Olivia Rodrigo Reveals the Secrets Behind Her Creative Process

JAKARTA - Olivia Rodrigo has revealed the secrets behind her creative process as a young singer-songwriter who has successfully conquered the world music market.

When he was a guest on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame podcast titled Music Makes Us, Rodrigo revealed one of the legendary albums that he always used as an escape to find his identity in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the competitive global music industry.

The discussion began with a question from Bikini Kill vocalist Kathleen Hanna—as the host—asking what musical work was most influential when Rodrigo felt lost.

Without hesitation, the singer of "vampire" mentioned Alanis Morissette with his masterpiece which was released in 1995, "Jagged Little Pill".

For Rodrigo, the album is not just a collection of songs, but a reflection of humanity that is very deep. He feels that every human emotion - from anger to hope - is perfectly encapsulated in Morissette's musical composition.

"To be honest, I was listening to Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill' when I felt, like, I don't know what to say or like, who am I?" Rodrigo said.

"For some reason, the album is like, every part of what makes a human a human, it feels like it's wrapped up in that record," he continued.

The singer, who has bagged three Grammy Awards, considers the album to have a very wide emotional spectrum but is cohesive. He highlights how negative feelings such as jealousy and anger can stand beautifully with sincere joy.

"There's so much anger and resentment and jealousy but also so much joy and hope. It's all intertwined in a really beautiful way," the 22-year-old singer-songwriter said.

"I love that album like everyone on the planet, but I just think, it reminds me of what I want to pursue," he added.

Morissette's honest and candid writing style became a compass for Rodrigo in writing his own songs. He admires Morissette's courage to let all his anxieties flow without filters, without worrying whether the song would be popular or liked by the market.

Rodrigo's admiration for Morissette is not a new secret. In 2021, the two graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. In fact, a year later, Rodrigo had the honor of inducting Morissette into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Recalling his teenage years, Rodrigo told the first time he came into contact with the work of his idol. When he was 13 years old, he was in the car with his parents when the song "Perfect" was played, which then completely changed his perspective on the art of songwriting.

"I remember hearing Alanis for the first time when I was about 13. I was in the car with my parents when 'Jagged Little Pill' came on. I heard 'Perfect', and I was like, 'Holy Christ... You can write a song like that?' I was just seeing music and songwriting in a completely different way," Rodrigo concluded.