Ashwin Street in East London is a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the city.
CLASH has come to speak with Indie-country singer-songwriter Nick Carpenter, who is thriving as Medium Build. The musician, originally from Anchorage, Alaska, finds himself in a great place.
As he navigates life, Carpenter seems to have discovered a healthy formula. Naturally, music plays a significant role. The launch of ‘Marietta’ at the end of last year saw the singer and guitarist taking a broader perspective, while still being intimately connected to the songs. This vantage point not only adds depth to the tracks, but the recent EP goes further to explore both dimensions.
If Carpenter's album 'Country', released last year, delves into various current relationships through the lens of his upbringing, the EP employs an even sharper focus. The songs range from one about his parents and their religious influence to reflections on his past. “The last year or two felt like a 20-year cycle had come to a close. I was like a dog that caught the car it was chasing, and then didn’t know who I was anymore.”
With a touch of self-irony, he describes it as a “Hey Nick, you're 33 now” moment, acknowledging that he's experienced a lot over the years. “You’ve been playing music since you were 12. You’ve spent 10 years doing the Medium Build thing, and now you've arrived, and so have those around you. Here’s your deal.”
While three decades is a substantial period, it's been well-utilized with considerable time for reflection, decision-making, and action, with music consistently being the unifying element in his life and career.
However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Choosing to step away from a religious life can be monumental for someone raised in a conservative environment. The harmonious relationship he now enjoys with both parents likely seemed unimaginable a few years ago.
Growing up in the church, he faced fears of being different. “It’s very homogeneous. Men and women dress and talk a certain way. I was always just a gentle kid, very sensitive.”
“I wasn’t out in the garage with my dad, under the car. I was in the kitchen with my mum, dancing to Motown, and helping her prepare vegetables for dinner. It’s amusing because, even discussing it now, it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that would be noteworthy 30 years from now.”
Musically, however, these experiences allowed him to explore a wide range of styles and genres. For Carpenter, it manifested as emo on one end and indie guitar on the other. “It probably began with two influences, the sentimental emo music, and then my brother and my dad introduced me to the Stones and Radiohead, music that sometimes feels boyish, but I like those bands very much.”
Complex emotional issues often played out behind the scenes. Class can be a significant trigger. Within the family, there was a drive for Nick and his brother to achieve more, to move up from working to middle class. Understandably, this realization came only in adulthood.
“I realized there was so much from my childhood that I hadn’t addressed. I’ve just been hustling and trying to succeed. Now that I'm fulfilling my dad’s aspirations, who came from a working-class background with limited education—his mother never finished high school—I’m just really reflecting on that.”
Despite the ambitious goal of lifting the family’s class status, it hasn’t necessarily resulted in endless happiness. “It felt like I reached my dad’s ambitions, and then I was left wondering what my dreams are. Who do I want to be? This is what I've been pursuing my whole life because I thought it was what mattered. Now I'm here.”
Every now and then, this introspection can be unsettling. “I still have sadness,” he admits. “I still feel pain. I can’t prevent my parents from fighting; I can’t stop my relationships from deteriorating if I don’t engage. There’s no magic solution, even with all my aspirations.”
Storytelling significantly aids Carpenter's creative process. Often, his songwriting begins with a few lines instead of a melody or instrumental snippets.
Interestingly, there’s nothing rigid in Carpenter’s lyrical style; it's as if the concept of genre is continuously redefined. “I think my angle is soul songs for indie queer kids or country music for city folks. Lyrics typically come first for me, so I always strive to incorporate storytelling elements."
His interest in words and literature is evident. Growing up in Atlanta, he was drawn to hip-hop culture from a young age, influenced by his brother’s enthusiasm for Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. Later, enrolling in an English literature class in high school helped sharpen his creative skills.
“I could appreciate a beautifully written short story and how the words were crafted. But I’d go home, listening to Radiohead and early Kanye, analyzing the lyrics and connecting with indie rock bands
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Ashwin Street in East London is a significant contrast to the lively activity of the city. CLASH has arrived to meet with Indie-country singer-songwriter Nick.