Why Sabrina Carpenter’s Longtime Vocal Coach Saw Her Shift to Edgier Lyrics Coming
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“She’s always had a playful sense of humor,” says Vetro, who has been working with Carpenter since her days as a 12-year-old Disney Channel star
Eric Vetro takes great pride in Sabrina Carpenter’s progress.
The 68-year-old vocal coach, who has worked with artists like Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes, has been guiding the 25-year-old “Espresso” singer since she was just 12. Vetro is not surprised by Carpenter’s transition from a Disney Channel star to an international sensation, or by her shift towards more mature, provocative lyrics.
“She’s always had a playful sense of humor, a little on the edgy side,” Vetro shares with PEOPLE. “It didn’t catch me off guard because it wasn’t something that happened overnight.”
Carpenter began her music career around the same time she starred on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World in 2014. She released four albums before 2022’s Emails I Can’t Send, which included her breakout hits “Nonsense” and “Feather.”
This year, the rising star achieved A-list recognition with the release of singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” from her sixth album, Short n’ Sweet, which became her first album to top the Billboard 200.
She is currently on her highly successful Short n’ Sweet Tour, having recently completed the North American leg, which marked her debut as a headliner for arena shows.
Vetro saw her potential early on in her career. “I remember the first time I saw her perform, I was really impressed by how charismatic and confident she was,” he recalls. “She owned the stage like a seasoned professional, even when she was just 16 or 17.”
During vocal lessons with Carpenter, Vetro says her “cheeky” personality was always evident, making the provocative nature of Short n’ Sweet songs like “Bed Chem” and “Juno” feel like a natural evolution for her.
“I’ve seen it unfold gradually, so it didn’t surprise me,” he explains, adding that Carpenter maintains her “classy” approach even with her playful moments. “She balances that line perfectly. She never crosses into anything that feels trashy… It’s sexy and fun, full of innuendo.”
Vetro has also shared his expertise with the public through BBC Maestro’s “Sing Like the Stars” course, an eight-hour video series offering insights from his famous students, including Carpenter, John Legend, and Marissa Jaret Winokur.