Singular: Act II

In June 2018, Carpenter revealed that her third studio album Singular was completed and that it was scheduled for a winter 2018 release. However, in October, she announced on Twitter that the album would be split into two acts with the first act, Singular: Act I, released on November 9, 2018. After the release of Act I, Carpenter revealed that Act II would be released in early 2019. On the split, Carpenter noted that, I describe Act II as Act I upside down where Act I makes you feel comfortable with yourself and Act II makes you feel a little uncomfortable with yourself, in the way that we need to grow. It's also a more vulnerable side of confidence. There is also confidence in being vulnerable and there is also strength in that weaker side of yourself and just kind of letting your emotions run loose. Carpenter began teasing Act II in December 2018, noting that she planned to tour for the album. In May 2019, Nylon magazine reported that Carpenter had scheduled July 26, 2019, as the release date for Singular: Act II. On June 4, 2019, Carpenter revealed the album artwork by sending it to her fans in multiple cities around the United States using Apple's AirDrop feature. Later that day, Carpenter formally announced the album via her social media and that the release date had been pushed up to July 19, 2019. == Composition ==

(pictured) provides guest vocals on the album. Genres and themes The album is primarily a pop, R&B and dance record. It differed to its predecessor album with its heavier lyrical content, in which Carpenter discusses confidence, anxiety, introspection and self-discovery. Refinery29 writer Kathleen Newman-Bremang noted that the album "sways between boastful, playful pop, and soulful confessions about anxiety". She felt the album was reminiscent of '90s R&B noting her "polished and self-assured" attitude. The album cover is dark and pictures Carpenter in shadows on a fire escape. Music and content The album begins with "In My Bed", an "electro-kissed" and synth-laden song which was called one of her "most eclectic efforts to date". Carpenter noted that the song represents the feeling of overthinking and how life feels when you are overwhelmed by anxiety and other "moments where life feels like a lot to deal". Carpenter described it as "opening the door" to Singular: Act II. The song also talks about being "older, wiser, and less willing to put up with other people's BS". "I Can't Stop Me", featuring America rapper Saweetie, is a trap beat song which mixes pop with hip-hop. On the song, Carpenter noted that " it feels like what Singular should feel like". Paper writer Brendan Wetmore felt that the song demonstrated Carpenter's "melodic prowess and pushes it to a beastly boundary". Carpenter described the song as "cheeky" while Affinity writer Tatiana Brown noted that the song looks at "the awkwardness of a relationship". Affinity writer Tatiana Brown noted that the song is meant to "remind people to take a break from pressure and to just breathe". ''L'Officiel'' writer Dylan Kelly called the song an anthem "about realizing that you don't actually need someone in your life anymore". The album ends with "Looking At Me", which is a fun, lighthearted, dance-pop and hip hop song influenced by Latin dancehall music. The song talks about owning confidence and being the center of attention and is Carpenter's most streamed release under Hollywood Records. == Critical reception ==

Upon release, the album received generally positive reviews. Erica Russel of PopCrush called the album "a glossy, hook-laden collection of danceable pop and R&B" as well as saying the record shows Carpenter's "intimate perspectives, emotions and internal musings about everything from love to growing up". Tatiana Brown of Affinity called the album a "cohesive collection" and "arguably one of the best albums of the year". == Promotion ==

While not officially touring for Act II, Carpenter embarked on the Singular Tour in March 2019 for Act I and performed "Pushing 20" and "Exhale" prior to the album's release. Despite minimal performances after the album's release, Carpenter performed various songs from the album at the Summer Sonic Festival in 2019. Singles and music videos "Pushing 20" was released as the album's first promotional single on March 8, 2019. The song was released ahead of Carpenter's 20th birthday and was eighth to be performed on the Singular Tour. Larisha Paul of Earmilk commented on the song saying "The single shows Carpenter continuing to tap into production areas previously unexplored within her discography, with its bouncy, bass-heavy production drawing heavily on hip-hop influenced trap elements while holding true to a distinct pop sound". "Exhale" was released as the album's second promotional single on May 3, 2019. Carpenter described the song as being her most personal song yet and was performed as the encore on the Singular Tour. The song received a music video, directed by Mowgly Lee, released on May 17, 2019. "In My Bed", was released on June 7, 2019 as the third promotional single alongside the pre-order for Singular: Act II. She first performed the song as a part of her Good Morning America summer concert series. The music video for the song was released through Marie Claire on June 28, 2019. The video was described as "restless and sometimes downright woozy" with Billboard writer Rania Aniftos noting that "the viewer is transported into a hypnotic world". "I'm Fakin", was released as the fourth promotional single, on July 12, 2019, a week before the album's release. == Commercial performance ==

Singular Act II debuted at number 138 on the US Billboard 200, and reached number 53 on the United Kingdom's Album Downloads chart. == Track listing ==

Notes • signifies an also vocal producer • signifies a vocal producer • signifies an executive producer • signifies a co-producer • signifies an additional producer == Credits and personnel ==

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Singular: Act II. Recorded, mixed and mastering • Los Angeles, California • Venice, California • Burbank, California • Defi Studios • Hollywood Hills, California • Studio Borgen • New York City • Virginia Beach, Virginia • Sydney Vocals • Sabrina Carpenter — vocals , backing vocals • CJ Baran — backing vocals • Trevor Brown – backing vocals • Johan Carlsson — backing vocals • Warren "Oak" Felder — backing vocals • Ross Golan — backing vocals Instrumentation • Nils-Petter Ankarblom – synthesizer • Trevor Brown – bass, guitar • David Bukovinszky – cello • Mattias Bylund – synthesizer • Gunhild Carling — trumpet • Johan Carlsson – electric guitar , synthesizer, guitar • Jonas Jeberg — instrumentation • Mattias Johansson – violin • Zaire Koalo – drum programming • Mauricio Rengifo – keyboard, synthesizer • Andrés Torres – keyboard, synthesizer, electric guitar Production • Johan Carlsson – production, vocal production • Warren "Oak" Felder – production • Jonas Jeberg – production • Mike Sabath – production, vocal production • Stargate — production • Sidney Swift — production • Mauricio Rengifo – production • Andrés Torres – production • Trevor Brown – co-production • Zaire Koalo – co-production • Dayyon Alexander Drinkard – additional production • Steph Jones – vocal production • Noah Passovoy – vocal production • Danny D – executive production • Tim Blacksmith – executive production Technical • Chris Gehringer — mastering • Eric J. Dubowsky — mixing • Serban Ghenea — mixing • Mike Sabath – mixing • Sidney Swift – mixing, programming • CJ Baran – programming • Johan Carlsson – programming • Warren "Oak" Felder – programming , engineering • Mikkel Eriksen — programming, recording • Mauricio Rengifo – programming, arranging • Andrés Torres – arranging • Connor L. Barkhouse – engineering • John Hanes – engineering • Keith Sorrells – assistant engineers ==Charts==