Mitski is an acclaimed American singer-songwriter known for her emotionally resonant and stylistically eclectic rock music, which has garnered a dedicated following and significant critical praise. Born Mitsuki Laycock-Miyawaki on September 27, 1990, in Mie Prefecture, Japan, she spent her childhood moving between numerous countries due to her father's diplomatic career, living in places like Turkey, China, and the Democratic Republic of Congo before settling in the United States. This transient upbringing deeply informed her perspective and later songwriting. She began studying film at Hunter College before transferring to Purchase College's Conservatory of Music to study studio composition, where she started crafting her distinct musical voice.

While still a student, Mitski self-released her first two albums, Lush (2012) and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013), which showcased her classical training and burgeoning talent for poignant lyricism. Her professional breakthrough arrived with her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek in 2014, released on the Double Double Whammy label. The record marked a shift toward a rawer, guitar-driven sound and established her as a formidable voice in indie rock. Following this, she signed with the independent label Dead Oceans and released Puberty 2 in 2016, an album that expanded her critical acclaim with its sharp exploration of identity, depression, and belonging.

Mitski's career reached new heights with her fifth studio album, 2018's Be the Cowboy. A masterclass in concise, dramatic songwriting, the album earned widespread accolades, including a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package, and was named one of the best albums of the year by numerous publications. Her status was further cemented when The Guardian dubbed her "the best young songwriter" in the United States in 2022, the same year she released Laurel Hell. That year also saw her venture into film, co-composing the song "This Is a Life" with the band Son Lux for the acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (2023), represented another artistic evolution, incorporating country and orchestral influences. It spawned the viral hit "My Love Mine All Mine," which became her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Mitski continues to be a vital and evolving artist, known for her intense live performances and deeply personal songwriting. Her eighth studio album, Nothing's About to Happen to Me, was released on February 27, 2026, adding another chapter to her influential and ever-growing discography.