Medium Build's Nick Carpenter continues his introspective exploration of 'Country' with the raw and resonant ‘Marietta’ EP — a soul-stirring set of “therapy trauma tunes” that delves into the stories and scars of his past to better understand his present.
Stream: “Triple Marathon” – Medium Build
This is my way of processing my childhood, sharing a part of myself, and narrating stories that resonate universally.
* * *
Medium Build has consistently crafted music for those willing to be vulnerable — songs that resonate with unresolved desires, filled with the authentic emotion of someone trying to reconcile their past and present in real time. His fifth studio album (and major label debut), Country, showcased singer/songwriter Nick Carpenter's self-exploration — both figuratively and literally — to create something authentic, raw, and direct. “I wanted this album to bear my genuine DNA,” he openly declared last year — and it certainly did.
With the five-track Marietta EP, Carpenter continues this personal journey, revealing another layer as he reflects on his origins, relationships, and identity, tracing it all back to the town that shaped him. If Country was his statement on identity, heritage, and inherited burdens, Marietta serves as its resonance: a self-contained postscript that deepens, refines, and interconnects the experiences of the previous record.
Marietta EP – Medium Build
I've been making lists of things to do
When you return to town
I've been feeling intense jealousy
Of the people in your circle
And I wish that I could embrace you
And loosen my hold
But the uncertainty of when I'll see you again
Has me acting awkward
Does it make sense how I yearn for it?
When I'm lost, you're my guiding light
And it's so straightforward, I just have to accept it
Does it make sense how I yearn for it?
Tell me it makes sense...
Released on November 15th, 2024 via Island Records, Marietta came out seven months after Country, a breakthrough record that revealed Medium Build’s raw vulnerability and deeply emotional songwriting to a broader audience. Recognized as one of Atwood‘s 2024 Albums of the Year, Country was celebrated as a “masterpiece” upon its release — an intimate, unfiltered, and boldly exposed folk rock record that embraces Carpenter’s humanity. "It's an album filled with genuine, raw highs and lows — moments of heartfelt confession, human connection, spiritual release, introspection, and soul-searching,” we noted at that time.
While Country presented a cohesive narrative anchored in lineage and identity, Marietta ventures into its own arena — an intense, reflective anthology forged from the same voice but grounded in its distinct emotional landscape. It stands as a unique snapshot of unresolved memories and continual processing, distinct from the preceding record, yet it brings us closer to understanding Nick Carpenter and his journey of self-discovery.
Medium Build Discusses His Heartfelt Album, ‘Country’:: FEATURE ::
His latest collection of “therapy trauma tunes” confronts Carpenter’s childhood, upbringing, family, spirituality, and the complexities of it all. It embraces emotional specificity — delving into the past for not only comprehension but also for healing. The outcome is both cathartic and incisive: a candid assortment of narratives and wounds, wrapped in twangy nuances, emo urgency, and profound introspection.
“I just wanted it to have some fresh essence, I guess,” he reflects. “A few tracks revisit my childhood, and a colleague of mine, Graham, suggested we visit my hometown. He thought it’d be really cool if we explored our roots together. I was hesitant, thinking it would be triggering and perhaps a nightmare, but I agreed. Surprisingly, it turned out to be an incredibly beautiful experience. Neither of us had lived there since childhood, and though we had no mutual connections, we grew up on the boundaries of our respective towns — which is a vast suburb spanning north of Atlanta.”
“So we connected, and all the memories, pain, and experiences came rushing back — the very things I was writing about. I had already written songs addressing my childhood, so we visited significant locations like my childhood church, the mall where my dad worked, and the swim team pool — all those evocative spots. It was surreal, and the photos we took captured everything we experienced. By day’s end, I had many titles and thought, ‘Why not just call it Marietta instead of beating around the bush?’ So, that’s the story behind it. A single creative day blossomed into something beyond my imagination.”
What began as a simple day of reconnection and reminiscence evolved into something considerably more profound. The songs on Marietta enhance our understanding of Medium Build as both an artistic project and as a person. As Carpenter continued to tour Country and watched it resonate with audiences worldwide, Marietta became a bridge for new connections — a fresh perspective into his past
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Nick Carpenter of Medium Build continues the introspective exploration of ‘Country’ with the emotionally charged ‘Marietta’ EP — a poignant assortment of “therapy trauma tunes” that delves into the narratives and wounds of his history to better understand the present.