A wave of flower crown-clad, eyeliner-sporting, white button down-wearing jubilant twenty-somethings all rushed into the dark theater, which was illuminated only by a black and white video projecting scenes from an art-house style video. My boyfriend and I sauntered over to our last second $28 dollar seats near the nosebleeds, and waited for the main event to arrive. Just as I finished my comically overpriced concert soft pretzel, the music swelled and cheering erupted as a single woman in a monochrome outfit walked into the light. She had arrived, and was opening a small door that led into the deepest parts of her artistry, allowing all who had entered the packed venue a glimpse within. The bassline reverberated across the crowd, echoing within each of the concertgoers, and Mitski began her ballad.
On Saturday, September 14th, I had gotten a hold of a ticket to see the musical artist Mitski perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie. Promoting her seventh studio album on her “The Land is Inhospitable and So are We Tour”, Mitski’s overall showmanship and talent was on full display throughout the performance. Originally hailing from the Mie Prefecture, Japan, Mitski Miyawaki (born Mitsuki Laycock) is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter. Attending SUNY Purchase College’s Conservatory of Music, she studied studio composition and went on to produce and release her first two albums, “Lush” and “Retired from Sad, New Career in Business”. Touring as an opening act for the singer Lorde, Mitski dropped one of her most successful albums, “Be the Cowboy”, featuring singles such as “Me and Husband” and “Washing Machine Heart”. In 2019 after the prior album’s tour had come to a close, Mitski announced that she’d be leaving music for good, but she eventually returned in 2021 to fulfill a contractual obligation with her record label, releasing “Laurel Hell”, her most successful album to date. In 2023 Mitski dropped “The Land is Inhospitable and So are We”, with her song “My Love Mine all Mine” earning her Top 100 debut from Billboard.
Mitski’s music truly channels all of the ugliness, regret and uncontrollable emotion present within the human condition. Her older albums perfectly encapsulate the messiness of being a young adult and the trials and tribulations that come from young love. Her newer albums hold the same emotion, remaining raw, but are more mature, mirroring the growth of the artist herself. Claiming her newest album is “the most American album” she’s ever created, the western influence and style adds a new dimension to her already impassioned ability. Though a traditionally more indie artist, Mitski has never been one to shy away from experimentation within her music, and the homage she pays to classic southern country music is present within each of the guitar riffs on this new album.
During the concert performance, Mitski also performed many of her past hits, switching up the mood every so often by playing a gut-wrenching song such as “I Bet on Losing Dogs”, and following it up with a jaunty tune like “Happy”. Each time her alto voice erupted into song, the lyrics hit me with a rush of emotion – her lyrics not simply being empty words, but sung poetry. One of the most interesting parts of her show was the fact that she performed a unique and specially choreographed dance for each song. Her extremely stylized and almost quizzical movements were inspired by the Japanese dance form called Butoh, which combines repetitive gestures with chaotic emotion to create a certain effect.
Another cleverly crafted element to her show was the minimal usage of props, as the stage was practically empty except for two chairs, the band, and Mitski herself. Mitski took full advantage of the props she provided, her most important tool being the stage lights which illuminated her. For one song, she appeared as if she was slow dancing with one of the spotlights, while during another song, the lights encircled her to create a cage. Even though it was a one-woman show (apart from the band), Mitski filled the stage with her presence and clever artistry. If you’re a fan of indie experimental melancholic tunes, or are just looking for something new to listen to, give Mitski a listen – I promise you, she won’t disappoint.