“Short n’ Sweet” Ushers in New Era for Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter performing live on Oct. 15, 2022, in Wiltern, CA. Photo by Justin Higuchi on Flickr
Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet” on Aug. 23, following her triumphant summer of global hits like “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” With the 36-minute album garnering 233 million first-week streams according to Billboard, Carpenter’s growth as an artist is clear in this frothy, fun album.
Carpenter has been in the public eye since 2012 with her role as Maya Hart on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World.” She started making music in 2014 with her first single, “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying,” when she was 15. The now 25-year-old officially broke into the mainstream with her 2022 album “emails i can’t send” and later opened for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2023 and 2024.
The singer debuted her single “Espresso” at Coachella in April. The instant hit became the de facto song of the summer, with its upbeat, sun-soaked music video garnering 162 million views.
Carpenter followed up with her June 18 single, “Please Please Please.” The dreamy synth-pop ballad captured the public’s attention with its relatable message and its viral music video starring Carpenter’s boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan.
Similar to other popular singer-songwriters, listeners can dissect Carpenter’s lyrics to learn more about her romantic relationships with various celebrities. From Joshua Bassett to Shawn Mendes to Keoghan, Carpenter plants easter eggs for fans to find. For example, fans speculate that the song “Taste” from the album refers to Carpenter’s dynamic with Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.
The album reflects Carpenter’s growing confidence and authenticity in her music. Her personality shines through each song with her silly, witty and suggestive lyrics. Some standout songs from the album include “Bed Chem,” “Coincidence” and “Juno.” All three highlight her skills as a songwriter and a vocalist.
Though it’s a pop album, Carpenter explores other genres with some of the tracks. “Taste” is classic rock, “Good Graces” is R&B and “Slim Pickins” is country. The variety of genres Carpenter can embody demonstrates her artistic elasticity.
Through this album, Carpenter captures the many challenges of navigating romantic relationships as a young adult. Her brutal honesty helps fans relate to her and her music, turning her into the pop icon that she is.
“I saw her talking about how it’s easier to make songs about a one-week situationship than an actual relationship. Everyone can relate to talking to someone for a few weeks and then not going anywhere,” long-time fan Ben Leeds ‘26 said. “And she's kind of silly in a way where she pokes fun at that. And [everyone] may not relate to it exactly, but you understand it.”