Heartbreak and the music industry
Mitski, singer-songwriter and indie-pop artist, recently released her most impressive album yet: Laurel Hell. She uses a mix of electronic, rock and indie production to tell stories of love, heartbreak and her career. Most of the songs are around or under 3 minutes, but she manages to tell in-depth stories that allow listeners to join this established artist on her emotional journeys.
“Working for the Knife” is the second track on the album and it is an electronic indie-pop record filled with emotion. She tells the story of growing up with a dream and how it evolved as she grows older. In a sad yet truthful song, she explains that the reality of getting a job was not what her younger self had dreamed. The lyrics explain the feeling of being trapped within societal expectations when they do not fit one’s own dreams. Her soft voice floats over the electronic and percussive instrumentation that allows her to tell her story.
The fourth track “Everyone” tells another story of her career and how it compares to the expectations of others. It begins with a percussive bass with synthesizers quickly joining. The lyrics express her journey of following her dreams while others disapprove, as well as how she fears the darkness of the music industry. The production reflects her fears of the darkness in the music industry with percussive and low, aggressive notes.
“The Only Heartbreaker” takes on a different sound and message. With an ’80s inspired bouncing synthesizer, Mitski creates an upbeat track. Despite the optimistic instrumentation, the lyrics are depressing as she sings about being the bad guy in the relationship, the one who messes everything up. Before the bridge, there is an instrumental break where all of the emotions culminate into a build of piano, synthesizer and guitar, creating cohesion between the originally optimistic instrumentation and the melancholic lyrics.
“There’s Nothing Left for You” combines the two themes explored so far on the album, heartbreak and her career. This song could be about the end of a relationship or it could be about feeling burnt out and tired of the music industry. The production is soft but builds as the song culminates, showing the frustration and despair that she feels for the end that she is experiencing.
The tenth track on the album, “I Guess,” tells the story of Mitski navigating her experience moving on from someone she still loves. A melancholic electric piano blends with her voice to create a mellow wall of sound filled with emotion. This song consists of only two verses of lyrics, but she is able to concisely express her emotions, showing off her impressive storytelling and writing skills. Her vocal skills are also featured in this song as she maintains a perfect blend with the instrumentation while still expressing the intense emotions she is feeling.
Overall, Mitski’s Laurel Hell is an emotional journey that explores themes of love and her experiences in the music industry. She creates a personal and emotional collection of thoughts and stories, allowing listeners to connect with her on a deeper level than ever before.
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