Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) is Creating a Language of Her Own

Jun 8, 2025
Michelle Zauner, musician and author of 'Crying in H Mart,' shares her journey of grief and identity through her latest album, 'For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women).' She discusses her transformative year in South Korea, the emotional complexity of language learning, and how writing helped her navigate loss. Zauner reflects on her breakout SXSW performance and her evolving relationship with her father after her mother's passing. She also teases her plans for a second book and celebrates her growth during her world tour.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Year in Korea Reset and Heal

  • Michelle Zauner moved to Korea for a year to reset and write her second book while studying the language deeply.
  • The year away helped her overcome stage fright and regain happiness and health on tour.
INSIGHT

Grief and Choices Explored in Album

  • The album 'For Melancholy Brunettes and Sad Women' reflects on time and choices, focusing on what is missed and anticipated grief.
  • Zauner explores the cost of pursuing dreams while sacrificing presence with loved ones.
ANECDOTE

Keeping Daily Bilingual Diaries

  • Michelle Zauner describes daily 10-minute diary entries in English and Korean during her Korea stay, showing her language progress and cultural struggles.
  • She shares challenges navigating Korean formal and casual speech, especially with her aunt.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app