Brandi Carlile has never shied away from reflecting on her own evolution as an artist, and few examples capture that growth more clearly than her changing relationship with one of her early songs, “Turpentine.” Once embraced by fans as a raw and emotional standout, the track now feels to Carlile like something from a completely different lifetime.
Written during her formative years, “Turpentine” emerged from a period when Carlile was still discovering her voice—both musically and personally. Like many young songwriters, she leaned heavily into metaphor, using imagery of healing and toxicity to process emotions she was only beginning to հասկանալ. At the time, that intensity resonated. The song carried a sense of urgency and vulnerability that connected deeply with listeners, helping establish her as a powerful new voice in Americana music.
But with time came distance. As Carlile matured, both in life and in her artistry, her perspective on those early lyrics began to shift. She has since described the song as “melodramatic” and reflective of a younger self who was writing about experiences she had not fully lived yet. Rather than dismissing it entirely, she views it with a kind of gentle honesty—recognizing that it was real in the moment, even if it no longer feels authentic to who she is today.
A major turning point in Carlile’s life came with motherhood and her expanding role within the music community. These experiences reshaped not only her worldview but also the emotional depth of her songwriting. Her later work, including songs like “The Joke,” is often praised for its grounded sincerity and emotional clarity—qualities that come from lived experience rather than imagined pain. Where “Turpentine” reached outward in search of meaning, her newer music feels rooted in something steadier and more fully understood.
Carlile has spoken about revisiting “Turpentine” with the same mindset one might have when reading an old journal. It captures a moment in time, a snapshot of who she was and how she felt, but it does not define her anymore. That distinction is important. Instead of rejecting the song, she places it within the broader arc of her growth, acknowledging that it played a role in shaping the artist she would become.
This kind of reflection highlights a deeper truth about creativity: artists are not static. Their work evolves as they do, and what once felt urgent can later feel distant or even unfamiliar. For Carlile, “Turpentine” is not a mistake or a regret—it is a stepping stone. It represents the beginning of a journey that has since led her to a more grounded, authentic voice.
In recognizing the gap between who she was and who she is now, Carlile offers something valuable to her audience. Growth does not erase the past; it reframes it. And sometimes, the songs that feel the most foreign are the very ones that made everything else possible.