Singer-songwriter Nick Carpenter, who performs under the moniker Medium Build, gets candid in his latest track, “Drug Dealer.” The intimate track, his first new single since the release of his experimental EP, takeaways, examines the feelings of joyful escapism and hope that arise when pining after a mysterious stranger.
“‘Drug Dealer’ is about the universal loneliness that all of us share,” explains Carpenter. “I always find myself falling for the strangers in my world. The helpful flight attendant or the grouchy barista, perfect in the way that they don’t know me, and I don’t know them. As I aged out of youthful social circles and the loneliness in my life became more obvious, the desire to fill that void with the adoration or acceptance of a stranger became stronger. I’ve spent my whole life looking for someone who could save me. But really, we all know ain’t nobody gonna fill that void but ourselves. I hope this tune promotes self-love. I’m definitely working on loving myself right now.
“I guess my sexuality always seemed like something I had to prove before I could properly identify as a member of a community,” he continues. “As I’ve aged and explored, I’ve learned that experience, while an excellent teacher, is not the qualifier for membership. You are breathing and shitting and crying like all of us are until you’re not. Take pride in the things that make you different, but rest in the cradle that is your shared place, the human place. Have sex with your drug dealer, or don’t. Have kids or don’t. We’re all in this together! And unfortunately, we have more in common with our opps[sp] than we have differences.”
You can catch Medium Build out on the road this summer, where he’ll serve as support for both Tyler Childers and Rainbow Kitten Surprise‘s headlining tours. The slate of shows listed below includes stops in cities across the U.S. through the end of September. You can find more information on the live dates and view ticketing options by visiting Medium Build’s official website.
Listen to “Drug Dealer” below:
Medium Build’s 2025 Tour Dates:
July 24 ‐ Omaha, Neb. @ CHI Health Center ^
July 26 ‐ East Troy, Wis. @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre ^
July 29 ‐ Lewiston, N.Y. @ Artpark †
July 30 ‐ Newport, Ky. @ MegaCorp Pavilion †
Aug. 1 ‐ St. Louis, Mo. @ Saint Louis Music Park †
Aug. 2 ‐ Lincoln, Neb. @ Pinewood Bowl Theater †
Aug. 3 ‐ Waite Park, Minn. @ The Ledge Amphitheater †
Aug. 5 ‐ Fargo, N.D. @ UP District Festival Pavilion †
Aug. 10 ‐ Jacksonville, Ore. @ Britt Festival Pavilion †
Aug. 11 ‐ Bend, Ore. @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater †
Aug. 13 ‐ Bonner, Mont. @ KettleHouse Amphitheater †
Aug. 14 ‐ Spokane, Wash. @ Pavilion at Riverfront †
Sept. 5 ‐ Dillon, Colo. @ Dillon Amphitheater †
Sept. 6 ‐ Dillon, Colo. @ Dillon Amphitheater †
Sept. 8 ‐ Morrison, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre †
Sept. 20 ‐ Richmond, Va. @ Iron Blossom
Sept. 24 ‐ Camden, N.J. @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion ^
Sept. 25 ‐ Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Center ^
Sept. 27 ‐ Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live ^
Sept. 29 ‐ Forest Hills, N.Y. @ Forest Hill Stadium ^
Sept. 30 ‐ Forest Hills, N.Y. @ Forest Hills Stadium ^
^ with Tyler Childers
† with Rainbow Kitten Surprise
