I know Mitski is one of those artists whose niche, left-of-field alt-pop tracks have earned her cult-like status. The Japanese-American singer-songwriter does pride herself on making music unlike anyone else. I have often thought she is the kind of musician people write about to help make themselves appear cool. (I do not wish to be considered this way myself). I’m on board with her now, not because of needing to seem hip or trendy. In the album “Laurel Hell,” released on February 4th, she breaks into new territory I haven’t seen from her before. I can appreciate and connect with pop like this.
In short, I am interested in Mitski because I enjoyed her last two singles. The new-wave ish anthem “Love Me More” and the latest grittier, indie-pop companion, the track “Stay Soft”.
Stupidly I slipped up a bit recently by not lavishing any blog love on “Love Me More“. (I have since become super obsessed with the song). It caught me off guard when Mitski began to incorporate dance-pop influences, to the extent she did. “Stay Soft” is rhythmically vibrant, but its synth-part lacks the shine of the previous single. I’m equally spellbound by the song’s dark intensity, as well as the video directed by Maegan Houang.
In the last two years, the advice was to spend more time outdoors and enjoy nature. Spend time in green spaces since our mental health will benefit. Also, we all know, gardens are considered tranquil and calm places. However, this is not what Mitski comes across when she visits the Victorian gothic garden in the “Stay Soft” video. The florally decorated space visited by Mitski is less of an oasis, more savage garden. Where the plants have a nasty habit of turning on her. A viewer on YouTube named Kay left a comment saying, “the plant is a reference to Audrey 2 in the “Little Shop of Horrors,” a plant that feeds off humans“. Without going deeper into the song lyrics, I think Kay’s description of the video to the casual viewer is spot on. (To learn more about lyrics, visit DIY Magazine’s excellent feature HERE)
To begin with it seemed odd to me when I heard Mitski is supporting Harry Styles on his UK leg of Love on tour. Since the release of “Love Me More” and “Stay Soft,” I no longer feel this way. This is an inspired choice.
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