Hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with Nick Carpenter—aka Medium Build—for an honest and unfiltered conversation on this episode of the Sad Song Queens podcast.
The episode centers on "Thank You, Cook," the closing track from Medium Build's album King of Having Fun. Together, they explore why Nick gravitates toward slow, melancholic tempos and how getting sober allowed him to strip away years of emotional armor, regret, and defensive facades. Along the way, they unpack unique insights—from the creative process behind writing lyrics in stages and the exhausting pursuit of external validation, to the creative weight of balancing catchiness and raw despair.
From reflections on childhood in Marietta, Georgia, to a live guitar demonstration breaking down why specific minor chord progressions create tension and grief, the discussion stays grounded in the heavy, necessary work of feeling your feelings. They reflect on how Medium Build's honesty in music builds an unexpected community of fellow artists, proving that shared grief can turn into genuine connection. They unpack the quiet space where past heartbreak, deep gratitude, and self-acceptance meet—and why sometimes a sad song is the only true medicine.
Medium Build also shares his favorite sad songs - ones no one has mentioned before!
What happens when an artist stops trying to outrun their own darkness and finally lets the tape roll on what the heart wants to say? Tune in to hear the candid, unvarnished story behind the songs that refuse to let you off easy.
Keywords:
Medium Build, Nick Carpenter, Thank You, Cook song meaning, King of Having Fun album, story behind the song, singer-songwriter interviews, indie folk, indie rock, alternative singer-songwriter, music supervision, music supervisor podcast, Lindsay Wolfington, Laura Webb, Sad Song Queens podcast
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