PlaylistsMitskiMusic curation

Watchlist & Playlist: Films, Shows and Songs to Pair With Mitski’s 'Where’s My Phone?'

aasian

2026-01-28

10 min read

A mixed‑media guide: pair Mitski’s “Where’s My Phone?” with Grey Gardens, Hill House and a curated set of tracks for eerie, domestic intimacy.

When Mitski’s “Where’s My Phone?” hits, it’s easy to feel the itch to build an entire night around that one uncanny mood — but piecing together films, shows and songs that actually deepen that atmosphere can feel scattershot. This guide fixes that: a carefully ordered, mixed‑media watchlist and playlist that pairs Mitski’s single and the upcoming album Nothing’s About to Happen to Me with films, series and tracks that capture the same eerie, domestic intimacy.

Quick roadmap: what you’ll get

Instant play: five ready-made pairings to cue right now.
Deep context: why Grey Gardens and Hill House are Mitski’s touchstones for this record.
Curated soundtrack: 20+ songs that sit best next to “Where’s My Phone?”
Practical set-up: how to stage a mixed-media listening party (devices, sequence, legal basics).
2026 trends: how immersive rollout strategies and new audio tech change the way we experience mood playlists.

Why this matters now

One of the modern pain points for fans is fragmentation: great songs land, references are scattered across interviews, and the perfect companion film or show is buried behind different platforms. Mitski’s rollout for Nothing’s About to Happen to Me — including the single “Where’s My Phone?” (out now) and a mysterious phone number/website — intentionally blurs audio, text and visual storytelling in a way that rewards cross‑media curation. As Rolling Stone reported in January 2026, Mitski even uses a Shirley Jackson quote to set her tone, signaling a gothic, domestic claustrophobia at the album’s center.

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality,” — quote from Shirley Jackson that Mitski reads on the album hotline (Rolling Stone, Jan 16, 2026).

That line is our anchor: an invitation to pair the song with films and series that create that same pressure — places where the house feels like a character and silence speaks as loudly as dialogue.

Five instant pairings — cue these now

“Where’s My Phone?” + The Haunting of Hill House (select episode scenes)
Start with the single, then cut to the moments in Mike Flanagan’s series where the house is most alive: hallway shots, the silence after a scream. Use these as interludes; let Mitski’s vocal fragility ride over lingering visual dread.
“Where’s My Phone?” + Grey Gardens (1975 documentary)
Play the song before the documentary to prime the mood, then watch the residues of isolation and faded glamour in the Maysles’ camera work — an ethnography of reclusive women that mirrors Mitski’s stated narrative: “a reclusive woman in an unkempt house.”
Grouper — “Heavy Water (I’d Rather Be Sleeping)” + late‑album Mitski medley
Grouper’s ambient hush is an ideal texture to slide between Mitski tracks; its drone comforts and unnerves in equal measure.
Julien Baker — “Appointments” + scene pairing from Rebecca (1940/2020)
Baker’s claustrophobic confessions sync with scenes that focus on memory and the unseen presence of a former occupant.
Mitski music video (“Where’s My Phone?”) + short Hill House clip (shuttered turn)
Play the video and a Hill House clip back-to-back to feel the visual through‑line Mitski describes: interior life, slow dread, and the strange comfort of one’s own rooms.

Context: Mitski’s inspiration and rollout — what to know (late 2025–early 2026)

In late 2025 and early 2026 artists leaned into multi‑format album rollouts: ARGs, hotline numbers, short films and bespoke websites. Mitski’s deployment follows that trend but roots itself in literary and cinematic touchstones. As noted by Rolling Stone (Jan 16, 2026), Mitski’s album is framed as the story of a reclusive woman whose interior freedom contrasts with her deviant exterior. That’s not just marketing; it’s a curation cue: she’s asking listeners to pair sonic intimacy with visual texts about domestic confinement.

Watchlist: films and series that match the album’s mood

Below are selections grouped by what they emphasize — haunted architecture, faded glamour, or intimate dread — with specific scene suggestions you can cue in a mixed viewing/listening experience.

