Olivia Rodrigo opened up about the pressure surrounding her second album, GUTS, and the creative freedom she experienced while making her latest project during a conversation at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Sept. 1.
Rodrigo appeared at the museum for an evening program moderated by filmmaker and author Cameron Crowe, held in connection with the new exhibit Olivia Rodrigo: the cure unraveled. The exhibit explores the handmade, tactile aesthetic behind the music video for her song “the cure.”
During the conversation, Rodrigo reflected on the expectations that followed the success of her 2021 debut album, SOUR. She said the process of creating GUTS brought significant anxiety as she faced the challenge of following an album that had become a major commercial and cultural success.
“My second record, there was so much pressure,” Rodrigo said. “There was so much anxiety, there were voices in my head.”
The singer said her approach changed while making her third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. Released in June, the album became Rodrigo’s third consecutive No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, continuing the chart success established by SOUR and GUTS.
Rodrigo said the recording process for the new album was considerably more enjoyable for her. She described music as one of the greatest sources of happiness in her life and said she wanted that sense of joy and passion to be reflected in the recordings.
The discussion also focused on Rodrigo’s songwriting process and her willingness to move away from perfectionism. She explained that she frequently writes songs that never make an album but sometimes salvages a single lyric or idea from an unfinished track for another song.
“I try not to be precious,” Rodrigo said, explaining that perfectionism can interfere with the songwriting process. She also discussed how individual songs on the new album developed at different speeds, with “honeybee” coming together quickly while “stupid song” took roughly a year and a half to complete.
Rodrigo also spoke about her intention to explore happier emotions while making you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. She initially challenged herself to write more positive love songs but found that some of the songs she connected with most still carried elements of sadness.
The singer traced the origins of “the cure” to a day when she did not particularly feel like writing music. She nevertheless picked up her guitar and began working through a set of chords, an experience she described as part of maintaining creative discipline. The song subsequently became one of her favorites and helped shape the creative direction of the album.
The Grammy Museum event also included a live performance. Rodrigo performed “Drop Dead,” “Stupid Song,” “Maggots for Brains,” “Less” and “The Cure” during the program.
The appearance comes shortly before Rodrigo begins her sold-out Unraveled Tour in support of you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. The Grammy Museum says the tour has sold more than 1 million tickets globally, with additional dates added following demand.
Rodrigo’s third album has also extended her Billboard history. According to the Grammy Museum, all three of her studio albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love reached No. 1 in 17 countries after its June release.
