Born in Japan in 1990 to an American father and a Japanese mother, Mitski experienced a nomadic upbringing, living in over 13 countries—including Turkey, China, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic—before settling in New York. This constant movement heavily influenced her art, as she often writes from the perspective of an outsider seeking a sense of belonging. As an Asian-American woman in a predominantly white indie-rock scene, she has frequently spoken about the pressure of representing her community while maintaining her own artistic identity.
Her third album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek (2014), marked a significant shift toward raw, guitar-driven textures and garnered critical acclaim for its vulnerability.
In 2019, Mitski announced an indefinite hiatus, citing the toll that the music industry and social media had taken on her self-image and mental health. She eventually returned with Laurel Hell (2022) and The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (2023), continuing to refine her sound while maintaining a strictly private personal life.
She continued to evolve with Puberty 2 (2016) and Be the Cowboy (2018), the latter of which was named Album of the Year by several publications for its cinematic storytelling and exploration of persona.