House as character (the Hill House canon)

The Haunting of Hill House (Mike Flanagan, Netflix) — cue episodes or scenes that linger on empty rooms and domestic echoes; the series’ use of silence and long takes is perfect as a bed for low, vocal-led Mitski tracks.
The Haunting (1963 & modern remakes) — classic and modern takes on the darker side of domestic space; pair with songs that emphasize breath and reverb.

Faded glamour / archival intimacy

Grey Gardens (Albert & David Maysles, 1975) — the definitive model for reclusive women living amid relics of their past social lives. Pair early album tracks with the documentary’s observational moments.
Grey Gardens (2009 HBO film) — for a more dramatized, score‑oriented approach; use for sequences when the playlist needs cinematic swells.

Quiet dread & domestic tension

Rebecca (1940/2020 adaptations) — the unseen predecessor as a ghostly presence. Use short scene cuts where interior monologues or silent glances set mood.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) — paranoia and interior isolation; a strong pairing for lyrics about not feeling safe in one’s body or home.
A Ghost Story (2017) — elliptical time and the way rooms remember us; a slow cinematic counterpoint to songs that dwell on absence.

Curated soundtrack: songs that echo Mitski’s eerie intimacy

This is a working playlist you can build across platforms. Order matters: start with quieter textures and let production thicken, then thin out again for closure.

Mitski — “Where’s My Phone?”
Use this as an opener or recurring leitmotif. Its anxious hush sets the record’s emotional temperature.
Grouper — “Heavy Water (I’d Rather Be Sleeping)”
Ambient, intimate, and perfect as an interlude.
Aldous Harding — “The Barrel”
Unnerving folk with unsettling lyrics — an uncanny cousin to Mitski’s confessional pose.
Julia Holter — “Sea Calls Me Home”
Art pop that warps domestic space into aquatic vastness.
Adrianne Lenker / Big Thief — “Not” or “Two Hands”
Raw, voice-forward intimacy that feels like overhearing someone in the next room.
Julien Baker — “Appointments”
Spare and emotionally precise; a companion for lyrics about internal fracture.
Perfume Genius — “On the Floor”
Sweet, ominous pop that can be staged as a mid‑set swell.
Grouper — “Living Room”
Another quiet interlude; perfect for looping over documentary cuts.
Chelsea Wolfe — “Feral Love”
Gothic textures that bring a darker tone when the sequence needs tension.
Mazzy Star — “Fade Into You”
Dreamy and human — the classic for late‑night reflection.
Bat for Lashes — “Laura” or “Daniel”
Mythic, personal vocal delivery — good for cinematic cuts.
Sufjan Stevens — “Fourth of July” or “Should Have Known Better”
Quiet elegy and memory-heavy lyricism that pairs with scenes of loss and recollection.
Arca — “Time”
Use sparingly: avant‑sound design that punctuates the uncanny.
This Mortal Coil — “Song to the Siren”
An ethereal coda for the playlist’s quietest moments.
Additional picks to experiment with:
- AURORA — “Runaway” (for folky, wistful escape)
- Zola Jesus — “Exhumed” (for gothic intensity)
- Angel Olsen — “All Mirrors” (for lush orchestration)

How to build the mixed‑media experience (practical, actionable steps)

Below is a simple, repeatable format to create an evening that feels intentional and cinematic.

1) Sequence & run time

Target 60–90 minutes for a single listening/viewing session. That’s enough to sustain a mood without overstaying the strain of dread.
Start with three quiet tracks (including “Where’s My Phone?”), insert a 10–20 minute film segment, follow with five denser songs, then close with two ambient tracks.

2) Audio setup

Use spatial audio when possible: many streaming platforms expanded spatial formats in 2025–2026. Spatial mixes heighten the sense that the room is breathing.
Normalize volume: prevent sudden jumps between cinematic audio and dry indie recordings; aim for −14 LUFS for a comfortable listening level at home.
Crossfade 2–3 seconds: soft transitions help maintain mood without jarring cuts.

