Olivia Rodrigo Shares the Song That Came Together So Fast, It Brought Her to Tears
By Website Content Manager
The singer-songwriter opens up about a track from her new album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, that perfectly reflected her emotions at the time.
Olivia Rodrigo knows that some of the most powerful songs can emerge almost effortlessly.
The 23-year-old singer-songwriter recently made an unexpected appearance at the Licorice Pizza pop-up, where she celebrated the Aug. 1 launch of LEGO sets inspired by her latest album and music. During a fan Q&A, Rodrigo reflected on one songwriting session that remains especially memorable to her — one that came together remarkably fast and left her emotional when she heard the finished song.
Asked which track had the most memorable creative process, Rodrigo quickly named “Honeybee.”
According to the singer, writing the song was an enjoyable experience because the words and melody seemed to arrive naturally and in a short period of time.
“I feel like writing ‘Honeybee’ was really fun and it happened in a really short amount of time,” she said, explaining that she particularly enjoys those moments when a song seems to simply flow out.
What made the experience even more significant was how accurately the finished track reflected her emotions at the time. Rodrigo recalled becoming tearful when she listened to the song afterward because it expressed precisely what she had been feeling.
“‘Honeybee’” is featured on Rodrigo’s third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, which arrived June 12. Across its 13 tracks, the album follows the different stages of her first serious adult relationship, touching on the happiness of falling in love as well as the uncertainty, insecurity and heartbreak that can come later.
Rodrigo also explained that songwriting has changed the way she observes everyday life. Once she starts creating, she said, even ordinary moments can take on a new significance.
For the singer, inspiration can come from virtually anywhere. A seemingly insignificant detail encountered during a normal day might eventually become the foundation for a song. Rodrigo said she maintains an extensive collection of potential ideas in the notes app on her phone so she can return to them whenever she is ready to write.
Her approach to creativity was also shaped by her childhood. As an only child, Rodrigo spent plenty of time by herself, which gave her an opportunity to process her emotions privately and develop songwriting as an outlet.
She believes those experiences helped contribute to the way she writes today, giving her a place to put feelings that might otherwise have remained unexpressed.
As she has gotten older, however, Rodrigo has increasingly drawn inspiration from the people she encounters. Conversations, relationships and the stories others share can all spark different emotions and ideas that eventually find their way into her music.
The singer describes herself as a people person and says she particularly enjoys meeting new people and learning about their experiences — another source of inspiration for her songwriting.