" One thing that I’ve always tried to do is create lifts – the moment that you have a rush of feelings. That’s always something that I’m trying to communicate in music, and particularly the style of music that I write for Japanese Breakfast: I’m always trying to build things up into each other. "
- Michelle Zauner

In her statement, Michelle Zauner emphasizes her intention as a musician to evoke powerful emotional responses through her work. She aims to create moments where listeners experience an overwhelming rush of feelings and emotions. This goal is central to the kind of music she produces under the moniker Japanese Breakfast.

Beyond its surface meaning, Zauner’s words highlight the importance of building tension and creating crescendos in musical composition. By gradually layering sounds and increasing intensity, musicians can guide their audience through a range of emotional experiences, from subtle hints to full-blown outbursts of feeling. This technique allows listeners to connect more deeply with the music on an emotional level, fostering a personal connection that transcends mere enjoyment. It also reflects her belief in the transformative power of art to convey complex human emotions and experiences.

Michelle Zauner is an accomplished musician and writer known for her work as Japanese Breakfast. Born in 1987, she grew up in Virginia but spent significant time in Japan during her childhood due to her father’s career. Her music often reflects on themes of loss, identity, and the struggle to reconcile different cultural backgrounds. Zauner has written a critically acclaimed memoir, "Crying in H Mart," which delves into her personal experiences following the death of her mother.