On Aug. 23rd, alternative pop artist Mitski released two new singles, “Heaven” and “Star” off her upcoming album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. The record, set to be released on Sept. 15th, follows her wish for her music to “shine love long after she’s gone.”
The upcoming 11-track record was created with collaborators familiar and unfamiliar to Mitski’s discography thus far. While the artist produced the record with longtime producer Patrick Hyland, she simultaneously worked with Drew Erickson for the orchestra arrangements in songs such as “Heaven.” Equipped with a 17-person choir and musical influences such as Scott Walker, Mitski’s newest album is set to revolutionize her place in modern indie music.
While these songs are just reaching Mitski’s audience for the first time now, the singles “Heaven” and “Star” have been in development for several years. As explained by the singer in her “Behind the Songs” YouTube videos, “Heaven” and “Star” were written years before their release, but only now has she been able to find the right production style for the songs.
“Star” instantly sets itself apart as a unique step in Mitski’s career. The song starts with a mellow tone dominated by Mitski’s voice, and slowly reaches a crescendo as the orchestral arrangements wash over the singing. The production on this track serves not only to create an enriched experience but also as a catalyst for the message Mitski is communicating; Mitski compares love to starlight, regardless of whether the stars have died, the light they shine is worth appreciating.
In the same way, past loves may still be worth looking back on. The instrumentals included in this track perfectly mirror the significance of the song, making it easier for listeners to immerse themselves in the musical universe that Mitski is creating. in “Star”.
The sister track “Heaven” takes a more genre-bending approach, ultimately guiding Mitski’s discography in a new direction. The most accurate way to describe “Heaven” is that it somehow mixes a slight country edge with a more atmospheric, orchestral sound. Surprisingly, the production is effortless and inviting despite encompassing a slightly different sound than a usual Mitski joint.
According to the artist herself, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We is her “most American album” thus far and “Heaven” is a great example of the new direction taken on the album with its genre-shapeshifting alongside a discernable country derivation.
Intoxicatingly romantic, yet tragic at times, “Heaven” stands out as the kind of song to listen to after a long summer day, or perhaps laying on the grass while contemplating one’s relationship to love and nature.
“Heaven” and “Star” promise the audience a revolutionary shift to come in The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.