Olivia Rodrigo Releases Highly-Anticipated Sophomore Album “Guts”
Livies, OR2 is finally here! On Friday, Olivia Rodrigo released her highly-anticipated sophomore album “Guts,” a 40-minute, 12-track record that fans have been eagerly awaiting. The album features songs such as “All-American Bitch” and the Katy Perry-referencing “Teenage Dream.”
Following the release, Rodrigo took to social media to express her gratitude to her fans. On Instagram, she wrote, “Today is the day!! I feel so many feelings. I feel excited, nervous, proud, but mostly I feel so grateful.” She also thanked her producer Dan Nigro, saying, “He’s just a genius and I feel really lucky to get to work with him too.”
Rodrigo wrote the majority of the songs on her own, except for a few collaborations including “Bad Idea Right?” and “Vampire,” along with “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” which she co-wrote with Nigro. Nigro also had a significant role in the production of the album, either fully producing or co-producing all the tracks on the standard edition of “Guts.” There is also reportedly a deluxe version of the album with four additional songs titled “Obsessed,” “Scared of My Guitar,” “Stranger,” and “Girl I’ve Always Been.”
The singer had previously announced the release of “Guts” when she dropped the single “Vampire.” In a statement, Rodrigo reflected on her growth during the album’s creation, saying, “I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20 — it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rodrigo revealed that the album explores the mistakes she’s made in her life and how she’s grown from them. She explained, “One of my favorite lines in the song is ‘I’ve made some real big mistakes but you make the worst one look fine.’ This album talks about me making a bunch of mistakes in my life and being awkward, not knowing who I am and not knowing what I want. That’s just a really necessary part of life. Looking back, it was super uncomfortable when I was going through it but I think making mistakes and not doing everything perfectly is the only way to figure out who you are and how to grow and evolve.”
“Guts” was recorded between New York and Los Angeles, with Rodrigo and Nigro working together on the project. The album’s sound was influenced by their sessions at Electric Lady Studios in late 2022, where they first began working on the song “Vampire.”
Fans are already buzzing about the release of “Guts,” and the album is trending across social media platforms. Rodrigo’s honest and heartfelt lyrics continue to resonate with listeners, solidifying her position as one of today’s most talented young artists.