Olivia Rodrigo says she is entering a more self-assured chapter as she prepares to release her third album, written during and after her first “adult relationship.” In a new interview for Dazed’s summer 2026 issue, the 23-year-old singer reflects on how her life and songwriting have changed since the breakout success of “drivers license,” SOUR and GUTS, describing the new record as more joyful, romantic and emotionally layered than her earlier breakup-driven work.
Rodrigo says she finished the album in March and has been eager to share it with the world, even though the songs still feel very personal. The project was introduced in April with “drop dead,” a synth-driven love song about the excitement and nerves of falling for someone new. She performed it live for the first time in a surprise Coachella appearance, joining Addison Rae on stage to a huge crowd response.
The interview traces Rodrigo’s extraordinary rise from teenage heartbreak ballads to one of pop’s biggest global stars. Her debut single “drivers license” became a record-breaking hit in 2021, followed by SOUR, the most-streamed album of that year, and GUTS, which powered a sold-out world tour and major festival performances, including Glastonbury. Despite the awards and scale of her success, Rodrigo says she no longer fears losing the “precocious kid” image that first defined her. Instead, she feels she is growing as a songwriter, drawing from more complex experiences and references.
A major theme of the new album is love, but Rodrigo says she wanted to write about happiness without making the songs feel simplistic. She says even the happiest relationships contain insecurity, longing and fear, and that tension shaped the album’s emotional tone. She also cites post-punk and alternative influences including The Cure, New Order, Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and the Banshees, as well as songwriters such as PJ Harvey, Fiona Apple and Lorde.
Rodrigo discusses the importance of friendship, support and emotional honesty, saying that breakups can be painful but also revealing, and that close friends help keep her grounded. She recalls a conversation with Robert Smith after their Glastonbury performance together, saying his advice helped her think less about self-doubt and more about connection with audiences. She says live shows remain one of the most meaningful parts of her career because they create a shared emotional release with fans.
The singer also touches on her life outside music, including reading, yoga, films and karaoke, and says London has played a special role in her creative process. She names the album title as one she had long wanted to use, drawn from a studio remark by producer Dan Nigro: “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.” Rodrigo says the phrase captured the exact feeling she wanted to explore.
