Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
Before the start of the recent performance by Mitsuki Miyawaki (universally known as Mitski), a stream of cars pulled up at Stanford’s Frost Amphitheatre roundabout to drop off excited high school students.
This was the third Bay Area concert by Mitski, and the next-to-last stop on her 28-performance tour. Even before the 34-year-old indie singer took to the stage, with her uniquely personal lyrics and theatrical onstage movements, high schoolers lined up at the merch station. Like other artists’ fandoms, concertgoers discuss online the dress code in advance — many eager attendees wore long skirts, Doc Marten boots, masses of jewelry and baggy grunge tops.
Older couples and tweens also filled seats at the nearly sold-out concert, but the majority of audience members loudly singing along and weeping to songs such as “First Love/Late Spring” (from her album “Bury Me at Makeout Creek”) were groups of teenagers. The name of her tour was “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We.”
What is it about this Japanese-born, Turkey-raised performer that makes her so appealing to high schoolers?
Some fans trace it back to the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, when many of her songs were used as audios for trending TikTok videos. It’s surprising that Mitski, who has a low-key social media presence and has been performing since 2012, gained global fame through a platform she doesn’t frequent.
Adolescents widely discuss online Mitski’s growing popularity. In the Prosper (Texas) High School publication “Eagle Nation,” reporter Nora Vedder wrote, “So many adolescents and teens are able to find comfort and reliability within the sadder, more realistic lyrics about life found in Mitski’s songs.” Because of her openness to the LGBTQ+ community, Mitski has attracted a large fan base among queer and gender-fluid individuals.
At the recent Frost Amphitheater performance, audience members tearfully sang along as Mitski sang lines such as, “and I was so young when I behaved 25/Yet now, I find I’ve grown into a tall child.” The lyrics depict how many high schoolers feel when expected to act maturely as children, only to grow up yearning to be more carefree in adulthood.
In a 2023 online review, music critic Christopher J. Lee wrote that “Mitski’s forte across her work has been her willingness to talk about her personal vulnerabilities.” The singer’s lyrics openly convey her fragility in mental health and relationship trauma, for example.
That’s a trait that makes her relatable to high schoolers, Silver Creek High School senior Amber Nguyen said.
“I feel like a lot of the messages behind her songs resonate with me. Her lyrics perfectly articulate some of my thoughts,” she said.
Another feature that attracts teens is how “none of her songs really sound the same; she’s able to capture a wide array of emotions and experiences with her extensive discography,” said Armaan Sharman, a senior at Alsion Montessori High School in Fremont. Sharman says he especially appreciates what he describes as “raw and unfiltered” music, adding that “in its emotional honesty, she’s able to convey vulnerability, anger, sadness, but also manic joy.”
Silver Creek senior Jeremiah Doan, who attended a performance in Berkeley, said Mitski’s songs span the stages of gloom, heart-wrenching pain and healing, making listeners comfortable to “cry, be happy, relax, and be angry with her music.” Doan added: ”That can’t really be replicated or executed as well as she’s done.”
After leaving an energetic encore at the Stanford performance, Melanie Prince felt overwhelmed and moved by Mitski’s ability to enhance the experience of her already emotional songs with creative visuals. The performance heavily relied on bright lights and color to emphasize moods.
In a couple of songs, the performer lifted up chairs to frame her face, as if she were in a portrait. “She really intensified the deeper meaning of her songs with the lighting, the dancing, even the chairs,” said the Silver Creek High senior.
“It was really impressive watching her be able to sustain notes while dancing around and even laying on her back,” said concertgoer and American High School senior Hana Nguyen.
Even though Mitski is twice their age, many fans say they love Mitski because she’s as passionate and authentic as they are, and highly relatable.
Jasmine Sessoms is a senior at Silver Creek High School in San Jose.
