Mitski Is America’s Most Beloved Artist

Mitski has quickly established herself in today’s generation of young fans who frequently refer to their heroes as “mom,” garnering them the unofficial moniker of “America’s Favorite Artist.” Based out of New York and with mostly female and millennial audiences in her symbiotic relationship, her audience hangs onto every tweet (she is an expert Tweeter!) while packing out her sold out concerts with an eagerness rarely seen from other musicians.

Mitski’s seventh album, The Land is Inhospitable and So are We, captures both her personal journey as well as the bold and innovative nature of modern life with haunting folk balladry such as “Bug Like an Angel” to heartland rock anthems like “Buffalo Replaced.” Rather than offering simple solutions or easy answers to modern life issues, The Land is Inhospitable and So are We offers complex interpretations of modern existence through music.

Musically, Mitski’s record is an exercise in American idiosyncrasy: its hypnotic guitar riffs recalling Americana and country music; her use of backing chorals an innovative blend of folk, church and gospel influences; while “Heaven,” featuring its vintage soundscape, explores love’s limits.

At the core of her success lies Mitski’s refusal to conform to any genre or identity box. Her choice has made her more approachable and authentic as an artist while encouraging young people of color, especially from marginalized identities, to forge their own creative paths in life.

Mitski has long navigated the challenges associated with being a woman in an ever-evolving landscape. Growing up, the multidisciplinary artist moved around widely – living in 13 different countries before finally settling in Purchase for high school. Her senior year she took creative writing class before starting to self-publish two albums before graduating with her bachelor’s degree in studio composition.

After the release of her 2018 album Be The Cowboy, Mitski quickly became an internationally acclaimed performer, performing theatrical concerts that explored different archetypes associated with women. Wearing kneepads, perching atop kitchen furniture and playing coquette before seducing audiences with her distinctively soulful vocals became standard fare for Mitski concerts.

Over time, she’s transitioned from small venues to arenas, opening for acts like Harry Styles and Lorde on their Melodrama tours. Yet despite this rapid ascension, she never took her fans for granted, never losing touch or becoming too big for her own britches.

At The Met, she engaged the audience by acknowledging and thanking them for their enthusiasm and support. After several songs, she took a moment to sit back down and admire the space as her band played behind her; The circular layout lent itself perfectly to her stage persona of an energetic diva who knew how to work it; her set list proved immensely powerful as she performed songs from each album with urgency and intimacy.