Standing at five feet tall, this talented and charismatic artist towers over the music industry. Basking in a sea of creativity, her lyrics resonate with innumerable fans thanks to her extraordinary vocals. Remove the “s” from the famous vocal duo Carpenters, and you’ll get the last name of the singer on the cover of Time100 Next: Sabrina Carpenter.
Carpenter opened my mind to pop music. She has introduced a fresh sound to the genre with her first mainstream album: “emails i can’t send.” In this album, each song felt conversational and struck the right chords (pun intended) to evoke a sense of authenticity and relatable emotion. None of the songs felt flat — a quality often associated with pop music; even seemingly nonsensical lyrics, like rhyming unrelated words, are molded into a masterpiece, as she does with her song “Nonsense.” Being able to transition from anger to passion, annoyance and nonchalance between songs, “emails i can’t send” sends listeners on a thrilling emotional rollercoaster.
In her performances, Carpenter often incorporates elements of her sexuality, reflecting how her confidence and individuality are paired with her music. She has an unapologetically feminine and nostalgic style, incorporating retro-inspired dresses and go-go boots. Like Chappell Roan, another rising pop star, her outfits follow fashion trends from the 1970s and 1980s. Whether it’s a music video or a live performance, Carpenter never fails to bring the right energy.
Carpenter’s most recent album, “Short n’ Sweet,” is another smashing success on the global billboards. The album beautifully navigates a spectrum of emotions, jumping from playful tunes to melancholy drones in the split of a second. It features an abundance of clever wordplay that showcases the fun and silly side of her, while funky bass lines, disco-inspired guitar riffs, and layered synths accompany her singing.
Sabrina Carpenter is a pop artist that will stay for the long run, much like how it took her a decade of singing to hone in on her craft. I’m eager to see where Carpenter takes pop music next on her journey.
