Photo by Ebru Yildiz

In a world where it can oft feel like every indie musician who achieves a greater degree of success goes for the pivot to synth-pop and stays there, it’s welcome a change of sonic scenery to hear that the creative story does not stop there with Mitski. “Bug Like An Angel”, the lead single and opener from her seventh studio effort, This World Is Inhospitable and So Are We, reembraces the natural complexities to her songwriting which she humbly became a cult of personality with in weaponizing acoustic musings and careful pianos steps. This is the world class Mitski of 2023, however, and although her sound here is built on bare bones, there is a wider view in its greater depiction of the personal and humanity at large with words punctuated by a 17-person chorus. Beneath her breath, a stark source of inward enlightenment even when indulging the bottom of the glass: “Makin’ all variety of vows I’ll never keep / I try to remember / The wrath of the devil / Was also given him by God.“ It’s all significant in Mitski’s eyes, even when there’s next to nothing left.

Directed by: Noel Paul

Mitski’s The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We will be released September 15th on Dead Oceans.