Gone are her carefree days of playing Maya Hart on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World as a bubbly teenager. Sabrina Carpenter is reshaping her image as an artist to fit the serious and self confident adult persona. As the young musician, dancer, and actress ushered in her 20’s, she released her new album Singular: Act II to display her growth as an artist and as an individual. The album dropped on July 19 as the second installation to the two part project and her fourth studio album in total. Overall, Singular: Act IIreceived positive feedback from her audience as it features many distinct differences from her previous works.
In comparison to Singular: Act I,both albums follow a theme of self discovery and newfound identity, as the artist explores her inner emotions and reflects on both the peaks and lows the past year has brought. Carpenter stated in an interview with PEOPLE, “ it wasn’t so much struggling with my identity, as struggling with coming to terms with who I am” as she explains how different events in the past year have taught her many life lessons and pushed her limits. In contrast to the previous album however, Singular: Act II touches upon staying true to oneself even through hard times, whereas the first installation discusses self confidence and self love. As she was breaking down the lyrics to Pushing 20;she discusses how outside negativity can make people question themselves and their own identity, however it is important to stand your ground and filter out the hate. Another track from the album, Exhale, is a very vulnerable song that discusses Carpenter’s struggles with sticking to her values in the competitive music industry. She sings “I listen to the labels, listen to the man / Try to keep a sense of knowing who I am,” as a way of expressing her desires of being true to her identity whilst outside forces try to shape her image for her. Overall, Sabrina Carpenter truly allows herself to be vulnerable with her audience through Singular: Act II,which helps her fans relate to her story and feel the same emotions she conveys through her music.
