Sabrina Carpenter probably never expected her song about coffee to become such a huge hit in April.
When the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter decided to release “Espresso” before summer, she thought the drink was more of a fall drink and wouldn’t cut through the noise because of it. Ta.
“I didn’t really know if it would connect, but the emotion and sound of this song and the confidence that it was going to go with it was something that I really believed in,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. spoke exclusively. “So, I literally didn’t expect anyone to like it, but I did. That’s all that mattered to me in that moment, and that I think about over and over again.” That’s what I do.”
The hit song became the most streamed song of the year on Spotify, collecting over 1.6 billion dreams. Starring Domingo, played by Marcello Hernández, it was parodied in a skit on Saturday Night Live, and went viral with 15 million views on YouTube. “Espresso” also led to Carpenter’s latest partnership with Dunkin’ to bring Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso to life.
With the new collaboration, the artist wants to create memories with fans in different ways while maintaining his playful personality.
“As the world changes, people value connection more, and I think that’s because it’s so rare,” she says. “I think it’s really special to be able to have something that makes you feel connected to the people you love. So for me it’s not just being on tour but physically going to each city. It’s like finding a partnership like this that takes me to your doorstep, your nearest Dunkin’, or whatever is closest to you when you can.
She added, “This is absolutely the perfect way for me to end this year and celebrate this song that will never go away. Once that’s done, let’s talk about it.” But for now, I’m glad people are still enjoying the humor behind the song and having a good time over a drink.”
Below, Carpenter also talks about Netflix’s Nonsense Christmas special, her fashion choices, and potential plans for new music.
Tell us about this partnership with Dunkin. How did it come about?
I mean, I’m an East Coast born, East Coast raised guy who just came of age… Dunkin’ is essentially my childhood and it’s followed me into my adult life. To be honest, I think it was a real no-brainer for a variety of reasons. I have a song called “Espresso,” and when they approached me about this song, I somehow realized that the coffee collaboration window was closed, but I didn’t actually do it. When this song was first released, it had a few moments, but nothing that felt really, really distinctive. This is a drink that I absolutely love, and they were so helpful in bringing that vision to life and keeping it in a really “espresso” vibe, which was really fun.
Sabrina Carpenter and Dunkin’s Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso.
Provided by Dunkin
How did you come up with the vision you wanted to present to people?
I think the playfulness throughout this album was very, very important to me and the lightness of it all was very important to me. And there were a lot of different campaigns that did that joke really well. . And I wanted to use Dave Myers because he’s one of my favorite and most trusted directors, and he always knows how to bring my vision to life and capture my personality. Because I know that I’m always passionate about infusing movies. It’s the same with everything I do. So we were really happy to have him on board and he was just the best.
So, you touched on this a little bit, but what was it like working with Dunkin’?
They are really great partners. Obviously, it’s very global. I think it’s always been very important to me that I want to find ways to connect with my fans when I can’t be in front of them. If it’s already part of everyone’s daily life, I can follow them wherever they go. Hopefully in a good way. But, no, like I said, it struck me again that this is very much in line with “Espresso,” which is a very enjoyable song for so many reasons to me. But I think one of the main reasons is that unexpected partnerships and gifts have brought me the ability to take things a little more seriously. So obviously the drinks are great. All kidding aside, there’s nothing crazy about the taste, but overall this partnership is a lighthearted one. They are so supportive and wonderful. I’m looking forward to seeing my fans taking pictures and going out with it, and I know it’s a cliché if possible, but in a way, I think it’s creating memories with them.
I’m sure I’ll never forget it in a good way. Dunkin posted a teaser for the drink without explicitly saying it was a collaboration with you, and people in the comments section got really excited. How does it feel to know that your fans are so excited about something that might concern you?
Now that I think about it, I think the reason the world has changed and people value connection more is because it’s so rare. I think it’s really, really special to be able to have something that makes you feel connected to the people you love. So for me it’s when I’m not on tour and I can physically go to each city, it’s something like this that takes me to your doorstep, your nearest Dunkin, or whatever is closest. It’s kind of useful to find a partnership. So I’m just happy that it worked out. This is the absolutely perfect way to end the year for me and the perfect way to celebrate this song that will never go away. (Laughs) Once that’s done, let’s talk again. But for now, I’m glad that people are still enjoying the humor behind the song and having a good time while enjoying a drink.
