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In a music industry that’s forever changing, Olivia Rodrigo emerges as a rare exception. The former Disney star turned vocal powerhouse broke through in the pandemic era with her debut single, “Drivers License,” a poignant piano power ballad that manages to make the mundane feel cinematic. This song shattered streaming records and set the stage for Rodrigo’s debut album, “Sour,” which solidified her as a master of breakup songs and a new generational icon.
Now, with her sophomore album “Guts,” Rodrigo faces not only the customary expectations but also the weight of an entire industry. While she initially grappled with these pressures, “Guts” doesn’t reveal any of that trepidation. Unlike “Sour,” which delved into the pain of romantic betrayal, “Guts” turns the mirror toward Rodrigo herself. With her acting background, Rodrigo excels in delivering introspective, self-aware spoken-word segments. This transition shows her artistic growth and ability to tackle her own complexities with humor and insight.
“Guts” was written and recorded with Rodrigo working closely alongside Dan Nigro, the producer and multi-instrumentalist of her debut album Sour. Inspired by the period of time immediately following Sour‘s success, Rodrigo conceived Guts hoping to reflect the process of maturity she experienced toward the end of her teenage years.
A diverse pop record with a mixture of both energetic songs and soft ballads, Guts does experiment with more rock influences than its predecessor, utilizing a variety of guitar and drum sounds from older alternative and pop rock styles. The subject matter of the record deals with Rodrigo’s transition from adolescence to adulthood, embracing the idea of adolescence and reveling in its relatable imperfections.
The influence of Taylor Swift is unmistakable in Rodrigo’s work, especially when it comes to songs about romantic betrayal. Rodrigo, like Swift, skillfully navigates the narrative of dissecting past relationships while portraying herself as both a victim and victor.
In a statement, Rodrigo shared that the album is about “growing pains” and figuring out her identity at this point in her life. She stated “I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20”, and described it as a natural part of “growth”, and hoped to reflect that with the record.
Her debut album “Sour” garnered huge commercial success, working with producer Dan Nigro. “Sour” became the most-streamed album of 2021 and won Rodrigo three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. So it was a no brainer for her to reteam with him again for the record “Guts”. Rodrigo recorded Guts while experiencing “lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst”. Rodrigo abstained from songwriting for six months following Sour‘s release, so that she could “live a life in order to be able to write about it”.
One thing for certain is with this record, Olivia Rodrigo has certified herself as one of this generations biggest stars.
