Artist Spotlight, TEAM PICK: Sabrina Carpenter
- starwave magazine
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Over the past three years, Sabrina Carpenter has risen to stardom through her 2022 album, “emails i can’t send,” and piping hot singles that launch her to the top of Billboard charts. However, she has been working hard in the pop industry for the past ten years. Many of her fans have been long-time listeners, reminiscing on her “Can’t Blame A Girl For Trying” and “Thumbs” eras.
However, her music has grown into something more complex and empowering to women across the world.
Often criticized for explicit and sexual lyrics, Sabrina Carpenter uses her platform to show women it’s okay to be loud and proud of one's sexuality. It’s hard to have your target audience be primarily women when dancing across the stage in lingerie-inspired outfits, but she does it.
She doesn’t strive to sexualize herself for the male gaze, rather, she dresses how she wants, dances how she wants, and inspires millions to find themselves through her music.
Although, “emails i can’t send” is mourning the loss of her relationship and highlighting transitions in Carpenter’s life, she redefined her artistic style in her 2024 album, “Short and Sweet.”
Like many of her albums, “Short and Sweet” showcases Carpenter’s range from ballads to her exciting, fast-paced music. This is when she truly began to take off. Showcasing her love for performing with her slumber party-themed tour filled with her own quirks like spin the bottle, arresting fans, and the infamous Juno Pose. Despite all the fun, the “Short and Sweet” era, too, must end.
In June 2025, Sabrina Carpenter released “Manchild,” followed by announcing her upcoming album, “Man’s Best Friend.” Although we have to wait until August 29th for her album, “Manchild” is already taking the world by storm. It seems as though the past decade of work has paid off for Carpenter, as she is selling out arenas filled with adoring fans, and continues to pursue her undying love for music.
Manchild: Manchild is the definition of “song of the summer.” Bringing out the nostalgia of 80s synth, and combining it with the witty lyrics we love to see in Sabrina’s work. Although she claims the song is about your dad, it can truly be applied in many people’s dating lives. The music video perfectly encapsulates the song, with every moment being represented by a new scene. Despite the video being very chaotic, it still maintains continuity by following Sabrina and her misadventures with men. Each action happens on the beat, further engaging the viewer into the wild and fun world of a Manchild summer.
Digging further, there is the evident and returning theme of out of place animals. However, they serve a purpose to the overall story. Opening with a shot of a seagull riding a turtle, then Sabrina tumbling out of a car represents how she relied on men to carry her throughout her life. However, after a series of incompetent men, she begins to see that she can be just as strong, if not stronger, on her own. In the final scene, the seagull flies over Sabrina’s car, turtle in hand, showing she can not only carry herself, but support those around her through her success.
Although it can be written off as a simple pop song, this marks the beginning of Sabrina Carpenter’s new era. One that is not defined by the men in her life, but finding love in herself.
With the release of “Manchild,” she also announced her newest album, “Man’s Best Friend,” will be out August 29, 2025. With this being the first single, as well as the first track of the album, Sabrina is establishing that this is her year, and nobody can take that success and bliss from her.
Written by Joyceln McClurken