What would you like to collaborate with Dunkin’ next? Do you have any summer, spring or fall drink ideas?
perhaps. I mean, I think they were very open, very nice, and very communicative. So I think the options are endless.
Dunkin’s Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso.
Courtesy of Dunkin’
You mentioned that “espresso” hasn’t disappeared, and honestly, I think that’s for the best. It was the number one song on my Spotify Wrapped.
Are you serious? (lol)
yes. I knew I listened to it a lot, but I didn’t know I listened to it this much.
That’s kind of amazing. I think that’s the point. It’s kind of addictive. It worked really well. That’s not what I intended when I wrote it. So I’m really happy to hear that. Thank you for listening to me again and again, even though I didn’t realize it.
When “Espresso” was released earlier this year, could you have predicted it would be as big of a hit as the Espresso Martini, the Domingo SNL parody, and your new perfume, among others?
You know what’s funny? The reason I get asked this question in particular is because of the fact that when something takes on a life of its own, it has to have some kind of consciousness. But actually, I remember deciding to release this song at the beginning of summer and thinking that espresso or coffee is more of a fall drink. I didn’t really know if it would connect, but the emotion and sound of this song and the confidence that it came with it was something that I really believed in. But I loved it, and that’s all that mattered to me in that moment and what I try to remember over and over again.
So this collaboration is like a no-nonsense Christmas special on Netflix to cap off a holiday-filled month. What was it like bringing that special piece to life?
It was exactly what I wanted. I know it’s very coincidental, but I grew up watching Cher’s show, along with Dolly Parton and Lucille Ball, just a few of the great talents who have been a huge inspiration to me. So when the idea of doing my own Christmas special came up, I was so excited that I jumped at the opportunity. I didn’t have a lot of time to put it together, but I wanted it to be something that really fit my personality and visually aligned with what I love and am inspired by. So I’m very happy and grateful to the guests who participated. That’s really, essentially, what made it special. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how we continue to vacation over the years, and I think it was a really good start.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Nonsense Christmas Special on Netflix.
Alfred Flores/Netflix
You mentioned all the guest stars. It was so incredible. There were different people on the left and right. How did something like that come about?
Honestly, most of them were just sentences. I’ve been really lucky over the last few years to feel connected to different artists, different writers, different actors, people, and people I’ve been with that have been really interesting and inspiring. . I met him before and he was my friend. Some of them I had never met before, but I really wanted to work with them and I’m so grateful they were a great fit to join. A lot of it was very organic, it was like a few slides into the DMs and that’s how it came together. Like I said, it was exactly the kind of playfulness we wanted. Therefore, we wanted all of our guests to have an enjoyable production experience.
Your style is so unique and so amazing, on stage, on specials, and overall. How do you and your team decide on the look and theme of your specials, and even your tours?
I like clothes that fit me well and I start from there. I think that meeting a good seamstress changed a lot of my life. And to be honest, I really think that when I was younger, I wore more ill-fitting clothes and things that people felt like they might…sometimes you’re young, so much more than your age. You want to dress older than your age, or you want to dress younger than your age. At the end of the day, I think I’ve found a place where everything falls into place with what makes me feel best. I’m petite, so a lot of these styles came from outfits that I wore and had half of the dress cut out, and ended up feeling like things that really complimented me. So it kind of started from there, and then when I worked on the Short and Sweet Tour with my stylist Jared (Ellner), he was very… I mean, we’ve already done a lot together. So I think he kind of already knew exactly where we were going, and from there it was more about more specific fits and cuts, clothes that were easier to put on and take off, and more. It became shiny.
You still have the international leg of your tour left, but have you started working on your new album yet? Are you starting to think about what you’ll do next in music or on screen? What’s in the future for Sabrina Carpenter?
Well, I think it’s up to you or fate. But for me, I always think about the year ahead. So while I was making “Short and Sweet,” I started the thought process of what would happen after “Short and Sweet.” That’s all for now. But I’m so excited for the new year. Because I think that’s what I’m trying to do, just allow myself to allow the space to grow and have fun with it and not take it too seriously.
