I understand that, because there are so many musicians, you have to make artists into brands, but I sometimes feel like I have to be some kind of non-human icon in order for people to listen to my music.
MITSKII’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.
More Mitski Quotes
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Whenever I’ve tried to ingratiate myself to an existing community, I tend to give too much, to become whatever it is they want me to be. It’s something I do automatically – I’ve learnt to immediately adapt.
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Pop artists work really hard, and they might not work for the same things that indie artists do, but they’re still musicians, and they’re still making art.
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When someone is a musician – trying to make a living off being a public figure – it’s really easy for people to see me as a face on a screen that doesn’t have a personal life.
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Music was the one thing that was just mine, and no one could take it from me. I created it, dictated it, and it made me not able to let go of it.
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I don’t want to be a musician’s musician. I want to be an everyone’s musician.
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I really like The Cars. They’re just so over the top and super pop, but I don’t feel guilty. I’m proud of all the music I listen to.
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I’m Japanese, and I’m also white American, and neither camp wants me in their camp.
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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.
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I always have strong urges to sabotage myself.
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I think it’s very dangerous as an artist to be comfortable.
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I try to be regimented and try to stay healthy and work out and eat properly and go to sleep. And not get too caught up in the industry in my regular life, so I can save all my expression and energy for my art.
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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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When I go onstage and am performing the way I want to… I finally feel like myself.
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I think music is supposed to be shared.
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I think my whole identity is formed around not knowing where I’m from. It might even be that I find comfort in that confusion.
MITSKI