Mitski

September 27, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Mitski Miyawaki, known professionally as Mitski, was born on September 27, 1990. She’s a 30-year-old singer and songwriter who has released five albums and an Extended Play (E.P.), which have served as havens for thousands of young people. What makes her so unique? Mitski believes she belongs nowhere. She describes herself as “half Japanese, half American, but not fully either.” While feeling like an alien is something many people experience daily, Mitski stands out because of how she expresses this feeling. In an interview, she said she realized she could use her suffering to make money, so she started writing music.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Mitski Miyawaki

Nickname:

Mitski

Birth date:

September 27, 1990

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Libra

Height:

5' 6"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$4 million

Background

Mitski Miyawaki was born in Mie Prefecture, Japan, on September 27, 1990. Born to an American father and a Japanese mother, she was exposed at an early age to folk and world music — thanks to her father’s influence — and 1970s Japanese pop. Because of her dad’s job, her family moved frequently. She entered Hunter College to study film, then switched to music at Purchase College to learn composition. During this period, she recorded and produced her first two piano albums, “Lush” (2012) and “Retired from Sad, New Career in Business” (2013), as student projects.

After graduating in 2014, she began writing her third album, “Bury Me at Makeout Creek,” which was released in the same year. In 2015, Mitski signed with Dead Oceans, an independent record label based in Indiana, and released her fourth album, “Puberty 2,” with the lead single, ‘Your Best American Girl.’ In addition, she released ‘Happy’ before the album’s June 17 release. Mitski’s fifth album, “Be the Cowboy,” came out on August 17, 2018. The album was critically acclaimed and named “album of the year” by various publications, such as Vulture and Pitchfork. In 2020, Mitski provided the soundtrack for the graphic novel “This Is Where We Fall,” a sci-fi Western by Chris Miskiewicz and Vincent Kings. It was released on cassette with the hardcover novel on May 5, 2021.

Mitski is notoriously private about her personal life, often declining to give details about her family during interviews. After a show in 2019, she announced that she was taking a break from the music industry and subsequently left social media. On November 9, 2021, to the great joy of her fans, she announced her sixth studio album, “Laurel Hell,” would be released on February 4, 2022.

Career timeline

2012

Mitski’s Career Begins

Mitski self-publishes her first album, “Lush,” while studying at Purchase College.

2014

“Bury Me at Makeout Creek” Debuts

“Bury Me at Makeout Creek,” Mitski’s third album, is released to critical acclaim.

2016

Mitski on “Adventure Time”

‘Francis Forever,’ a song from her album “Puberty 2,” is covered by Marceline the Vampire on the popular cartoon “Adventure Time.”

2019

Mitski Announces Hiatus

During a show in New York City, the singer announces that the performance would be her last for a while, saddening fans worldwide.

2022

The Singer’s Comeback

Mitski releases “Laurel Hell,” her first album after her hiatus.

Why We Love Mitski

She fights for social causes
In 2017, she contributed a cover of ‘Fireproof’ by One Direction to the album “Our First 100 Days.” It was to raise funds for organizations defunded by former President Donald Trump.
She’s respected in her field
Many well-known and talented artists recognize Mitski's talent. She toured the U.S. with the Pixies and joined Lorde on her Melodrama World Tour. She also collaborated with the band Xiu Xiu on ‘Between the Breaths.’
She’s a wise social-media user
Mitski recently reactivated her social media accounts after three years without a digital presence. She took a break to set boundaries and protect her self-image. Now, she only uses social media when she wants to promote her music.

5 Surprising Facts

She’s a world traveler
Mitski lived in Turkey, China, Malaysia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo before settling in New York.
She experiments with her music
“Bury Me at Makeout Creek” moves away from the piano and orchestral compositions in favor of raw, textured guitars.
Her music is critically acclaimed
‘Your Best American Girl’ was named among the top 10 songs of the 2010s by publications like “Rolling Stone.”
She was born in Japan
Mitski’s mom flew from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Japan while heavily pregnant so that she could be born a Japanese citizen.
No one knows her cats’ names
Mitski has two cats and has declined to reveal their names to protect her privacy.