Do cats like Mitski’s new album? Find out in this new video

In a world exclusive for Dazed, singer-songwriter and self-proclaimed “cat mom” Mitski has debuted her eighth album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, to a room full of cats.

The video, filmed in Koneko Cat Cafe in New York, builds on preexisting lore surrounding Mitski and cats. The singer is a renowned lover of felines, and the new album leans into this persona, with a white cat fronting the project’s cover. There are also tracks like “Cats” and “The White Cat”, which paint the singer as a recluse who is diving deep into her own psyche.

A recent online trend has proven the love goes both ways. According to fans, Mitski’s music is beloved by cats, with many sharing videos of their pets entering a trancelike state when her songs are played – or reacting violently when they are switched off. 

So what did the cats of Koneko Cat Cafe make of the new album? On the whole, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me seems to be a success, with many of them gently dosing, grooming and squinting calmly into space as the songs are played. They’re also clearly stirred by the record’s more emotional tracks; in the climax of “Charon’s Obol”, one grey tabby starts throwing things from the shelves in distress. 

Taking its name from the Japanese word for ‘kitten’, Koneko Cat Cafe doubles as a charity that houses ‘at-risk’ cats from around New York City who would be facing euthanisation if it weren’t for the charity’s involvement. All of the cats in the video are available for adoption, find out more here. 

Watch the full video below.