NEW MUSIC: Sabrina Carpenter Releases “emails i cant send fwd:”
Photo courtesy of Island Records
MARCH 17, 2023 | BY ALICIA URREA
On March 17, pop singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter made her return with an extension of her fifth studio album, emails i can’t send. The deluxe edition, titled emails i can’t send fwd:, includes four brand new tracks that are a continuation of the storytelling Carpenter penned during some emotional hardships. The standard edition of the album, released in the summer of 2022, includes singles like “Nonsense” and “because i liked a boy” that showcase the album’s theme of the fluctuation of emotions that come along with heartache.
The first newly added track, titled “opposite”, is a melancholic breakup ballad, with simplistic production and Carpenter’s gentle vocals carried throughout the song. It begins with a finger-picking guitar pattern, amplifying in instrumentation as the song progresses. The song is filled with longing lyrics of Carpenter singing about her ex lover getting together with someone that is — as the title alludes — completely opposite to her: “She looks nothing like me / Can’t really tell, should I be tryna take it as a compliment? / It’s kinda feelin’ like the opposite.”
The song “Feather” follows, which is entirely different from the previous track, both sonically and conceptually. The intro is a perfect build-up for what’s to come; Carpenter sings a few repetitive notes, and the song immediately kicks off with a nifty bass line and some sultry vocals. The lyrics align with the carefree vibe the track exudes, encompassing that feeling you get when you’ve finally cut off a person who’s been weighing you down: “I feel so much lighter like a feather with you off my mind / Floatin’ through the memories, like whatever, you’re a waste of time,'' Carpenter chants in the chorus.
“Lonesome” is the third song in the sequence, which is another track that’s on the slower side. It encapsulates a bunch of burning questions Carpenter has for a previous romantic relationship, with lyrics like “Why were you someone else when you were next to me?” and “Did you think about her face with your hands around my waist?” in the pre-choruses. The song is also effortless in production, with only Carpenter’s vocals, a subtle bass, and an acoustic guitar chord progression throughout. There’s some melodic whistling after the first chorus, almost making the song sound like a lullaby. It comes back around after the second chorus, joined by Carpenter’s humming and a mellow guitar solo.
The last and final track is titled “things i wish you said,” which is an emotionally charged, vulnerable look inside Carpenter’s mind after a breakup. She writes from the perspective of the other person, listing things she wishes they would say to her: “Baby, sorry I left you in the dark / I always reach for your leg over there on your side of the car.” The chorus returns to her point of view, stating “I think about these things at night before I fall asleep / Things I wish you said to me.” Musically, the song includes a lead and rhythmic acoustic guitar. One can be heard plucking simple chords, while the other plays some notes in unison to Carpenter’s singing. As the second verse begins, her vocals begin to sound angelic due to the presence of some harmonies that begin to take over and remain present until the end of the song.
These four previously unreleased tracks have only reinforced Carpenter’s ability to showcase such raw and introspective songwriting, building onto the foundation that was emails i cant send. With the deluxe edition, listeners are able to delve further into the process of Carpenter’s hurting and healing when dealing with heartbreak.