From the highs of fame to the depths of self-discovery, alternative singer-songwriter Medium Build shares his decade-long journey of sobriety and growth after a high-profile breakup.
Medium Build’s Road to Redemption: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Sober Living
Medium Build is finally living the dreams he long ago manifested, between his major-label deal and upcoming Coachella debut. But it took some serious work, on himself and on his music, to get here.
Finding His Voice
The alternative singer-songwriter recently released a new Medium Build EP, takeaways, which features re-recordings of three of his older songs. With its searing, self-aware, soul-dredging lyrics, “White Male Privilege” is a standout as Carpenter sings:
All that they told me was, “Nick, make plans” / But I don’t want to mess them up again / So I’ll buy a house and I’ll move in / And I’ll have sex just to have kids / And I’ll get a job, work real hard / Hang rope lights in the backyard / Buy a minivan, drive across the state / Buy another house out on the lake / And everything will be alright.
This song was the first one Carpenter ever released as Medium Build. “It’s kind of like my testimony, like, this is my DNA,” he says. “I was raised by these religious, sort of do-right people. I grew up in that suburban American Dream thing — but I have bucked that.”
Medium build music refers to a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a moderate tempo and energy level.
It typically falls between 110-120 beats per minute (BPM).
This style emerged in the early 2010s as a response to the increasingly fast-paced nature of modern electronic music.
Medium build tracks often feature prominent basslines, catchy melodies, and atmospheric soundscapes.
They are commonly used in clubs, festivals, and workout sessions due to their energetic yet manageable pace.
A Path to Sobriety
After ending the engagement, Carpenter wrote down a list of goals: “to be single, signed and sober.” It took him 10 goddamn years, but he is nearly there. He admits he “lost the plot” last year.
“I’m not that big of an artist, but in my scope it skyrocketed. We got a lot bigger, way faster than we had been growing, and then we had all the tours and we had all these festivals, and I think I was so scared of not being liked or so scared of what if it goes away, that I stopped having fun,” he says.
Carpenter realized that fear led to him having a near mental breakdown on stage. He took a step back from his music and reevaluated his drinking — and other aspects of his life. Medium Build performing at Lollapalooza in August 2024.
Nick Carpenter is a mental health advocate who has been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression.
He has spoken publicly about the importance of seeking help and prioritizing mental well-being.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year.
Carpenter's story highlights the need for increased awareness and support for mental health issues.
“I recently got sober. I started taking medication for my mental health. I deleted Instagram. I hit the biggest wall, and I got to a point where I was resenting the music. I was like, ‘This is my dream. Why does this suck?’ I was kind of just a bitch to work with, I was snapping at people, and I wasn’t having fun,” Carpenter says.
He realized that he was ‘getting drunk to try to feel something.” So he finally looked it in the eyes. It was like, all right, I need to get healthy or else I’m going to burn out, then I won’t be able to do it at all.
Embracing Authenticity
Carpenter has been thoughtful about his place in the queer community. On one hand, “it’s 2025 — what are we talking about? There’s so much bigger s— than a guy who likes boys and girls,” he says.
But he also realized it’s not about him. It’s about the 10-year-old kid in Minnesota at the tractor pull who’s going to accidentally hear one of his tunes and be like, ‘Oh, he didn’t say she, or they used they.’ It just cracks the thing open.
Carpenter adds: “But I finally realized it’s not about me. It’s about the 10-year-old kid in Minnesota at the tractor pull who’s going to accidentally hear one of my tunes and be like, ‘Oh, he didn’t say she, or they used they.’ It just like it cracks the thing open.”
A New Approach
Now as he gears up for another career milestone at Coachella, Carpenter’s goals are sincere and practical. He wants to be able to play around, have fun, and treat music like it’s the high school glee club.
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“I don’t think anybody needs a record about a guy who’s depressed because he’s so popular and he’s tired of singing his songs,” he says. “I think that you could have an interesting record about a guy who realizes he’s lost the plot and has to get sober and figure out his mental health.”
Carpenter adds: “I want to be able to play around. I want to have fun. I want to treat music like it’s the high school glee club, and it’s like you’re working with the punks one day, and then you’re working with the senior girls the next day, and it doesn’t matter. It’s not that serious.”
