Indio's Abi Carter thought winning "American Idol" would be the highlight of her year, but it was just the beginning.
Since she earned the title in May, the 21-year-old has been on a "whirlwind" journey traveling throughout the United States, meeting with record labels and writing new music. "Peppermint Sky," her first song since winning the competition show, will be released July 26. Carter wrote on Instagram that she "had full creative control on this one and it means the world to me."
In the midst of her crazy schedule, she's made time to return home and show her love to the Coachella Valley. Most recently, she performed the national anthem ahead of two Coachella Valley Firebirds games last month.
Now, the Coachella Valley gets to return that same love for its hometown girl once again: The young singer will perform her very own concert at Acrisure Arena on July 27. Canadian-based pop artist Laur Elle will also perform as a special guest.
Ahead of her show, Carter spoke with The Desert Sun about life post-"American Idol," the most important lessons she's learn so far in her career and what fans can expect from her new music.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What has life been like since winning 'American Idol'?
Abi Carter: Oh man. I immediately went to New York and I was there for a few days. Then I came back for a few days, and then I was in Nashville for a bit. Then I came back for a few days and then went back to Nashville and came back. Then went to Minneapolis and went to Texas and now I’m back. It’s kind of been a whirlwind. There’s not been a lot of time to breathe, but I’m doing what I love and that makes up for (it).
It's been work. I think that my vacation was that little week in New York when we were doing different press things (for 'American Idol'). But I went to Nashville, met with record labels ... and then in Minneapolis I was performing for the Olympic trials and had a lot of fun doing that. Then I spent time with my family in Dallas.
How did your very own Acrisure Arena concert come about?
AC: I don't even know, it just happened. It was for sure a shock to me that that was even in the conversation because it's really rare that you start as an artist and then go immediately to an arena. Typically, you start with smaller venues, maybe 100-, 200- or 500-person (venues). To be in a room that can hold 11,000 people ... that's beyond me. It was a jump, and there's a lot of self-doubt that comes with it, but I'm so excited. I'm so excited even if there's only 10 people in that crowd. I'm going to be so happy.
I think it's safe to say there will be more than 10 people there. You saw the masses come out for your hometown visit during 'Idol.' Are people from the Coachella Valley still messaging you since the show ended?
AC: Absolutely. I cannot even open my DMs in social media platforms, it's so, so overwhelming. There's too many things to go through. But it's amazing, and I feel so loved and supported.
You've performed a few times at Acrisure Arena already for the Firebirds. Did you start thinking about what it would be like to have your own concert there?
AC: I remember being in college across the street at Cal State San Bernardino-Palm Desert campus, and I looked over at Acrisure when it was being built and when it was coming out that Harry Styles was performing there and Olivia Rodrigo. I remember thinking to myself when I was in college for psychology, when I was still planning on being a marriage and family therapist, 'If I ever get to play at that arena one day, I will be successful. That will be the thing that I look back on for the rest of my life and think I've made it,' and that was just such an amazing full circle moment.
I got to sing the national anthem in there and that was awesome, but doing a show is so different and it's so much more real than anything else. Even when I was singing the national anthem, I never thought to myself, 'I'm going to perform here.' I think there's a lot of imposter syndrome that happens coming off the show and not knowing how much real support you actually have out in the world outside of 'Idol.' I'm just really overwhelmed, and I'm so thankful for the valley. They've always had my back. I'm stoked.
You've been posting on social media that you've been creating a lot of music lately. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
AC: I think the coolest thing is that I am actually figuring out who I want to be in real-time, and I think everybody's finding out with me. I've been in writing sessions these past few days, and, oh my gosh, the songs that I've made have made me feel like I've cracked the code. This is what I want to do, this is what I think my sound is, this is who I think I am as an artist and as a person. I'm so excited that I'm getting to that point finally because, although I love the songs that I've put out, I definitely feel like there's a lot more to me, and I'm really excited to share that.
You told mentor Jon Bon Jovi on 'Idol' that you wanted to dive into more emotional songwriting and storytelling. Would you say that's been the vibe of this music so far?
AC: Absolutely, I've had the opportunity to do that. I have literally not been able to stop listening to what I've been writing.
You've had opportunities to meet some music industry people these last few months. What have they taught you in these beginning stages of your career?
AC: I'm learning how to speak up for myself a little more. I've always been somebody who spoke up for herself, but they're teaching me that in this sort of space, you have to be so authentic to yourself because if you're not, you're going to look back and regret saying yes to something or saying no to something. I'm learning how to navigate that and how to, even with my own team, be able to communicate what I want to do and where I want to go and how I see things. It's a journey, for sure. I've met some artists who were like, 'Oh yeah, I look back and I hate this song that I released and I wish that I had waited a little longer,' or they're like, 'I have this one that I really wanted to put out.' They say, 'if I had listened to my gut, I wished that I would have done it this way,' and so I'm figuring that out. I want to listen to my gut.
I read somewhere that now more than ever people are rewarding the niche, and I totally, totally agree with that. There's so many people who are realizing that authenticity is what comes off as so much more real than something that's just cookie cutter and made to kind of feed the masses. I love that people are being more true to themselves because everybody is so individual and unique and has something different to bring to the world. And I'm excited because I feel like I'm doing things for myself now, and the music that I'm making, I'm like, 'I don't care if nobody else likes it because I really like it' (laughs).
Who are some of the artists that you find yourself listening to these days?
AC: Gracie Abrams just came out with an album and I'm obsessed with that. I love Phoebe Bridgers so much. I've been listening to Sabrina Carpenter's new releases just like everybody else in the world. Taylor Swift is already up there for me. Manchester Orchestra, that's the biggest one right now for me. It's an amazing band and I love all the real instruments they put into their sounds. Chappell Roan, 100% loving her right now. I got to watch her in February when I went to the Olivia Rodrigo concert at Acrisure Arena. She was opening and it was life-changing.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
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