Medium Build – a.k.a. acclaimed singer-songwriter Nick Carpenter – shares a further taste of new music with ‘Home Depot’. Drawing from ‘90s pop-country, the track tells the story of a man named Steve, who is incapable of being emotional without his tools. It’s the latest preview of his forthcoming album, King of Having Fun, out September 4 on slowplay/Island Records.
“Home Depot is about the man in your life more focused on the external than internal. The lawn is manicured and the mustache is trimmed. He appears as stepdads or uncles. Some of us know him as father or husband. He works hard and plays hard, although work is often also his play,” says Carpenter of the track. “When I set out to write this song I wanted to commiserate with the women stuck in the orbits of these men. I was curious how we stay stuck to these guys. As I dug in, what I found was a humanization of the Steve’s in my life and a realization that even on my best day, I am really just like him.” ‘Home Depot’ follows previously released single, ‘Armor’. Listen HERE.
King of Having Fun is Carpenter’s first full length album since 2024’s much-lauded Country, which saw extensive critical acclaim from Paper, Billboard, NME and many others, while Rolling Stone highlighted Carpenter in their “Future 25” feature. The album was recorded live in-studio with his closest friends and collaborators, including musical director Paul Rogers, engineer Jimmy Manfield, “atmospheric moodmaker” Laiko a.k.a Jake LiBassi and more, often approaching each song from a perspective of playing live in bigger rooms and focusing on “rock and roll moments.” Carpenter explores multiple genres with country, rock, indie and more across the LP’s 14 tracks.
Medium Build is on the road supporting Mumford & Sons this August ahead of an autumn headline tour. See below for a list of dates. On September 5, he’ll make his official debut at Nashville’s legendary Grand Ol Opry as part of the “Opry 100” celebration.
Born and raised in Georgia, Carpenter now splits his time between hometowns in Nashville, Tennessee and Anchorage, Alaska. Creating Medium Build in 2015, Carpenter has gone on to release five studio albums to date. He has become a favorite across the creative community, with artists including John Mayer, Zach Bryan, Elton John, boygenius and more counting themselves amongst his fans. He has toured with the likes of Role Model, Tyler Childers, FINNEAS, Holly Humberstone and Briston Maroney, and found himself in a highly coveted slot on Zane Lowe’s Artists to Watch list.
KING OF HAVING FUN
1. Every Noise Is You
2. Do Something Productive
3. Perceived
4. Bird Woman
5. Home Depot
6. It’s Not Easy (Falling In Love)
7. Cone Off
8. Feed the Boys
9. In My Gut
10. Chill
11. Downpour
12. Armor
13. King of Having Fun
14. Thank You, Cook
Photo credit: Beth Garrabrant