Pop-rock singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo will soon drop her sophomore album, “GUTS.” Rodrigo sat down with the New York Times to discuss her upcoming project, and revealed that she has been so busy that she has not been able to attend Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.”
Rodrigo explained to Caryn Ganz of the New York Times that her inspirations behind her upcoming album lean more into rock and grunge. When asked further about her influences on her debut album, “SOUR”, which features writing credits in the form of interpolations from Paramore and Taylor Swift, Rodrigo told the reporter that she “hadn’t yet” attended “The Eras Tour”, and she is going to Europe next week.
While Rodrigo’s absence from the tour’s stop in her native Los Angeles could simply be chocked up to a busy schedule, the singer’s absence from Swift’s tour is fueling the rumor mill–which alleges an ongoing feud between the songstresses.
The Background
20-year-old Olivia Rodrigo previously cited Taylor Swift as a songwriting inspiration of hers. Swift famously similarly rose to fame during her teenage years, for writing brutally honest songs about her personal life and the growing pains of young adulthood. The pair met at the 2021 BRIT Awards, after Swift allegedly sent Rodrigo a letter congratulating her on the success of her breakout hit “drivers license.”
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Rodrigo’s following debut album, “SOUR”, sparked a discussion on the difference between interpolations and samples in music. Samples require the original artist’s consent for use, and royalties are owed to the original artist as well. However, interpolations are fresh instrumental recordings of similar chord progressions, and do not require permission. Nonetheless, Rodrigo gave writing credits to Paramore and Swift after listeners found sonic similarities between two of their songs with Rodrigo’s.
@jarredjermaine Did you know this is how Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer” & Olivia Rodrigo “deja vu” were connected? #taylorswift #cruelsummer #oliviarodrigo #dejavu #swifttok #swifties #sour #interpolation #sample #samples #sampled #music
While neither of the credits went to court, some fans of Rodrigo and Swift suspect that the situation resulted in a feud between Rodrigo and Swift. Swift notably invites young women artists to collaborate with her on music and open for her live tours, and Rodrigo has not been present for these opportunities. The singer previously covered Swift’s track “Cruel Summer” on an Instagram live.
@livtorodri cruel summer cover by olivia rodrigo #oliviarodrigo #fyp
Additionally, at the inception of the singer’s music career, rumors alleged a feud between herself and Sabrina Carpenter. “drivers license” famously is suspected to reference actor and musician Joshua Bassett pursuing Carpenter romantically shortly after allegedly ending things with Rodrigo.
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The “Vampire” Theory
Carpenter was asked to open for “The Eras Tour” in Mexico and Latin America. Some suspect that Rodrigo could have felt betrayed with this decision, though both Rodrigo and Carpenter have vaguely spoken out on their desire to move on from the situation and appeared to clarify in song that they each held no ill will towards one another.
@phylofthepast I’m sick so i sound and look disgusting but I JUST WANT THEM TO BE FRIENDS #sabrinacarpenter #oliviarodrigo #bbwomeninmusic #metgala
At the last season premiere of Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, in which Rodrigo starred alongside Bassett, the pair even posed for photos on the carpet together.
@kate.bennett JOSHS DAD POSTING WITH HER TOO WUT #greenscreen #greenscreenvideo #joshuabassett #oliviarodrigo #sour #hsmtms #tea #viral
If this is the betrayal that could have caused a rift between the two powerful singers, some fans of Rodrigo suspect that the latter’s recent single “vampire” is actually a reference to Swift.
@pattypopculture ????WARNING???? you will be convinced!!!! taylorswift oliviarodrigo vampire
♬ Tension horror suspense Tension BGM 3 minutes(1138799) – kakumaru
Neither Rodrigo nor Swift have mentioned each other since 2021. It remains unclear if the singer intends to attend “The Eras Tour” at any of the upcoming international dates or the 2024 U.S. dates. “GUTS” drops September 8.
