the hidden emotions she stirs within their hearts. Her fans respond well to the emotional depth she conveys.

About Mitski

Mitski is one of the most inventive songwriters in indie music. Her songs are short — roughly as long as it takes to poach an egg– but packed with poetic delicacy and poignant thoughts about topics from self-objectification and sexuality, all the way to divine or religious salvation.

Mitski, a graduate of SUNY Purchase‘s esteemed conservatory, uses various instruments – from guitar and piano to synthesizer and folk instruments – to craft her distinctive sound. She often includes fictional depictions in her lyrics in order to explore more complex and nuanced ideas than can be expressed via simple pop songs.

Mitsuki Miyawaki, born Mitsuki Mitsuwatari, is an artist who bridges Japanese and American cultures through music. Her music frequently explores issues of belonging, depression and living through it all – she lists as influences the Pixies, Liz Phair, Connie Converse, her classical training including Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings as well as global folk music among them. Additionally she supports fellow women musicians with openers like Jay Som and Japanese Breakfast both led by Asian-American women artists joining her tours – supporting women’s musical careers while doing her own.

Biographical Info

Mitski has cited an impressive array of musical influences, from her childhood fascination with Pixies and Liz Phair to classical training and contemporary artists like Connie Converse, Frank Ocean and David Lynch. Mitski’s songs speak with an intimate yet gentle tone while delving deep into life’s most difficult experiences like sexual abuse to grief.

Mitski has built her audience primarily through touring. From campus coffeehouses to stadium venues opening for Lorde and performing her own sold out shows, Mitski has successfully expanded her fan base.

Born in Japan, Mitski moved around frequently as a result of her father’s work for the State Department. This cross-cultural experience has shaped her work which explores feelings of dislocation and belonging. Her albums combine nuanced profundity with contagious dance beats. Mitski’s most raw and vulnerable work yet can be heard on her most recent release: The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We; this latest record follows this theme further with songs that resonate deeply within its listener base.

Songs

Mitski has long used her music as a form of self-examination and to explore yearnings for love and self-image, yet with Laurel Hell (2022), Mitski narrows her focus down to divine or religious salvation as a central theme in her albums. This marks Mitski’s seventh studio release – her first without a producer. Laurel Hell also highlights Mitski’s poetic talents while showing them off through gentle storytelling that expresses all her deepest thoughts with ease.

As Valentine’s Day draws nearer, campus halls become littered with teddy bears, cute guys from finance club softly launch their dates on Instagram and everyone starts pining for someone they never dated. Instead of letting heartache overshadow Valentine’s Day for you, make it your own holiday by listening to these five Mitski songs instead! They are ideal for introverted individuals or anyone experiencing complicated emotions in romantic contexts; their mellifluous music and paradoxical attitude mirror Sally Rooney novels where female strength often manifests itself by defiantly or submissively expressing full range of feelings at once!

Tours

Mitski holds a unique relationship with her audience for an artist of her genre. With lyrics that speak directly to young women and shows that consistently sell out, Mitski stands out.

Mitski Miyawaki ’13 is an indie rock musician with diverse influences. Her first two albums, Lush and Retired From Sad, New Career in Business were self-funded student projects at Purchase using school resources such as its 60-piece orchestra for her senior project (Lush).

Mitski’s music has long been recognized for its innovative yet distinctive style, and her latest effort, 2023’s The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, emphasizes divine salvation as an answer to personal tragedy. A marked departure from her earlier works which often focused on love songs as pipe dreams; nevertheless it retains tenderness and sentimentality even during its most dramatic moments.