A Dirty Dozen with CANDI CARPENTER – September 2025

According to a recent press release: “Alt pop musical provocateur CANDI CARPENTER is the “American God.” Today, they drop their new single titled “American God.” Subversive. Satirical. Blasphemous. Totally serious. “American God” is scathing political and social commentary dripping with thick blood and honey sticky hooks that wo”t wash off with soap and water. Candi Carpenter’s new pro-gay, anti-capitalist anthem is a rock opera for metal heads who proudly go hard for Lady Gaga. Candi Carpenter (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, openly autistic singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist who is unafraid to shatter expectations. A true rock and alternative musician’s musician, Candi writes songs that cut deep, grappling with toxic religion, sexuality, identity, and the existential beauty of the human experience.” We get Candi to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest single. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My latest single “American God” is basically everything my church youth group leaders warned me about. It’s subversive, satirical and gleefully blasphemous, and probably already landed me on more than a few government watch lists. My family is literally praying for me because of the music video. In the first verse I mention the ‘little demons,’ which is what I call my incredible fan community. I adore my little demons with all of my cold, dead heart.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized that you wanted to be a musician?

Ironically, I got my start singing in church with my family’s gospel band. They were originally called Heaven Sent, but after I joined as a kid we rebranded as The Carpenter’s (with an apostrophe) because, as they put it, “We belonged to Jesus.” I don’t really remember having an “aha” moment where I decided I wanted to be a singer. Music was always a giant part of my life.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I grew up on Southern gospel with my family. I would never have been allowed to listen to an artist like myself back then. We also listened to country radio because my parents believed it was “the most wholesome genre of secular music.” My rock influences came from what I secretly heard at friends’ houses and from the pirated CDs they burned for me. I hid discs full of Blink-182, Linkin Park, and Nirvana in my room and played them whenever my parents were at work.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I am living AND dying to make a record with Trent Reznor because The Downward Spiral completely rewrote my source code. He reprogrammed me.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I like to rot. I like to rot in bed with my cat. I eat pizzas in my room in front of the television like a little rat. That’s my hobby.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’m moving in a more alt-rock direction lately, but I still sing about everything from existentialism to deconstructing toxic religion, to pure, untethered horniness. Somebody called me Chappell Groan the other day and what I appreciate most is that it works whether you hate or love my music.

7. When you and the band are hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

My band and I share the eating, drinking, and van karaoke responsibilities pretty evenly across the board.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I was starstruck when Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s flew to Nashville to appear in some of the music videos for my new EP. Seeing her face in the video for “American God” feels especially unreal because, in addition to being a rock icon, she’s a powerful voice in the exvangelical space. Jane is a major influence and one of my heroes for so many reasons. I still can’t believe she put a ball gag in god’s mouth for me.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I feel lucky that my job is essentially screaming into the void night after night, and helping other people do the same. I’d be screaming into said void regardless.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I’ve always wanted someone to ask me about Ezekiel, the ghost of the demon-possessed 17th-century plague doctor who uses me as a conduit and writes all of my songs. I’m obviously making this up, but I love the idea that someday, hopefully, someone will repeat it as fact on an Illuminati conspiracy site. I can’t wait. I’m also really tired of talking about Ezekiel.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Yes. I wish I’d never mentioned Ezekiel in this interview.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Take me back to 1997. I can’t stop listening to Elliott Smith right now. Either/Or is the soundtrack to this season of my life, and it makes me feel nostalgic for things that haven’t even happened yet.

CANDI CARPENTER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews