On Feb. 22, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Mitsuki Laycock, more commonly known as Mitski, released her eighth studio album: “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me.”

Mitski released the lead single of the album “Where’s My Phone?” on Jan. 16th, 2026 before announcing the official release date of the album. She then later released “I’ll Change for You,” on Feb. 3, 2026 teasing the album yet again. The album is a mix of chamber-pop and indie-rock. Her album is about discovering the reality of isolation and self-delusion. 

The album follows a story of a reclusive woman living in an unkempt house. The house is used as a metaphor to display the manifestation of the character’s psyche; it’s a place of sanctuary, where she feels “free” from the world’s expectations while being stuck in her own mind.

After listening to the album in its entirety, these are my ratings of each song and why:

“Cats” – 10/10

In “Cats,” Mitski explores the themes of loneliness, unrequited love and the comfort that is found in isolation. Lyrics that show this are “I won’t leave you ’cause I still love you”; this shows a deep unconditional commitment to someone despite it being a one-sided relationship.

“If I Leave” – 10/10

“If I Leave” is characterized by a theme of being dependent, fear of being alone and insecurity within a relationship. Mitski uses beautiful lyricism to explore a fear of being unlovable and the reliance on somebody for validation.

“I’ll Change for You” – 10/10 

 “I’ll Change for you,” is about changing the person you are to fit into the ideal, perfect person for somebody else. The lyrics explore desperation and longing, as the narrator holds onto the end of a relationship full of cherished memories. A specific line from the song heavily emphasizes this: “How, do I let our love die, when you’re the only other keeper of my most precious memories?”

“Lightning” – 10/10

My favorite part about “Lightning” is how it starts off quiet and gradually gets louder like lightning itself. The major theme of the song is about how cynical the nature of life is, and wanting to have another chance at it after death. 

“In a Lake” – 10/10

“In a Lake” is a genuine masterpiece. Mitski captures exactly what it feels like to be someone who has lived too loudly for a small world. The song overall is about a specific loneliness and finding a comfort in it. 

“Charon’s Obol” – 9/10 

The meaning behind “Charon’s Obol” is about finding comfort in grief rather than running away from it. The simile used in the song, “her heart was like a drawer, she only opened when she went,” depicts the way of how hard it is to open up to somebody in modern day life.  

“Instead of Here” – 9/10

“Instead of Here,” dives into the depths of isolation and despair. The lyrics “Instead of love, hе said, ‘Lie down in the dirt’ I looked up at the night sky, wonderin’, ‘Is this what it’s worth?’” illustrates a perfect story of a person being betrayed in a relationship. 

“Where’s My Phone?” – 8.5/10

As the lead single of the album “Where’s My Phone?” took me by surprise. The song is upbeat and fast, showcasing the anxiety in losing something, where the phone is used as a metaphor where the loss ends up becoming a personal crisis. 

“Dead Women” – 8.3/10 

“Dead Women,” is about the way that society prefers women to be silent and dead on the inside. The lyrics  talk about the logic that a woman’s death makes her easier to control. A line that explains this is, “Would you have liked me better if I’d died. So you could tell my story the way it ought to be?”

“That White Cat” – 8/10 

The meaning behind “The White Cat” is about building a life around fragile stability. The white cat is used as a symbol of grounding presence and to give structure to stability. My favorite line from this song is “Gotta go to work, to pay for that cat’s house.” This line shows how in modern day to day life people work so hard to keep something that brings little joy.

“Rules” – 7.5/10

“Rules,” is about the reality of being a people pleaser until you finally have had enough. A few lines that illustrate this for me are, “Number one, I’ll come over, I’ll be dressed like your best idea, number two, you’ll be gentle, then number three, you will ruin me, number four, I’m nobody’s anyone anymore.”

Overall, this album is a 9.1/10 and is perfect if you want to get into more alternative music.