Never could I consider myself a person of few words. I have always found myself to be the loudest person in the room, but its not often that my words have emotional volume. At times it can be difficult to describe my feelings in an articulate and natural way. I’ve always found the best way for me to communicate feelings, emotions, and anything of real substance is through my love and connection to music. An artist I have always found to accurately paint a picture of the human experience in the same way that I see it, is none other than Mitski. 

Mitski’s new album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, was a very anticipated drop, for me as well as many other fans. The lyrics were written by Mitski herself, with orchestral arrangements by Drew Erickson and Bob Weston, produced with the help of Patrick Hyland, and released through the label Dead Oceans.

About 20 days before the full album was released, there were two singles unveiled on February 3rd, 2026.

Of the two singles off the album that were dropped prior to the full album, the song I’ll Change for You had the greatest impact on me. At the time that I had first heard this song, I resonated with the message being translated through. I’m sure I, as well as many others, understand what it’s like to feel that you may not be good enough after facing a break up or rejection.

The song touches on the emotions and thought process most face after being broken up with, following the theme of doing anything and everything to keep the person you love by your side. It also includes the motif of drinking being an encouragement to reach out, further perpetuating the desperation aspect that is meant to shine through. Overall, I found this song to be a great teaser for the album as a whole. 

After my first listen of the full album, two songs stood out to me, Cats and If I Leave. My interpretation of the songs being next to each other in the album is the creation of two separate points of views regarding the end of a failing relationship, highlighting the emotional aftermath of a codependent relationship in two different situations.

The song, Cats, is from the point of view of someone who is in a relationship with someone who knows that their significant other is falling out of love with them. The motif of cats carried throughout the song represents the codependency that Person A feels towards their significant other who is fading away, Person B.

From the perspective of Person A, they seem to be coping with the fact their significant other is drifting from them, saying things such as “I won’t leave you, ‘cause I still love you. So it’s up to you if you choose to go” showing their dedication to Person B, but still acknowledging they are entitled to their own freedom. Person A still has a strong love for Person B and just wants them to find happiness in their life, even if it means they have to let go. 

If I Leave, the counterpart to the song Cats, is a song that I personally have a strong love for. It shows the perspective of an individual, this song’s Person A, and their emotional turmoil after leaving their significant other because they believe their partner is better without them in their life. It is implied that the relationship may have been toxic, partly to do with the mental health issues that Person A had been facing. They were able to put the person they love first, allowing them to find freedom, but are facing the feeling that they may never find someone who is as ‘perfect’ as the one they let go. There is a sense of irony in the fact that it is repeated that Person A knows if they leave their significant other they would be able to find someone better, but ignore the fact that they themselves will move on to find greater things.

Towards the middle of the song, it is implied that Person A’s only emotional outlet may have been their partner, saying things such as “Only you know, I’ve only let you know,” then continues to speak about the dark tunnels that represent the depression they feel.

The feeling of being lost and feeling a sense of eternal loneliness after a break up is captured extremely well, and accurately represents the understanding of mental health and breaking up due to the feeling of not being well enough for your significant other. 

Overall, the album Nothing Is About To Happen To Me tells a beautiful and meaningful story, with themes of isolation, loneliness, codependency and more. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally vulnerable album to make you think deeply about relationships, current, future or past, give it a listen.