At the end of February, Mitsuki Laycock, known professionally as Mitski, released the album, “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me.”

This is the eighth record by the indie/alternative rock-pop singer, and it features 11 songs. Mitski sings very quietly and delicately, which makes me want to listen a bit closer. It’s like she’s sharing a precious secret with us, and I enjoy that intimate feeling. 

While Mitski’s genre of music may be described as mentioned, there are some strong folk elements to this album. The best comparison to “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” is the style of music Lucy Gray Baird sings in “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The album feels more like Mitski’s singing a tale about past experiences rather than singing a song; some tracks feel like a lullaby. 

Starting off the album with a folklore sound, “In a Lake” has a very soft and calm vibe. It’s meant to explore wanting to escape and find solace, and the song manages that with its peaceful sound. This would be the perfect track for dancing in a field, and I love that. 

The song right after has a much different sound to it. With heavy rock and punk influences, if “In a Lake” is a lullaby, this next track is your alarm clock. The song “Where’s My Phone” is meant to be about the anxiety and dissociation from the rapid pace of our lives. The fast-paced instrumentals and the frantic way Mitski sings allow that emotion to really come through. 

A song that intrigues me from the title alone is “Dead Women,” which, very fittingly, is haunting. It feels like Mitski’s singing a warning around a campfire at night. She stated this song was written in anger over how society views women as non-thinking baby-makers, and the control that women don’t have over their autonomy, even after death. It’s a dark number, but I appreciate the rawness of it, especially in this current political climate.

Another track that sticks out to me is “I’ll Change for You.” It’s extremely clever how the instrumentals are reminiscent of something you might hear in a nice restaurant. There’s some chatter later on in the song that sounds like couples talking while out and about. However, the track itself has a desperation to it, promising someone that if they stay, the narrator will change themselves completely. It’s a good one to add to a breakup playlist to get all those emotions out. 

The last song I want to give specific mention to is “Charon’s Obol,” which is the second to last song on the album, and has a more lighthearted tone with hints of gothic. There’s something about this song that feels different. The lyrics and sound shouldn’t fit together, but Mitski makes them work. It’s meant to hint at themes of mortality, trauma and remembering the dead, with the narrator taking care of a dead woman’s house and dogs. Despite the heavy themes, it still feels lighthearted, which I find captivating. 

The album overall is definitely worth checking out. Mitski mashes a bunch of sounds and genres together, and manages to make them all sound genuine and authentic — like her. It’s perfect for when you want something that feels a bit alternative and whimsical.