3) Video clips

Use short clips (30–120 seconds) rather than full movies for a playlist; reserve feature-length embedding for dedicated watch parties.
Check streaming availability in your region and prefer official services. If a title is not available on a streaming service, rent or use a personal physical copy for in‑home experiences — this avoids copyright risks in public or online events.

4) Legal & community considerations

Private listening party: you can freely sync songs and clips in your own home. If you stream the event online, use licensed platforms that support synchronized playback (e.g., approved watch party features on major streamers) or secure synchronization rights for public streaming.
Credit sources: always list the films, episodes, albums and artists you use. This builds trust and helps viewers locate originals.

2026 trends shaping how you pair music and visual media

As of 2026, three developments matter for this kind of playlist work:

Immersive rollouts and ARG elements: more artists are using phone lines, bespoke websites, and micro‑narratives. Mitski’s wheresmyphone.net is part of this trend; incorporate these elements as interstitials in your event to deepen narrative immersion.
Spatial audio and personalized mastering: streaming platforms and hardware now support more accessible object‑based mixes. When available, choose spatial or Dolby Atmos masters to make rooms feel like characters.
Community curation tools: AI‑assisted playlisting now suggests scene cues and clip timestamps — use these suggestions, but maintain human curation for emotional coherence.

Example 60‑minute sequence: “The Unkempt House”

Grouper — “Heavy Water (I’d Rather Be Sleeping)” (0:00–6:00)
Mitski — “Where’s My Phone?” (6:00–10:30)
Short Hill House clip (10:30–12:30)
Julien Baker — “Appointments” (12:30–18:30)
Mazzy Star — “Fade Into You” (18:30–22:30)
Grey Gardens segment (22:30–35:30)
Chelsea Wolfe — “Feral Love” (35:30–40:00)
Adrianne Lenker — “Two Hands” (40:00–44:00)
This Mortal Coil — “Song to the Siren” (44:00–48:30)
Final Mitski reprise or ambient loop (48:30–60:00)

Hosting tips for fan communities and listening parties

Pre‑event packet: share a short program with timestamps, streaming links, and content warnings for heavy themes.
Moderate discussion: allocate 10–15 minutes post‑session for chat or voice discussion; frame prompts around the house as character, privacy, and the ethics of observation (especially relevant when screening Grey Gardens).
Invite local creators: 2026 sees more small venues hosting album‑centric nights — contact local film programmers or mixtape DJs to add live texture.
Listening parties can be monetized thoughtfully: reach out to micro‑event platforms and consider ticket tiers for curated experiences.

Final takeaways — actionable checklist

Build a 60–90 minute sequence that alternates music and short film clips.
Start and return to “Where’s My Phone?” as a leitmotif.
Prefer spatial audio masters when available; normalize volumes and use short crossfades.
Use official streaming services or physical copies for clips; avoid unlicensed public streaming.
Share your program and credit all sources to help fans find originals and build trust.

Why this pairing matters for Mitski fans and music communities

Pairing Mitski’s work with films like Grey Gardens and series in the Hill House lineage isn’t just stylistic window dressing — it’s a way to honor the record’s narrative logic. Mitski’s storytelling about the reclusive woman, the unkempt house, and the contrast between private freedom and public deviance asks listeners to consider context: what happens when privacy becomes a shelter and a prison at once? These watchlist pairings make that tension audible and visible, and they create shared experiences that help fragmented communities find convergent meaning.

Call to action

Try the 60‑minute “Unkempt House” sequence this week. Share your version — timestamps, film edits, and alternate song choices — in our community thread or on social with #WheresMyPhonePairings. If you’re organizing a private listening party or public mixtape night, list the event and we’ll feature standout community builds leading up to Mitski’s album release on Feb 27, 2026. Let’s make a living archive of how fans translate Mitski’s eerie intimacy across media.

asian

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.