Abi Carter’s rise to stardom began at an early age, inspired by her mother’s singing as she fell asleep each night, which nurtured a deep love for music. Her passion blossomed at the Indio Date Festival, where she won her first singing competition at the age of eight. This early success set the stage for her future, leading to a surreal and nerve-wracking American Idol audition with Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” that showcased her determination and talent, ultimately culminating to her victory as the 2024 season’s winner.
Growing up in a large, musical family, Abi developed her natural talent through piano lessons, which shaped her artistic dreams and songwriting. Her music, deeply personal and reflective of real experiences, possesses an authentic voice that resonates with listeners. One of her career highlights was performing “Bring Me To Life” on American Idol, a bold step outside her comfort zone that underscored her versatility. Despite the challenges of a hectic schedule, Abi remains committed to her music career and is currently preparing for her upcoming concert at Acrisure Arena. Her advice to aspiring artists is to relentlessly pursue their passions.
Abi’s roots in Coachella Valley and the support of her local community have been instrumental in her journey. Known for her raw earnestness and technical skill, she has a unique ability to connect with audiences through her music. Her debut single, “It’s All Love,” inspired by personal experiences, exemplifies her songwriting prowess. As she continues to rise in the music industry, Abi’s blend of innate talent and hard-earned skill positions her as a standout artist, ready to take her career to new heights.
Coachella Magazine: Tell us more about your musical journey from a young age. What are some of your earliest memories of singing and performing in Coachella Valley?
Abi Carter: Growing up, my mom was always – and I really mean always – singing around the house. She would make sure to sing us to sleep every night. I think it was then that I knew I wanted to be able to sing as well as her. My earliest memory of really genuinely trying to sing in the valley was at the Indio Date Festival for their annual singing competition. My mom and I had spent hours and hours and days and days rehearsing the song “Maybe” from the musical Annie. I won first place that year and it really made my 8 year old self want to be able to sing for the rest of my life.
CM: What was going through your mind during your first audition for American Idol, especially with your rendition of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”?
Abi Carter: I genuinely blacked out. It’s such a surreal experience being there in person, and it’s a stark difference from watching it on TV. It’s really hard to keep your composure being on camera for the first time, let alone in front of people you’ve idolized since you understood what music and artists were. I remember thinking to myself that if I let my heart beat out of my chest and ruin that audition, that I’d never forgive myself for it, so I forced myself to focus on the words I was saying. Looking back, I would probably do the exact same thing, lol.
CM: Growing up in a large, musical family, how did that shape your passion for music? Do any of your siblings share your musical talents?
Abi Carter: I think I found a lot of peace amongst the chaos of living with such a large family in the music we surrounded ourselves with. It may have always been loud, but at least there was a piano to play to add to the noise! I took piano lessons with my older sister Ariel and younger brother Daniel. All of my siblings can sing, even if they’ll never admit it 😉
CM: How did learning the piano influence your music career? Do you have a favorite piece to play or a composer you particularly admire?
Abi Carter: Piano might have been the first place where my dream of being a real artist started. For years, I hated playing it. It’s always hard to start something new and you’re never a master at something the first time. There were so many years I wanted to quit and went to lessons kicking and screaming. It wasn’t until I was 11 when listening to a song that it seemed like music theory clicked for me. I went over to the piano and was able to figure out how to play that song really quickly. I noticed that all of the other popular songs that I listened to at the time used a similar format, unlocking everything for me in my head. It wasn’t until then that my passion for piano and singing really came together.
I grew up playing classical piano and my favorite composers were Shostakovich and Chopin. There’s not a piece in particular that I feel is my favorite among the composers, but I do love to go back and see if I can still play the sheet music that I have from them after playing pop music for so long.
CM: What inspires your songwriting? Can you walk us through your process of creating a song like “It’s All Love”?
Abi Carter: I always write from a very real, personal place. So far, all of my songs are about things I’ve actually been through, even if they don’t start off that way. For “It’s All Love,” I kind of just started playing gibberish on the piano and humming some notes. The other writer in the room started throwing out words and ideas, and it landed on something I wanted to write about after getting about halfway into the song with completely different lyrics. That one in particular, I wrote about meeting someone I felt I was supposed to be with but couldn’t be with at the time.
CM: What has been your most memorable performance so far, and what can fans expect from your upcoming concert at Acrisure Arena?
Abi Carter: My favorite performance I’ve done so far is probably when I sang “Bring Me To Life” on American Idol. I remember being so giddy about it and refusing to tell my family anything about that performance since they would be in the audience, and I wanted them to be surprised. In truth, I shocked myself. It wasn’t anything truly groundbreaking, but it felt like that for me – stepping so far out of my comfort zone. I had never done anything like that before, and now I can’t imagine a future wherein I don’t continue to put myself outside of my comfort zone musically, especially performance-wise.
CM: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career so far, and how have you overcome them?
Abi Carter: So far, the biggest challenge has been adjusting to such a hectic schedule while still finding time to write. It’s a super harsh change from being someone who was homeschooled and could completely decide her own schedule to being thrown into a world of press and shows, and having to maintain a public image. It’s been hard to even find time to spend personally, let alone be in charge of it. The good news is that I’ve fallen in love with it. I absolutely love being busy and spending my time doing what I love, and the writing comes right alongside it.
CM: What’s next for you after winning American Idol? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about?
Abi Carter: So far, I’m just writing as many songs as I can, working towards planning releases, whether it’s singles, an EP, or an album. I’m currently preparing for my first arena show at Acrisure Arena in the valley on July 27. It’s so amazing to be able to take the time to create things that I really care about and have full creative control over without the time constraints that came with being on Idol. I’m most excited about playing the songs I’ve written live!
CM: What advice would you give to young artists who aspire to follow in your footsteps and achieve their dreams in music?
Abi Carter: In short – follow and work towards what you’re passionate about. There’s just no point in living an unfulfilling life. Keep working hard at it and something positive will come 🙂
CM: How have you grown personally and professionally since your journey on American Idol began?
Abi Carter: I’ve become a lot more sure of myself both in what I want and who I am as an artist. I find myself standing up for myself more. I also used to have a complete inability to multitask and I’m finding that to be less of a problem than it was before, out of necessity!
CM: Being from Coachella Valley, how do you stay connected to your roots, and how has your local community supported your journey?
Abi Carter: My family is what helps me stay connected to my roots. I had to move out to LA to pursue this dream, but we still have family dinner, game nights, and support each other for all the big things. When I’m in the valley, I pretend like life is as it always has been, and I still go to Costco for a great $1.50 hotdog. My community has always been there for me, now more than ever, honestly. They’ve had my back since I was busking on the streets, and they have my back when I’m playing a show in an arena. I hope I can give back to them as much as they’ve given to me.
WEB: www.abicartermusic.com
SOCIAL: abicartermusic
For more ticket information: acrisurearena.com/event/abi-carter/