Olivia Rodrigo Exposes a Fame Seeker in Her Latest Track 'Vampire'

Olivia Rodrigo returns with new music, releasing lead single "Vampire."

Olivia Rodrigo, the Grammy-winning singer, has made a triumphant return to the music scene after a two-year hiatus since her debut album, Sour. She has announced the beginning of a new musical era with the release of "Vampire," the lead single from her upcoming sophomore album, Guts, which is set to be released on September 8. This new release seems to follow a bloody theme, as hinted by the song's title.

The music video for "Vampire" was directed by Petra Collins, who previously worked on Rodrigo's visuals for "brutal" and "good 4 u." The video, along with the song, marks the first glimpse into Rodrigo's highly anticipated project.

Speaking about her new album, Rodrigo explained, "For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life. 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."

"Vampire" starts off as a moody piano ballad before gradually building up with Rodrigo's powerful vocals and shredding guitars. The lyrics, such as "Bloodsucker, famefucker / Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire," convey the singer's emotions about someone who took advantage of her fame and played with her feelings.

Rodrigo shared her inspiration behind the song, saying, "I was upset about a certain situation and went to the studio alone and sat down at the grand piano, and the chords and melody and lyrics just poured out of me -- almost like an out-of-body experience. It's a song about feeling confused and hurt, and at first I thought it was meant to be a piano ballad. But when Dan and I started working on it, we juxtaposed the lyrics with these big drums and crazy tempo changes. So now it's like a heartbreak song you can dance to."

The comparison of growing up to spilling one's guts is fitting for Rodrigo, whose debut album captured the raw struggles of adolescence, from the intensity of breakups to navigating the challenges of social media. However, the singer's own personal experiences with fame and romantic drama have added an extra layer of complexity to her growth as an artist.

Reflecting on her evolution, Rodrigo stated, "I'm definitely not as sad as I was when I wrote Sour. I'm so excited to make my next record and explore more colors and textures and feelings and grow as a human being even more. I'm really stoked for that." It's safe to say that fans are eagerly awaiting Rodrigo's next chapter in her musical journey.