It’s never easy for pop stars to introduce their next era. If they cling too closely to what has been done in the past, critics may grumble over a lack of innovation. If they veer too far from what fans know and expect, they risk losing the base that gave them a platform in the first place. For Olivia Rodrigo, the new “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl so in Love” era has mostly relied on — as she sings in the lead single, “drop dead” — her own feminine intuition.
The 23-year-old’s third studio album, released this month, ushers in perhaps the most exciting phase of her career yet, one where both her style and sound are maturing in tandem.
The 13-track record chronicles the lifespan of a relationship, from the exuberance of initial infatuation to the whiplash of begging for affection from a partner that was once so easily enamored. It’s already earned Rodrigo her third consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. She kept the momentum going Monday with the announcement of Daisy Chain Fields, a new music festival featuring an all-women lineup — including Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill and Katseye — with proceeds going towards women advocacy organizations. The event takes after Lilith Fair, the groundbreaking ‘90s feminist festival founded by Sarah McLachlan, who will also make a special guest appearance, along with Stevie Nicks and Karen O.
