Be The Cowboy

Description

After the success of Puberty 2 in 2016, Mitski was hailed as the new artist at the forefront of indie rock, the one who would save the genre from the white men who historically dominated it. But the often-overlooked aspect of being a rising star is the monstrous amount of work it takes. She found herself relatively isolated, running her own business while on the road for her tour. Completely exhausted, physically and emotionally, she tried to wake up, return to her art, and write pop songs. This album largely reflects that period. Artists are often expected to be strong yet vulnerable. Rather than avoiding this dilemma, Mitski directly addresses the feeling of power that comes from adopting an impenetrable outward appearance, but also the loneliness that follows. Regarding her romantic relationships, she questions: was it love, or just the desire to absorb the other's power? The desire for them, or the desire to be them? She ultimately decides that she herself can become the cowboy figure she so desperately desires. In Be The Cowboy, Mitski explores the loneliness of being a symbol and the loneliness of being someone, and how that can feel like being no one.