What 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.
MITSKIIn my first few years of being in New York, I had a major identity crisis because I’d never stayed in one place for so long.
More Mitski Quotes
-
-
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.
MITSKI -
A lot of musicians talk about how they were into music from the start; they always wanted to be musicians. It wasn’t like that for me. I didn’t think of it as a job or a career – it was just something that was constant.
MITSKI -
In my first few years of being in New York, I had a major identity crisis because I’d never stayed in one place for so long.
MITSKI -
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.
MITSKI -
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.
MITSKI -
I really just care about making music and how I can make it next.
MITSKI -
I feel like I’ve always wanted to live in one place and stay in one place, but I always end up choosing things that make me travel.
MITSKI -
I always have strong urges to sabotage myself.
MITSKI -
As a woman of color, I always have to be at 150 percent and better than everybody in the room to be considered competent.
MITSKI -
I think what’s hard for me is not that I don’t get downtime to chill, it’s that I don’t get time to make music.
MITSKI -
I can’t read in a car, because I’ll get sick. It’s almost instant.
MITSKI -
I think people don’t realize how little of being an artist is making art.
MITSKI -
You can be heartbroken about a relationship but also, from it, realize you are you, and you’re okay with who you are or where you came from.
MITSKI -
I have a very conveniently photographic memory of emotions – it’s overwhelming, because things don’t fade for me.
MITSKI -
My personality’s very obsessive-compulsive. I tend to fixate a lot.
MITSKI