From Country Roots to Pop Blossoms: Kristin Carter’s ‘Full Bloom’ Journey
In this exclusive interview, we delve into the heart and soul of Kristin Carter’s artistic journey as she just released her debut album, “Full Bloom,” today!. Kristin Carter, a name that first echoed across the Canadian music landscape with her Top 20 country hit, has now seamlessly transitioned into the contemporary pop arena. With over 3.8 million digital streams to her name and after captivating audiences with singles like 2023’s “I’m Still Here” and 2024’s “Euphoria,” Carter is ready to present her most ambitious project to date.
“Full Bloom” is not just an album; it’s a declaration of Kristin’s evolution as an artist, songwriter, and producer. Co-written and co-produced by Carter herself, this 12-track masterpiece is ingeniously conceptualized as a “musical garden.” Each track, or “flower,” blooms into a story, collectively painting a vivid landscape of the human experience. From the exhilarating rush of physical chemistry to the profound depths of grief and loss, “Full Bloom” is a sonic journal of Kristin’s personal exploration and growth through her 20s. It tackles a spectrum of themes, including self-doubt, the complexities faced by women, empowerment, love in its quietest moments, the relentless quest for vitality, unrequited love, resilience, and the power of gratitude.
Follow Kristin @kristincartermusic
Hi Kristin, please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Kristin Carter. I’m from Vancouver, Canada and grew up by the ocean. I’m a choir girl at heart who loves creating music. I’ve been singing my whole life, and I just released my debut album, “Full Bloom”.
Describe your sound in three words.
Heartfelt, dynamic, and soothing.
Who influenced you, and why did you choose to make music?
Growing up in choirs, I found my musical footing listening to a lot of emotional and sonically deep music. Choral music really shapes a lot of how I write and perform. As a child of the ‘90s, dramatic music was on trend and so I was also influenced by that and the artists who created it like Celine Dion and Shania Twain. I make music because it feels fulfilling for my soul. It’s a way for me to process the world around me.
Do you play any instruments?
Yes, I play a bit of piano. I’m trying to practice more so I can get better. I’m still a bit nervous with it.
Do you ever get nervous?
I think I answered your question a bit in the last one – yes, I do! It’s something I really struggle with, but I’m working on being more relaxed when I perform.
Tell us about your new album, “Full Bloom”?
This album is a sonic journal that chronicles my curiosity, exploration, and growth throughout my 20s. Since we continually evolve in life, I chose to craft it as a musical garden that holds the many different shades, layers, and expressions of my journey.
What’s the story behind the songs?
The songs are all flowers in the “Full Bloom” garden. They reflect the unique individual moments that form a collective human experience. Some are about heavy topics and others are lighter and joyful. The track selection is meant to showcase that all experiences are necessary to round out a life in “Full Bloom”.
Can you walk us through your creative process for this album and singles? How did the idea come to life?
The idea for the album came to me when I was enjoying my own garden at home. I’m a big gardener, and so the metaphor came pretty naturally. The track list came together one by one. The singles all had unique qualities about how they came to be.
I ended up recording the first single, “I’m Still Here”, from my bedroom and the entire song ended up being produced using only my vocals. The second single, “Euphoria”, was written in Nashville with a fellow Canadian, Steve Mitchell. “Lazy Sunday”, the album’s featured single, I wrote that after hearing an instrumental loop my creative partner Marcus Ramsay sent to me. To me, it sounded like a sun-drenched Sunday morning, so I sent him some lyrics and a melody, and the rest came together pretty quickly after that.
Were there any specific experiences or emotions that fueled the writing and composition of the songs?
Yes, there were many. The album was inspired by the vast and diverse experiences of my twenties. The highs and the lows. Each song on the album features a different theme: elation of physical chemistry (“Euphoria”), the spiral of self-doubt (“Break”), the conversations we struggle to have (“The Waltz”), the complex and confusing realities for women (“Kintsugi”), joyful female empowerment (“Hey Woman!”), quiet moments of love (“Love You Forever”), the quest for vitality (“Alive”), slow-paced indulgence (“Lazy Sunday”), unrequited love (“I’m the One”), personal resilience (“I’m Still Here”), loss and grief (“Your Side of the Blue”), and the gratitude of relationships and human connection (“Good People Good Wine”).
How do you usually start working on a new song? Do you begin with lyrics, melodies, or a concept?
It can vary depending on the song. Sometimes I’ll think of some lyrics that I really connect with and write music around it, other times I’ll imagine a melody and then write lyrics to it. For example, ”Lazy Sunday” was written using an instrumental loop first and “I’m Still Here” was lyrics first.
How involved were you in the production and arrangement of “Full Bloom?”
Very involved! I’m a co-producer on the album. I really enjoyed leaning into the technical side of music creation with this project. I hadn’t produced for myself before.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
Confession – I am not a reader! However, a lot of my friends reference Brené Brown often and I hear she has some good books on leadership. Maybe that should be a goal for 2024.
What advice would you give to your younger self, and why?
To trust myself more and have more fun! I think I was caught up a lot in what people thought of me, and whether I was “good enough” and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to believe in myself and enjoy the creative process more.
How would your best friend describe you?
Caring, strong, and randomly multi-talented – I only say that because I’ve had a lot of random jobs, so I’ve picked up a lot of random skills.
If you were a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
“Searching for Songs – The Journey of a Life Through Music”. I would call it that because my life has always centred around music, and music creation at its core.
What’s next for Kristin Carter in 2024?
I have a music video for “Lazy Sunday” coming out where I’ll be flying! I’m excited to learn the stunt work for it and bring that amazing concept to life. After that, I’m focusing on writing some Christmas music. It’s always been a dream of mine to make a Christmas album.
What is your favorite healthy food?
I really like strawberries, especially the fresh ones that grow in the summertime. Blueberries are great too – I love putting them in a salad.
And your favorite cheat food?
I don’t consider any food a cheat food – I will always happily indulge and try anything.
How would you explain your fashion style?
Colourful and classic.
What is your own definition of happiness?
It’s enjoying the beauty in the little things for me. That’s what I wanted to communicate with the song “Good People Good Wine”.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Joni Mitchell – would love to have coffee with her. I admire her writing so much.
What would be your dream holiday, and who would you go with?
Dream holiday right now is to go to Croatia and Greece. I’ve never explored that part of the world and it looks beautiful. I would love to go with my fiancé.
Best advice ever given?
It was from one of my university professors and it was about a data sample, but I think it applies to a broader sense of things. She said something like, “If we waited for the perfect sample, we would never learn anything at all.”
I think of that when I get too caught up in the details to take a risk for something I want in life.
Do you support any charities?
Yes, MS Canada. I had someone close to me be diagnosed with MS in the last few years and so this area of medicine and research is very important to me.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years?
I’ve always wanted to play a cafe in Copenhagen. I hope that in 5 years, my music will take me there, and if I see one person singing along then I’d be so happy.
What is your favorite song to belt out in the car or for karaoke?
“Defying Gravity” from Wicked. I love the message and I love the melody. It makes me feel super strong.
What do you think of social media?
I think it can be an amazing tool to connect us. I also am not the most comfortable using it. I’m a bit too shy for it, I think.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / X / YouTube / Spotify
Book: Sadly, I’m not a reader so I don’t have one.
Quote: “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean, in a drop.” – Rumi
Movie: “The Intouchables”
TV Series: “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”
Favorite Food: The porcini creme campanelle pasta from Casereccio in Vancouver.
Travel Destination: Greece and Croatia
Sports Team: The Vancouver Canucks!