Japanese-American artist Mitski Miyawaki has been teasing her upcoming album Laurel Hell for a few months now. Due out on 4 February, it’s described as ‘a soundtrack for transformation where vulnerability and resilience, sorrow and delight, error and transcendence can all be seen as human, worthy of acknowledgment, and ultimately, love’. It’ll be her first album in four years’ time, making this Mitski’s longest ever writing process. This concluded amid a radically changed world.

The uplifting track Love Me More is the fourth and last single to be released ahead of the album. It starts as a poppy new wave track, but eventually takes on a clubby vibe. The driving bass and euphoric piano melody during the chorus does the trick. There’s even more tinkling ivory during a solo, halfway the song. After multiple incarnations, Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells was one of the songs that inspired this final version.

Although Love Me More was written before the COVID-19 pandemic, it explores themes of isolation that have grown more poignant in light of recent lockdowns. In reality though, the lyrics see Mitski reflect on the choice she made to become an artist.

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Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.