“Counterpoint: Los Angeles Record Store with Unexpected Surprises”
On a sunny Monday afternoon, Sabrina Carpenter is at a Los Angeles record store flipping through vintage Playboys while enjoying a Yerba Mate. She’s drawn to a bright-blue cover from the ’60s, saying it matches the vibe of her new album. Carpenter’s look, reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour, is also featured on her summer singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” her upcoming album “Short n’ Sweet,” and her North American tour starting next month.
After a busy tour in Europe, Sabrina Carpenter is now exploring every corner of a Los Angeles record store. She stops to check out albums by Charli XCX, Olivia Newton-John, Beyoncé, and finally notices Connie Francis’ 1958 album “Who’s Sorry Now?”
Sabrina Carpenter admires Connie Francis, calling her “amazing and super underrated,” and praises her beauty. Francis made history in 1960 as the first woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” Fast forward to June 29, 2024, and Carpenter, at 25, hits No. 1 with “Please Please Please.” Her previous single, “Espresso,” also did well, becoming one of the fastest songs to reach a billion streams on Spotify. This success has greatly increased excitement for her upcoming album.
Sabrina Carpenter is glad she finished her album before her singles were released. She feels that experiencing life events can change your perspective on songwriting and says she couldn’t have imagined these songs a few years ago.
Sabrina Carpenter’s songs, especially “Please Please Please,” show a mature touch. The song, with its funny video featuring her boyfriend Barry Keoghan, is about a woman who loves her man but is fed up with his behavior. Despite the poppy, sweet feel of the songs and their visuals, they include a sharp edge with strong language and innuendos.
Sabrina Carpenter clarifies with a smile that she’s not posing for Playboy, despite the edgy themes in her music. Transitioning from a Disney star to a pop artist has been a gradual and thoughtful process for her. Even though she’s about to release her sixth album, she sometimes feels like a newcomer.
Born in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Carpenter moved to California as a preteen. Her older sisters, who attended performing arts schools, introduced her to early influences like the musical “13.” Showing early talent, Carpenter began auditioning and signed with a manager who was honest about the challenges. Remarkably, she landed a role on “Law & Order” at just 11 years old, playing a victim of a sex-trafficking ring.
As Sabrina Carpenter leaves the record store, she’s carrying a bag with Beatles solo albums, a promotional compilation, some records with cool artwork, and a $100 Interview magazine for her sister. She’s excited about her own album’s upcoming vinyl edition, which includes a bonus track and was designed by her and her team.
Before heading out, she stops at a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop and is surprised to see a large poster of her face promoting their new “Espresso” flavor. She feels embarrassed, especially since she had been unnoticed in the record store earlier.