If you’ve followed the ominous press for Nothing’s About to Happen to Me – ominous being a characteristic of Mitski's during album drops – you may know that it follows a reclusive woman in a chaotic house, using the space as a metaphor for solitude, emotional tension and inner life. 

But in and of itself, this idea is curious, as our protagonist tries to figure out the meaning of nothingness through vignettes of familiar feelings, from soft, floating melodies to loud, emotionally charged instrumentals. 

Its lyrics explore isolation, anxiety, vulnerability, and self-reflection, delivered through intimate, narrative-driven storytelling rather than basic pop structures.

Nothing’s About to Happen to Me opens with "In a Lake," one of the most beautiful songs on the album –  deserving of the first song slot – focusing on escape and the yearning for anonymity. 

The myth of starting over is explored here through different strings, brass and accordion, showcasing both a physical and psychological journey – one where finding peace is messy and ambiguous. It’s a common feeling, for sure. 

The first song dropped before the album's release, "Where’s My Phone?" comes next, and on the surface, it may seem like the simple act of losing your phone. Digging deeper, we see it’s more of an emotional and psychological struggle. 

The lost device symbolizes disconnection and a loss of direction, conveying a longing to escape the chaos of mental clutter by reaching a state of emptiness. Mitski’s repeated phrase, “Where’s My Phone?” highlights this feeling and is just as mesmerizing as in her softer pieces – it’s like a re-imagining of her Bury Me at Makeout Creek days, with heightened vocals and eccentric guitars. 

Some other standouts on this transcendent album are "Cats," a song that uses feline imagery to explore companionship during the feeling of loneliness. "Dead Women," where our narrator is a ghost watching others misremember her life after she’s gone – a little flirt with death here and there, too. And finally, "That White Cat," which focuses on our narrator observing a neighborhood cat marking territory around her home. This is a symbol of how her life and space feel taken over by forces she can’t control. 

I’d like to mention a favorite: "I’ll Change For You." Oh, how tender it is to say you’d change for someone. Well, is it tender or is it ruthless? Mitski explores this feeling through our narrator, who is grieving a relationship and is willing to change anything about herself just to get that love back. 

The repeated line “If you don’t like me now / I will change for you” becomes a confession of desperation rather than empowerment.

The gentle bossa nova and mellow instrumentation highlight the emotionally raw lyrics and feelings portrayed, shining a light on heartbreak, vulnerability and longing. All in all, Mitski proves once again that she can craft an intimate storyline that feels truly cinematic. 

The final track, "Lightning," is a storm in and of itself, using different imagery to convey the album’s deeper meaning. Its sudden flashes of connection amid a slow, creeping melody leave the listener with an unresolved sense of energy. It’s charged, and fitting for the closing of an album that reflects the internal storms in each one of us. 

Even through the distant stillness, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me reveals a gentle emotion, subtle hope and the kind of warmth that lingers long after the music stops.