Amid the noise and urgency of the times, there are still artists who seek beauty in the details, in raw emotion, and in genuine human connection. Mistine is one of them. On i guess this is where we’re at, she delivers an album that reminds us that even as the world shifts beneath our feet, we can still sing, feel, and carry on. Raised in New Jersey and trained at USC’s Thornton School of Music, Mistine has quietly carved out a career in the shadows of alternative pop, touring with names like Conan Gray, aespa, and McKenna Grace, all the while forging her identity across stages, studios, and emotional landscapes.
This collection of eleven tracks stands as both a creative and political statement, where emotion and environment intertwine to tell the story of a generation caught between love, climate anxiety, and the longing to belong. The album opens with Changing with the weather, an indie-pop track in which Mistine draws on the language of nature to explore her internal transitions — as if climate change were both mirror and metaphor for the ebbs and flows of her own feelings. “I use references to nature, climate change and environmental disasters to reflect the shifts in my emotions and relationships throughout my twenties,” the artist explains. Her voice becomes a guiding thread, weaving a reflection that is at once intimate and collective.
Where Overrated opens with a chat between friends and speaks to disillusionment in relationships, (of u) emerges as one of the album’s standout moments. An ethereal, vulnerable ballad about the desire to fully know someone, even their darker sides. Mistine moves seamlessly between acoustic and electronic textures, conjuring that heady mix of vertigo and tenderness that defines real love. It’s the kind of song that could sit comfortably in a Valentine’s playlist, but just as easily accompany a quiet night of self-reflection.
Beyond themes of love and emotional change, Mistine delves deep into more introspective terrain. Tracks like Work in progress, Just for you, and Better days reflect a search for redemption, purpose, and personal reconciliation. From accepting oneself as a work in progress, to giving oneself fully to another, and yearning for brighter days, these songs build a bridge between human fragility and a quiet – but persistent – sense of hope.
There are also moments where the album turns darker and more atmospheric, as in Another day, where shadowy synths and a slower tempo capture a silent inner struggle: “and the day is running, killing my kindness.” This track speaks to resilience — to seeing, breathing, and surviving one more day, despite pain, confusion, or emotional fatigue. It’s perhaps the album’s most existential offering.
With this project, Mistine thinks aloud, inviting us to explore the intersections of romantic love, mental health, and the planet as a living entity. Sonically, the album is a collage of influences: grunge, indie pop, ’80s synths, classic rock, and minimalist production. The result is a soundscape that feels deeply authentic, as though Mistine were right there, whispering her doubts, fears, and determination to keep going, directly into your ear.