Disney star shifts her focus to making music
Sabrina Carpenter became a part of TV sitcom history as the lead in “Girl Meets World,” a sequel to the much-loved ’90s series “Boy Meets World.”
The show lasted three seasons on the Disney Channel. It ended earlier this year, and fans are still clamoring for a comeback.
But Carpenter has already shifted her focus to music. She’s on her second headlining tour that includes a Sunday stop in Houston. The Pennsylvania native released a pair of studio albums and scored a modest pop breakout with the surprisingly effective “Thumbs” earlier this year.
A new single, the EDM-inflected “Why,” was released this month. And she’s already working toward a third album. Carpenter talked about shifting between TV and music and why she loves them both.
Q: How’s the tour going?
A: We started the shows about two-anda-half weeks ago, and every show has just been getting stronger and better. The crowds have been incredible. The show itself is a whole new deal for us — me and the band and the whole crew. It’s a lot bigger and better than our first tour, and there’s more production. We get to really have fun putting on this show.
Q: Is there a song that always pumps you up no matter how many time you perform it? A: I think “Thumbs” will always be one of those songs that doesn’t really get old for crowds. It’s really fun to perform. But also my first single “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying.” Even if there is a day where I get tired of singing it, how many times has Paul McCartney sang “Hey Jude,” and he’s still killing it. You know what? I can suck it up.
Q: “Thumbs” became one of those songs that people, including my friends, posted on Instagram during gym workouts and also labeled as a guilty pleasure.
A: I think that was the whole goal for the song. The second that I heard it, I knew that was a song that could register with so many different kinds of people. It wasn’t just for kids. It’s for everybody. My security guard is always like, “Yeah, I’m running to ‘Thumbs’ in the gym. I got you in my playlist.” Q: What was the moment that made you realize you wanted to sing?
A: I remember watching this video of Christina Aguilera singing ‘“Sunday Kind of Love” when she was like 8 years old on a TV program and being like, “Wow. She sounds like that. She’s so confident. She’s living her dreams.” I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do.
Q: “Girl Meets World” created an interesting dynamic. It endeared you to millions of new fans and was also a sequel to the much-loved ’90s sitcom “Boy Meets World.”
A: Obviously, sequels and reboots have been around for a long time. But it had been awhile since a beloved ’90s sitcom had come back and there was the original cast. You were seeing that done for the first time. But you’re right — our show had a life of its own. It really was something very special that we were able to pay homage to the “Boy
Q: Did you take anything from the set when it was all said and done?
A: I basically took my whole wardrobe. They do this whole sale at the end of a show. They let us have first dibs. Everything’s super cheap. It’s sort of like thrift shopping in my own closet. I also took the “Dream-TryDo Good” sign from the classroom.
Q: You’ve been able to maneuver from acting to singing. Were they both part of the original dream?
A: When I was a wee little girl, probably like 2 or 3, I only really knew music. As soon as I was 6 or 7, I knew that I wanted to do acting and singing, but I didn’t know if I could even act. And you don’t really know what comes along with both of these jobs until you’re invested in it completely. Now that I am, I’ve fallen in love with both. They both kind of give me different fulfillment. I’m still learning a lot, obviously, about both and continuing to grow.