She fell in love with singing at five years old, but Kristin Carter only really started her music career fifteen years later. As she commuted to university, she was inspired to write her own songs, which turned into a daily habit of creating music on the way into and out of town. Kristin then had a breakthrough in 2018 when she received national recognition as a semi-finalist in Sirius XM’s Top of the Country contest. Only a year later, Kristin made waves again when her country-pop hit “Karma” went to #21 on the Billboard Canada Country chart and earned over 1M digital streams. It was Kristin’s first single that made it to radio, but it was not her last. She released the resilient ballad “I’m Still Here” in 2023, which was broadcast on CBC Radio One and added to Amazon Music Canada’s Brand New Music playlist. This was the beginning of a change in sound for Kristin, as it leaned more in the contemporary-pop realm. In April of this year, she dropped her debut album, Full Bloom, a contemporary-pop project that focused on topics like compassion, observation, and exploration. In the months following, she shared music videos for several songs on the album, further developing the stories we heard. With the last video having recently dropped in August, we caught up with Kristin to reflect on all she has experienced since the album’s release, from memorable creative moments to favorite songs.
Hi, Kristin! Thank you for taking the time to chat. How was your summer?
Hi! It was so lovely. I spent it here in BC, Canada, and it was a real treat. Such great weather, tons of beach time and sun.
You just released a music video for “Lazy Sunday.” It tells a wonderful story visually, which pairs well with the story you tell in the lyrics. When working on the song, did you know you wanted to release a video for it?
I didn’t! I’ve always gravitated towards this track because of how relaxing it feels to me, but I wasn’t expecting to make a music video for it. Eva Tavares, my friend who directed the video, had a strong vision for it when she listened to the song. She sent me a voice note describing the flying and the studio session, and I loved it, so we went for it!
You look so graceful in those flying scenes, but I’m sure the training process was not as graceful. Could you tell me more about how you prepared for those scenes?
Thank you! I’m glad you said that because it was a totally new experience for me, and I was a bit worried I’d look stiff up there. We had such a great stunt coordinating team who made me feel so comfortable. Essentially, we did a test run on the wire to get used to things and then some practice shots on the day of shooting to see how it looked. Luckily, I’m not afraid of heights and I do a bit of yoga, so I think that helped.
This video has been described as the “send-off video” for your album. Why did you decide to close the visual chapter of the album with this?
I wish I could give you a thoughtful reason for this, but the real answer is this: the weather. We needed to wait for some sunshine to safely have all the equipment and rigs outside to film “Lazy Sunday,” so it ended up being the last one filmed and the last one released. It does feel like a great way to finish though – flying away!
Your other videos are different from this one – in “I’m Still Here,” you embody a statue that endures all types of weather, standing strong from season to season. In “Euphoria,” you interact with yourself, portraying the authentic self and the ideal self. Was one of these more challenging to make than the other, or did they all equally have their obstacles?
They all had unique obstacles, for sure. “Euphoria” had some challenging choreography, and the flying in “Lazy Sunday” was really taxing on the body. However, I think “I’m Still Here” was the hardest for me. It was a very long process to get into the makeup (totally worth it!) and then I had to keep perfectly still for a long time during the filming. There’s also a scene in “I’m Still Here” where the vines grow up my arms, so I had to learn the song and mouth it in reverse. That was tough for me!
If you had to pick a favorite out of the three, which would it be?
While I love all three very much, “I’m Still Here” is my favorite. It was the first one, and we learned so much. It kickstarted a really fun time in my life, so I have great memories of it.
You released your stunning debut album, Full Bloom, back in April. Does life feel any different for you after its release?
I feel really grateful. It’s been a real honor to hear how people have interpreted and connected to it. People have shared really vulnerable stories with me about how it impacted them. Knowing you affected someone in that way is all you can really ask for when you put art out.
I’m sure you have received a lot of positive feedback for the album, whether it’s from friends or fans or family… Has anyone said anything so far that has really resonated with you?
A highlight that comes to mind is my friend using one of my songs in her wedding during the signing. I was speechless that someone would consider my song “Love You Forever” for a moment as important as that. I’m so grateful.
There are so many moving songs on the album, and I love the themes that come through – from resilience to self-doubt to unconditional love… What are some songs that stand out to you the most?
Some of my favorites are “Lazy Sunday,” “I’m Still Here,” and “Good People Good Wine.” Very different themes, and I can’t pinpoint why, but those are the ones I listen to the most. I like all the songs on the album for different days and different moods.
Were there any songs that almost didn’t make the album?
I don’t think so! There were definitely more songs written than what ended up on the album, but I don’t think any that did make the cut were more likely to be cut than any other. It’s such a hard job narrowing things down! You grow attached to things.
Full Bloom represents where you were at in your 20s, so what are you hoping to find in your 30s?
So far, my 30s feel really exciting and confident. I hope to get back to writing soon so I can try to capture that feeling. I’m wanting to explore more Christmas music as well.
Are there any lessons you have learned in making Full Bloom that you will carry with you into the making of your sophomore album?
Full Bloom was my first time producing, and I really leaned into that on “I’m Still Here.” I’m wanting to continue exploring my production skills on my sophomore album, so I can keep growing as an artist and creative.
Thank you so much again for your time. Do you have any final thoughts or comments?
Thank you! No final thoughts other than to say thank you for listening and stay tuned for more music soon.
You can listen to Full Bloom on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Keep up with Kristin Carter: Facebook // Instagram // X // YouTube // TikTok // Website
