Subversive. Satirical. Blasphemous. Deadly serious.
Alt-pop firestarter Candi Carpenter just dropped their new single “American God”—a blood-soaked, honey-dripped rock opera anthem that you can’t wash off, no matter how hard you scrub.
This is no ordinary protest song. “American God” is a pro-gay, anti-capitalist war cry for anyone who’s ever felt crushed by hypocrisy, intolerance, or the almighty dollar. It’s sharp enough for the metal kids, sticky enough for the pop fans, and theatrical enough for anyone who worships at the altar of Lady Gaga.
But who is this non-binary witch raising hell?
Candi Carpenter (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, autistic singer, songwriter, producer, and multidisciplinary artist with a career that reads like a series of reincarnations: gospel child prodigy, yodeling champion, country chart-climber, and now, one of the boldest alt-rock voices of their generation. They’ve shared stages with Brandi Carlile, been spotlighted by Rolling Stone, and even caught the ear of Dolly Parton, who declared them “one of the greatest singer/songwriters I’ve ever heard, bar none.”
Their 2024 debut album Demonology proved they weren’t here to play it safe. With “American God”, Carpenter isn’t just pushing boundaries—they’re tearing them down, daring you to look them in the eye and sing along.
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
