LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ll be honest: I’ve struggled to connect with Medium Build. This is despite my friends being head-over-heels for Nick Carpenter’s music. It just never clicked for me… until “Last Time.” There’s something immediately infectious about this track: bouncy energy, cheeky rasp in his voice, and a light, breezy charm that feels distinct from the Americana‑tinged, emotionally heavy sound I’ve heard in his past music.
“Last Time” leans less into emo or Americana tropes and intrigued me with a playful tone that had me grooving in my seat. Even though it tackles themes of missing out and momentary loss (“you always take for granted what you have until it’s missed”), the delivery is oddly buoyant. The track comes with a visualizer that’s fun, spirited, and complements that shift in mood.
Critics have noted that Medium Build has always explored a range of styles, nfrom country and ’80s new wave to emo and ’90s rap, but usually with a raw and intimate feel. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, Carpenter described his album Country as “sweet, raw, and direct,” aiming for a sound that “disarm[s] people… this isn’t gonna be a glossy major label thing”. Moreover, Off The Record Press observed that while songs like “Beach Chair” are stripped-back and vulnerable, others such as “Stick Around” introduce synths, horns, and a more uplifting, upbeat spirit.
“Last Time” feels very much in that latter vein: less frayed, more effervescent. The rasp in Carpenter’s voice adds warmth without dragging you into melancholy; the melody feels catchy and lightweight enough to stick after one listen.
For someone like me… who’s just dipping a toe into his catalog… this single was the perfect entry point. It’s welcoming and relatable, balancing depth with accessibility in a way that surprised me and… finally… got me grooving.
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MEDIUM BUILD TOUR DATES
August 31—Melbourne, AU—The Evelyn Hotel – Matinee Show
August 31—Melbourne, AU—The Evelyn Hotel
September 5—Dillon, CO—Dillon Amphitheater*
September 6—Dillon, CO—Dillon Amphitheater*
September 8—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
September 20—Richmond, VA—Iron Blossom
September 24—Camden, NJ—Freedom Mortgage Pavilion†
September 25—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center†
September 27—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live†
September 29—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hill Stadium†
September 30—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium†
*with Rainbow Kitten Surprise
†with Tyler Childers
