Mitski

Mitski, born Mitsuki Laycock on September 27, 1990, in Mie, Japan, is an indie rock singer-songwriter who has become one of the most critically acclaimed artists of her generation. The daughter of a Japanese mother and an American father, she grew up moving frequently across countries including Japan, Turkey, China, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, and the United States due to her father’s work. This nomadic upbringing deeply influenced her music, which often explores themes of identity, belonging, loneliness, and longing.

Mitski began writing and recording music while studying at the State University of New York at Purchase, where she earned a degree in studio composition. She self-released her first two albums, Lush and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, before gaining wider attention with her third album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, in 2014. Her fourth album, Puberty 2 (2016), received widespread critical acclaim and is often cited as one of the best albums of the 2010s. The album’s lead single, “Your Best American Girl,” became an indie anthem and cemented her reputation as a powerful and original songwriter.

Her fifth album, Be the Cowboy (2018), pushed her further into the mainstream, debuting in the top 20 on the Billboard 200 and earning near-universal critical praise. Following a brief hiatus from social media and public life, she returned with Laurel Hell in 2022, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, her highest chart position to date. The album featured a more synth-driven sound while maintaining the emotional depth her fans had come to expect. She followed this with The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We in 2023, which was met with some of the strongest reviews of her career.

With an estimated net worth of $5 million in 2026, Mitski’s wealth comes primarily from touring, album sales, streaming revenue, and songwriting. She is known for her intense and emotionally captivating live performances, which consistently sell out venues around the world. Despite her relatively modest profile compared to mainstream pop stars, she commands a fiercely loyal fanbase and significant cultural influence in the indie music world.