Japanese Breakfast

Japanese Breakfast is an American indie pop project founded in 2013 by Michelle Zauner, a talented musician who previously played in the emo band Little Big League. Initially, Japanese Breakfast began as a solo venture, with Zauner releasing her first work, June, a cassette in 2013.

In 2014, Zauner returned to her hometown of Eugene, Oregon, to care for her ailing mother. This period of personal grief deeply influenced her music, leading to the creation of her critically acclaimed debut album, Psychopomp (2016), which caught the attention of the music world and secured her a deal with Dead Oceans. The album’s introspective lyrics and innovative sound garnered praise and marked her official arrival as a solo artist.

By 2017, Japanese Breakfast had evolved into a full band with Peter Bradley (guitar), Deven Craige (bass), and Craig Hendrix (drums, keyboards, backing vocals). With this lineup, they released their second album, Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017), and their third, Jubilee (2021). Jubilee marked a shift towards a more uplifting sound and earned Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Music Album and Best New Artist, solidifying the band’s presence in the indie scene.

Looking ahead, Japanese Breakfast is set to release For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) in March 2025, a deeply personal project reflecting Zauner’s continued growth as an artist. Beyond music, her 2021 memoir Crying in H Mart explores her Korean-American heritage and the loss of her mother, showcasing her as a multifaceted creator.