In a time of Taylor Swifts , Lana Del Reys and Chappell Roans, what is the role of a manufactured pop star? When we have at our fingertips a whole world of artfully crafted yet still catchy and relatable music by the songwriting geniuses of our time, is there still room for the industry-made star that we usually associate with the single-shifting hustle of the early 2000s? If the recent, sudden success of 25-year-old Disney Channel alumna Sabrina Carpenter is anything to go by, it’s clear that in 2024 there is plenty of appetite for such figures. It’s also clear that their cultural purpose is good old-fashioned idol worship. Carpenter has been knocking around since 2016, but since her single “Espresso” became the song of the summer, she has become a superstar.
Its slick, catchy chorus has been inescapable since its release in April this year, and Carpenter has become a household name. As well as supporting Swift on her “Eras” tour in the US last year, she will play to London’s O2 Arena in March – and audiences are flocking not just for the dulcet tones of “Espresso” nor for Carpenter’s angelic voice, but for her vibe: Britney -meets-Marilyn-Monroe-meets-Ariana-Grande. Because this summer, Carpenter has become an icon for the sake of being an icon.
Unlike her Disney contemporary and rumoured former love rival Olivia Rodrigo, who broke out a few years ago with the overrated but commendably emotive Sour , Carpenter is not a purveyor of adolescent angst. Rat.