The tour was a first for Mitski in the Philippines, and so was the tangible experience for Filipino fans – an experience that truly defrosted the frost outside their windows. The ‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’ tour landed in Manila last July 14, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

A sight that covered the arena was Mitski’s audience – dressed in layers and hues that seemed like an exterior vividly representing a personality that is intrinsically woven into Mitski’s music, referencing her latest album. Often seen in themes resonating with her music, Mitski’s listeners shared a common schema: melancholic, unique, and niche.

These shareable qualities never veered away from the comparable stories often channeled in Mitski’s songwriting. A walk in the arena will have you voyage into a community that wrote the narrative of Mitski’s music for her – a paradoxical sense of belongingness in full bloom.

Mitski opened the show with ‘In a Lake,’ a telling introduction to the tale behind her music. It’s public knowledge that the singer-songwriter explores themes of loneliness, but the fans assembled a juxtaposition to the fact. Mitski’s music brought a sense of belonging that stitched the crowd together. The fans lived through the story from every lyric – they are Mitski’s music. As the singer quoted, she was not ‘alone’ after all.

The Japanese-American singer-songwriter showcased her new and iconic releases, including fan favorites such as ‘ Nobody’ and ‘My Love Mine All Mine.’  ‘Nobody’ was Mitski’s surprise treat for her dearest listeners. Mitski’s themes often explored themes of isolation and deep reflection. Her opening and early tracks featured songs from her eighth studio album, ‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me,’ an album serving as an ode to the weight of being perceived, coupled with the feeling of lonesome despondency over people resulting in mistrust.

Many of her fans find her words relatable, with hits in the album such as ‘In a Lake’ and ‘Cats,’ toggling on emotional heartbreak. Mid-Set Favorites included spins from tracks that go way back. Songs such as ‘Circle & I Want You,’ ‘Francis Forever’ delved deep into the chaotic framework of falling in love – unrequited crushes and the desperation of being seen by someone who is long gone. The show’s setlist was an ensemble of unpacking solace and everything that birthed the isolation.

While the hue of the solo flight starred the night, the late set included iconic Mitski hits — ‘Two Slow Dancers,’ a track finally included in her fifth studio album, revisits the feeling of reunion with someone you used to love but eventually need to face the realities post-daydream.

The Mitski crowd enjoyed the surprise track, drawing them deep into the Mitski music experience. Immersed in her tunes, the Filipino fans jumped and belted to the strum of ‘Nobody,’ Mitski’s 2018 hit single from her fifth studio album, ‘Be the Cowboy.’ While the song suggests the struggle for finding human connection, the arena was filled with sounds of people who connected through Mitski’s music, almost defying the fall of the planet of love, ‘Venus,’ as mentioned in the track.

Thank you, Mitski, for a music experience that brought people from what may seem different planets together. Your music not only stroked feelings, but built something even far greater than melancholy – a community sharing the same resonance with the story of your music.

Presented by PULP Live World.