The Lucky 13: Abi Carter, Performing at Stagecoach

An Indio native is performing at Stagecoach—and she didn’t get the gig simply because she is a local. In case you’ve been living under a rock and didn’t know, the desert’s own Abi Carter won the most recent season of American Idol. The extremely talented singer and songwriter then packed Acrisure Arena, went on tour, and released an emotionally moving and musically diverse debut album, ghosts in the backyard—all in less than a year! She’s now set perform at one of the world’s biggest music festivals, Stagecoach, on Friday, April 25.

What was the first concert you attended?

A Twenty One Pilots concert when I was 14! It was in Arizona, so we drove six hours to get there; 14-year-old me felt so cool. 

What was the first album you owned?

Technically, I’ve never owned an album in the form of purchasing one, but I guess I do own my own album as far as rights are concerned? So that’ll have to be ghosts in the backyard by me, ha ha.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Manchester Orchestra, Carol Ades, Julia Wolf, and Erin LeCount!

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

I’m not super in love with hyper-specificity in lyricism. I love lyrics that can transcend across the experiences of so many, and sometimes listening to songs that reference someone’s specific particular name or place can take me out of a song. 

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

Unfortunately, a One Direction concert has been my dream since I was 13, and that hasn’t changed. If ever there were to be a reunion, you can bet on me spending my life savings to be there.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

I love going to a movie and then listening to the soundtrack immediately afterward, and making it my entire personality for a month or so. I tend to get immersed in film coupled with great music, and I like to feel stuck in that world for waaayyyy too long.

What’s your favorite music venue?

So far, my favorite music venue that I’ve performed in personally was Felton Music Hall in Felton, Calif.!

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

Recently, since I’ve been listening to so much Manchester Orchestra, it’s not surprising that one of their lyrics has been stuck in my head for a bit: “There is nothing I’ve got when I die that I keep, it’s amazing,” “The Maze.”

What band or artist changed your life?

I think Taylor Swift has changed the way a lot of artists in pop music write music in general, myself included. Her lyrics have a way of landing in an interesting way among such a large span of people, and it has helped me in honing into how I want to land with an audience. 

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

I would have to ask Taylor Swift: What was the most difficult obstacle you’ve ever had to overcome in the pursuit of your aspirations, and how did you do it?

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I’ve got to go with “The Maze” by Manchester Orchestra. Just a beautiful song 

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

Currently and maybe forever, Folklore by Taylor Swift.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

This song is WAY too underappreciated, and I cannot stand it. It’s been stuck in my head since the first time I heard it; I can’t wait for it to take over the world: Stream “Dreams” by Carol Ades!