I couldn’t wait to get out of school, but once I did, I didn’t actually know what I wanted to do with myself. I don’t really know how it happened, but I just started writing music and realized that’s what I wanted to do.
MITSKIWhat I have a problem with is when it becomes another form of tokenization, of shrinking me into a symbol instead of a multilayered, female Asian artist.
More Mitski Quotes
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If I ever found a place where I belonged, that in itself would be an identity crisis to me.
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I took a few piano lessons as a kid, but it didn’t last; I just learned piano from doing it over and over on my own, because I didn’t have many friends, and there was always a keyboard in the house.
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I actually love the summer. When I went to Miami on tour, I was actually like, ‘I love this place.’
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I tend to kind of try to use what’s in my environment to the best of my ability rather than seek out things that I don’t already have.
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On tour, people know that if they ever ask me what I want to eat, I will always say Asian food. I’m becoming a stereotype, but it’s what I want to eat. I want to eat rice.
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I hate that my opinions are gonna be on record… that my opinions of other artists are going to be on record.
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I know for a fact that I’m problematic. I shouldn’t be looked to for any kind of guidance.
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There’s this myth that women are supposed to compete with each other or something, or we’re supposed to hate each other, and that’s totally not productive.
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As a woman of color, I always have to be at 150 percent and better than everybody in the room to be considered competent.
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I have this thing about being acknowledged and accepted by institutions.
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All I want to do at karaoke is sing Mariah Carey.
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On one hand, I think it’s very important to talk about race and talk about gender, because if it’s not talked about, then we won’t progress.
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Tour isn’t good for writing, but it’s good for inspiration.
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I’d always been fascinated by death, which sounds so morbid. Especially being a woman trying to make music, I think there’s a sense that you’re never young enough, or your career is going to end soon.
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I hope to be a writer and musician my whole life, fingers crossed.
MITSKI