The singer-songwriter was only starting started when he had the biggest hit of early 2021.
When Olivia Rodrigo's heartbroken ballad "drivers license" arrived at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for eight weeks, a practically unheard-of feat for an official debut song, it appeared inevitable that it would dominate the remainder of her breakout year.
However, by the end of her first season, the phrase "drivers license" had faded from her mind. Rodrigo got a second Hot 100 No. 1 with the blistering post-breakup message "good 4 u," which became just as culturally widespread as the first, with a shout-along chorus, searing guitars and pulse-racing drum fills that proved the pop-punk revival percolating just below the mainstream had officially emerged aboveground. And the album both tracks were on, the rapturously received and Billboard 200-topping Sour, became one of the year’s biggest full-length sets, earning an album of the year nod for this year’s Grammy Awards — one of seven awards Rodrigo is up for in April. Merely a year into her solo career, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter isn’t a one- or even a two-hit wonder; she’s simply Olivia Rodrigo.
In the short term, that means preparing for her Sour tour — Rodrigo’s first time hitting the road — which begins in April and will take her across America and Europe through early July. But while Rodrigo’s early blockbuster success would undoubtedly allow her to fill arenas, she’s instead visiting mostly smaller amphitheaters and concert halls. “I think it’s important not to skip steps in my career,” she says of the underplay strategy. “And also, I’m just really excited to play these more intimate venues and get to know my fans on a deeper, more personal level.”
At the same time, Billboard’s Woman of the Year will also get reacquainted with herself, as she lays the groundwork for her next album — and she’ll do it with a significant new addition to her team. Rodrigo recently signed with Aleen Keshishian and Zack Morgenroth of Lighthouse Media + Management, joining a roster that includes Selena Gomez and a slew of A-list actors. (She parted ways with longtime manager Kristen Smith of Camp Far West in January; Rodrigo declined to comment on the change.)
“Olivia is a once-in-a-generation singer-songwriter,” says Keshishian. “We were blown away by her preternatural intelligence, work ethic, sensitivity and vision. It has been so impressive getting to know her and seeing firsthand how grounded and down to earth she is, as well as how much gratitude she has. Not only is she collaborative, but she is respectful and appreciative of her collaborators. For an artist to be able to take suggestions and synthesize them, while still making sure their vision is implemented, is an extremely unique quality and something at which Olivia excels.”
Rodrigo's journey will be different this time than it was when she was a high school student more recognized as a Disney TV star than a singer-songwriter. But she's already rejoined with Sour co-writer/producer Dan Nigro, and she claims production on the follow-up to that album is already underway — and they've even come up with a title.
One of the most surreal experiences of my life was visiting the White House to see President Joe Biden and express my support for immunization in the United States. I was thinking about how I got to do it because I created a bunch of songs in my bedroom the entire time I was in the White House enjoying this great experience. That was a terrific "squeezeme" moment.
I chose not to do any bonus tracks or special editions because Sour just felt like such a distinct era in my life, and I felt like I wanted to give the songs and album time to breathe. And yeah, I’m excited to create a new era of my music. I really like the way the album existed as a body of work.
You’re about to head out on tour almost a year after the album came out. Do you find yourself connecting to the songs in different ways after all this time?
A really beautiful thing about songwriting is watching songs that are so personal to you go out into the world and kind of take on another life. So performing the songs now is even more special than it was when I was writing them in my bedroom, because they now have so many other people’s stories intertwined within them, too. I’m really excited to experience that firsthand on tour.
I know you never stop creating songs, but have you been able to compose any music for a new project yet?
I've come up with a title for my upcoming album as well as a couple tracks. It's really exciting to consider the new universe that awaits me. I really like creating tunes. I'm trying not to put myself under too much stress. Right now, all I want to do is travel and have fun.
Working with Dan is a dream come true for me. We've got such a terrific chemistry. We are constantly exchanging ideas and have set aside time in the studio to work together. Only Dan and I could comprehend the lunacy of Sour being out in the world.
Pop punk and emo music are two of my favorite genres. People, more than anything, I believe, want for those extremely emotional, less polished moments in music, which is why punk's ferocity is so appealing.
What about popular music excites you the most in 2022?
I like how pop music is becoming more genre-less. Pop music is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of styles, and I like hearing it in all of its forms these days. I'm also incredibly enthused by female singer-songwriters and how openly and honestly they're sharing their stories. That has always been a source of inspiration for me. It's so inspiring to see young women's voices being heard, valued, and honored in the manner that they have recently. I can't wait to be a part of the celebration.
