Olivia Rodrigo at Spotify x American Express Present: GUTS Gallery Pop-Up Experience in New York City on Sept. 7, 2023.Photo:Happy Monday for Spotify
Happy Monday for Spotify
Olivia Rodrigomay havethree No. 1 singlesand three Grammy Awards under her belt, but there’s one thing she’s never had the chance to experience: getting to celebrate an album release with her actual fans.
“I never got to actually experience any of the fun events that go along with an album release!” she told PEOPLE in an exclusive sit-down before the event. “I never got to watch people as they listened to the songs for the first time. It’s really fun.”
Olivia Rodrigo and Eva Chen at Spotify and AmEx Guts event in New York City on Sept. 7, 2023.Happy Monday for Spotify
Though the“Bad Idea Right?”singer admitted it was “a little nerve-wracking” to watch her fans listen to new songs for the first time, Rodrigo was ready and excited to see which tracks “people gravitate towards.”
“I owe so much to my fans,” she said. “When you’re making the record, you always have your favorite song, and my producer has his favorite song and the label has their favorite song, but sometimes you don’t really know which songs people are going to choose as their favorite until it comes out. So I’m really anxious to see what people like the most."
Olivia Rodrigo at Spotify x American Express Present: GUTS Gallery Pop-Up Experience in New York City on Sept. 7, 2023.Happy Monday for Spotify
“It kind of depends on my mood. I really love ‘All-American Bitch.’ I really love ‘Teenage Dream.’ I really love ‘Love Is Embarrassing,’” she revealed. “It just depends on if I’m feeling in a dancey mood or a rage-y mood. But I’m very excited for this album to come out. It’s been a long time in the making, so it’s going to feel good.”
“It comes from the essay that she wrote about hippies in San Francisco and running away from home,” she explained. “One of the runaways was talking about his mom back home and said that she was an ‘all-American bitch.’ I was like, ‘Wow, that’s so cool.’ It’s such a provocative set of words. I sat down the next day at the piano and wrote ‘All-American Bitch.’… You never know the trajectory a song is going to take.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the chat, Rodrigo revealed the title of one of her go-to Spotify playlists: “Driving Down the PCH with the Windows Down,” a reference to California’s Pacific Coast Highway, famed for its scenic ocean views.
Rodrigo burst onto the scene in 2021 with her debut single“Drivers License,”which has been streamed more than 1 billion times on Spotify and won best pop solo performance at the2022 Grammy Awards.
Sour, the album which featured the hit, topped theBillboardcharts, andGuts, its long-awaited follow-up, sees Rodrigo teaming up once more with Dan Nigro, her producer and songwriting partner.
To celebrate the release, Rodrigo did a Q&A withEva ChenThursday night at the pop-up, taking questions from fans in attendance.
The gallery kicks off Friday, and will run through Sunday, giving fans the chance to snag exclusive merch (including T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, bumper stickers, dad hats, beanies, tote bags and more) and snap photos at interactive photo moments.
“TheGutsexperience is another example of how dedicated Spotify is to bringing fans into the worlds of their favorite artists and albums,” says Ashley Graver, Head of Dance, Pop, and Indie, Artist Partnerships at Spotify. “This is a three-day extravaganza where top fans can immerse themselves into Olivia Rodrigo’s creative space, with a replica of her actual bedroom and an early opportunity to shop Olivia’s new merch. We can’t wait to see the next moves of alt-pop’s reigning princess and were honored to celebrate this release with her.”
Spotify fans and Amex card members have early access to the gallery for one hour each day it’s open; Friday is from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday will be from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. All fans will also receive a complimentary tote bag, and there will also be opportunities to receive exclusive gifts.
TheGutsGallery is open to the public on Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 25-27 Little W. 12th Street in New York City.
American Express made People’s annual 100 Companies That Care list in 2023. To nominate a business demonstrating outstanding respect for its employees, community and the environment, visitGreat Place to Work.
source: people.com
