Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner Teases Her Catbird Collaboration

The musician is bringing her latest album to life with a delicate collection of jewelry.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Michelle Zauner, the frontwoman of Japanese Breakfast and bestselling author of Crying in H Mart, has collaborated with the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand Catbird to create a collection that brings the themes of her latest album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), to life. The delicate bracelets, charms, rings, and brooches feature shell motifs, dangling pearls, and other references to Zauner's music and live performances. Zauner also recently spent time in Korea, intensely learning the language, and is in the midst of writing her next book.

Why it matters

Zauner's collaboration with Catbird allows her to extend the artistic vision of her latest album into a physical jewelry collection, providing fans with a new way to engage with her work. Additionally, Zauner's dedication to learning the Korean language and writing a new memoir about her experiences reflects her continued growth as an artist and storyteller.

The details

The Catbird collection features a variety of pieces that reference specific elements from Zauner's album and live shows, such as a shell brooch that mirrors a large set piece from her tour, a bracelet with tiny ant charms that nod to a lyric in 'Honey Water,' and a lantern charm that symbolizes a moment from her live performances. Zauner worked closely with the Catbird team, even shooting the campaign remotely from Seoul, where she had been studying Korean for an extended period.

  • Zauner collaborated with Catbird on the collection last year while working on the production for her new album.
  • The Catbird collection will be available to shop on March 6, 2026 at 12 P.M. ET.

The players

Michelle Zauner

The frontwoman of the band Japanese Breakfast and the bestselling author of Crying in H Mart, who has collaborated with Catbird on a jewelry collection inspired by her latest album.

Catbird

A Brooklyn-based jewelry brand known for its delicate, well-made, and thoughtful pieces, which collaborated with Michelle Zauner on a collection inspired by her music.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really, really proud of this album's production, and so I wanted every piece of the performance to feel very detailed and romantic.”

— Michelle Zauner (elle.com)

“They were just so creative and so supportive and just naturally so tasteful.”

— Michelle Zauner (elle.com)

“I love the little stone that's inside of the lantern [charm] that makes it look like it's almost slightly illuminated. That's one of my favorites.”

— Michelle Zauner (elle.com)

What’s next

Zauner is currently in the process of writing her next book, which will focus on her experience of living in Korea for a year and learning the language.

The takeaway

Zauner's collaboration with Catbird demonstrates her ability to translate the themes and visuals of her music into a physical product, further expanding the artistic world of her latest album. Her dedication to learning Korean and writing a new memoir also highlights her continued growth as a multifaceted artist and storyteller.