Michelle Zauner, the mind behind Japanese Breakfast, has made her mark in indie music for almost 15 years. She is famous for turning sorrow into song, her lo-fi philosophy and quietly observational storytelling having earned her one of indie’s most cherished figures. In addition to her music career, her memoir Crying in H Mart was about food, grief, and identity following the passing of her mother, becoming a bestseller and motivating a scheduled film adaptation. Today, as Zauner embarks on a new period of creative life, her forthcoming album For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) heralds a new chapter. Below are eight key tracks that chart her artistic growth.

Prior to Japanese Breakfast, Zauner was a member of the indie-rock collective Little Big League. Her band’s song “Dark Matter” from These Are Good People foreshadows her interest in the universe and emotional turmoil of young adulthood. The raw guitars on the song and Zauner’s tortured vocals echo the chaos of young adulthood, broaching the topics of loss and the expansive universe.

Japanese Breakfast’s first album Psychopomp emerged from loss. Following the diagnosis and subsequent death of her mother, Zauner went back to her hometown and made the album, with the initial thought that it would be a last try at music. “In Heaven,” the opening track, captures the dismay and sadness of loss, with lines such as, “The dog’s confused / she just paces around all day.” Heavy subject matter is lightened by energetic rhythms and soaring melodies, transmuting sorrow into cathartic beauty.

On Soft Sounds from Another Planet, Zauner’s second album, “The Body Is a Blade” marries ethereal synths with austere lyrics of vulnerability and the passage of time. The song highlights Zauner’s development as a songwriter, pushing electronic textures while holding on to her emotional complexity. The song is a meditation on the fragility of the body and the emotional wound of loss.

“Boyish,” from Soft Sounds from Another Planet as well, is a bittersweet investigation into identity and masculinity. Zauner explores self-perception and yearning with such lyrics as “I want to be your boyfriend.” The song’s ethereal, hypnotic beat contributes to its emotional resonance, a defining feature of her matured sound.

In 2021, Zauner transitioned her sound with “Be Sweet” from Jubilee. The song, with its ’80s-infused synth-pop background, presents a positive message of love and unity. Although the melody is cheerful and infectious, the vulnerability in the lyrics gives the song depth, capturing Zauner’s capability to mix joy and introspection.

“Paprika,” another song from Jubilee, is lively and festive. With catchy energy and whimsical rhythms, it is a departure from the sadder tone of her previous work. The song is a celebration of life and love, demonstrating Zauner’s capacity to be joyful without losing her emotional complexity.

“Savage Good Boy,” from the same album, tackles masculinity and self-worth. With a raw, guitar-driven energy, Zauner critiques societal expectations and reflects on the complexities of relationships. The song’s candid lyrics, like “You’re a savage good boy,” highlight Zauner’s evolving narrative, balancing personal reflection with societal critique.

As Zauner enters her next creative phase, “Kokomo, IN” from For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) reflects her growth. With atmospheric textures and introspective lyrics, the track signals a new chapter in her journey. The line, “And I’ll never come back,” suggests finality and acceptance, leaving room for new possibilities and artistic exploration.

These eight songs chart Zauner’s development from her early, rough-around-the-edges material with Little Big League to her current status as a respected icon in indie music. Her process of turning personal suffering into art continues, and her next album will be another thrilling step in her already rich discography.