SABRINA CARPENTER: MANCHESTER, UK
Sabrina Carpenter
at O2 Apollo in Manchester, UK
words by Shannon Garner
Basically a performance veteran at this point, having been at it since she was 13, Sabrina Carpenter knows how to entertain a crowd. In fact, she’s made for it. Having achieved triple threat status, Carpenter’s career was catapulted with Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, and since then, the Pennsylvania-born artist has gone on to starring in the iconic Mean Girls on Broadway, graced Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list, and signed with Island/Polydor Records ahead of her highly-anticipated fifth studio album, emails i can’t send. As this new era signifies a new chapter in Carpenter’s life - one of perseverance and a much-needed step towards reclaiming her narrative - it comes as no surprise that the singer-songwriters first ever UK and European headline tour saw multiple dates sell out in minutes, resulting in venue upgrades to meet such high demands.
Perfectly poised on a balcony, her keyboard just in front of her, Carpenter opens her set with ‘emails i can’t send’, a ballad about betrayal within her family; despite its deeper, heart-wrenching meanings, the track showcases Carpenter at her very best. Her angelic vocals fill the room, the lyrics hitting everyone where it hurts, as smoke fills Manchester’s O2 Apollo, creating an ethereal atmosphere as the crowd stands in awe of the singer-songwriter before them. Introducing her new era with the title track over a year ago via Instagram Reels, the captivating opener by no means prepares the audience for what’s to follow - a fun, head-turning set by pop’s next big thing.
Her unwavering confidence lingers in the air. Some would say it’s infectious as, throughout the crowd, adoring fans are seen replicating such energy. Donning a red, feather-lined cowboy hat, Carpenter embodies Dolly Parton as she stomps, twirls, and occasionally line-dances her way through tracks ‘Read your Mind’, ‘Feather’, ‘Already Over’, and ‘Bad for Business’ in a surprisingly effortless manner. The country-infused beats pave the way for a two-step dance pattern whilst Carpenter fills the audience’s ears with charmingly tongue-in-cheek lyrics such as “I got you blocked, excited to never talk, I, I’m so sorry for your loss” and “he’s good for my heart, but he’s bad for business.”
While she is earnest and authentic throughout, a notable moment being when she shouted how she “couldn’t see sh*t” due to all the smoke at the beginning, the audience can’t help but be mesmerised by the sincere softness and vulnerability of Carpenter’s voice. Facing the enormous heart-shaped mirror, ‘Opposite’, a track about not feeling good enough and comparing yourself to others, takes on a whole new meaning. “She looks nothing like me,” Carpenter sings whilst looking at her own reflection. “Can’t really tell, should I be, tryna take it as a compliment?” she questions. “It's kinda feeling like the opposite.”
The catchy guitar riff quickly transitions the crowd into ‘bet u wanna’, a song that reflects her age and showcases how far the 24-year-old has come since her Disney Channel days. Her deep, slightly raspy tone, paired with every hair flip and hip sway, sends the crowd into a frenzy as Carpenter channels her alter-ego, eliciting more confidence than ever, as she sings about being on the receiving end of someone else’s desire. “Chase me, chase me, that's right, baby,” she seductively sings over a funky bass line, iconically strutting her way to the balcony. “Yeah, feel the way it feels. When you don't have control of who I'm holdin’, is it feeding all your fears?”
Treated to equal parts of her discography, one of which grows with the artist herself as she finds her feet in the industry, Carpenter seems at home on stage. Her effortless, flirty dancing and consistent crowd interaction, alongside top-notch stage production and a carefully crafted setlist that explores life’s brutal ups and downs, it’s impossible not to fall in love with everything she embodies. She unites the crowd through her joyous, heartbreak anthems and is nothing if not relatable throughout as she opens up about her experiences as an overthinker, touching on the significance of different songs that aided in her healing journey. As the year goes on, it goes without saying that Sabrina Carpenter is only going to continue solidifying her pop icon status, and with a support slot on Taylor Swift’s The Era’s Tour, the sky’s the limit for this incredibly fashionable, blonde pop sensation.