Olivia Rodrigo Answers Vogue’s 73 Questions

[engine humming]

[horn honking]

[Interviewer] Hey!

Hey!

[Interviewer] Look who it is, Olivia Rodrigo.

Hey, are ya?

[Interviewer] Rolling up for her 73 questions

in epic fashion.

I'm so excited.

[Interviewer] I love this car.

Thanks.

[Interviewer] Approximately how many total miles

are on this car?

Let's see, 17,000.

[Interviewer] Approximately how many times

have people asked you about your driver's license?

You know, not as much as you would think.

[Interviewer] Huh?

So where are you coming from?

A cafe.

Oh, and I got you a matcha.

I don't know if you like it, but that's favorite.

[Interviewer] That's really generous of you.

Thank you. Sure.

[Interviewer] Now on a scale of one to 10,

how happy are you at this moment?

Oh, I'm pretty happy.

I'd say probably an eight.

Great. Yeah.

[Interviewer] And what are you currently

obsessed with these days?

Oh, I love the New York Times crossword.

I try to do it every day.

[Interviewer] That's a nice habit.

Yeah.

[Interviewer] What's the most interesting thing

that you've learned recently?

Oh, that the banana that's the flavor of Laffy Taffy

is the taste of a banana that's gone extinct

and that's why it doesn't taste like the banana we know.

Crazy. I have no idea.

Yeah.

[Interviewer] And what was your New Year's resolution

and have you stuck to it?

[Olivia] Oh, my New Year's resolution

was to spend more time alone

and I have definitely done that this year.

[Interviewer] Do you prefer Saturday nights

or Sunday mornings?

Sunday morning.

[Interviewer] What's the worst injury

that you've ever had?

I've gone through my life pretty unscathed

but I broke my thumb one time in third grade

'cause I slammed my hand in a car door.

Mmm! Yeah.

Oh, this matcha tea is amazing.

Oh, yay, I'm happy you like it.

[Interviewer] Now you are a Pisces.

Yes.

[Interviewer] What makes you a typical Pisces?

I'm a Pisces to a T.

I'm super emotional, I'm musical and I love a swim.

Mmm. Mmm-hmm.

[Interviewer] Now what's the best fan gift

that you've ever received?

Oh, I was in Paris last year

and a fan gave me this little key chain

and I stuck it on my purse

and I take it with me everywhere I go.

[Interviewer] The Eiffel Tower?

Yeah. That's really cool.

Uh-huh.

[Interviewer] And what item besides your cell phone

is always in that purse?

Mmm.

Aquaphor

Essential. Yeah.

[Interviewer] Now speaking of your cell phone,

can you show me something really cool on your phone?

I have a lot of voice memos and maybe I'll show you one.

Oh, this is the original Good For You recording

on a shitty guitar in my living room.

Let's see. Oh my God.

♪ Maybe now you can be a better person for your friends ♪

[Olivia singing]

[Interviewer] Am I the first person

to have listened to that?

You are.

Oh my gosh, I feel special.

Wow!

Now, what's something that you always

carry with you on tour?

I'm a little bit of a germophobe with hotels

so I always like to have my own pillowcase over the pillows.

Good idea. Yeah.

[Interviewer] Now what's the most special memory

you've ever had from being on tour?

Performing at Glastonbury.

[Interviewer] What album have you been playing

nonstop recently?

Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Oh, classic. Yeah.

[Interviewer] Now I saw that video clip

of you meeting Jack White.

That is beautiful.

I love him.

[Interviewer] Who is a celebrity now

who you're dying to meet?

Robert De Niro.

Hit me up.

Hey Bob, you watching this?

Now, Olivia, I loved your documentary too.

Thanks.

[Interviewer] It was so fun to follow you

on that road trip.

What's your favorite road trip destination in general?

Salt Lake City.

[Interviewer] And what's the best present

you've ever received?

Last year for my birthday,

my best friend made a book of 365 things

that she loved about me and was filled with inside jokes

and little memories and it was very special.

I cried like a baby.

[Interviewer] And you're known for being a big reader

with all books behind you on that bookcase.

I try.

[Interviewer] Can you gimme a recommendation?

Oh, yeah.

Come here. Let's do it.

Show me what you got.

Let's see.

Oh, I read this book recently.

It's a bunch of Leonard Cohen poetry.

One of my songwriter friends gave it to me

and it's so incredible and I'm in love with Leonard Cohen.

He's amazing.

He's great. Yeah.

What else do you have in there that's cool?

Oh.

Okay, so I made lots of the record at Electric Lady Studios

in New York and I told the owner of the studio

that I really love Patty Smith,

there's a picture of her in the hallway

and lo and behold, the next day I was playing the piano,

I get a knock at the door and Patty Smith is there

and she's like, Hey, Olivia, nice to meet you.

I wanted to come and say hi.

And I lost my mind and she gave me this book,

this poetry book, and she wrote on the inside.

[Interviewer] Oh, really?

She said, To Olivia, may all your days be inspired.

[Interviewer] Oh, that's such a meaningful gift.

I love her.

She's amazing.

[Interviewer] Now I'd be shocked

if you didn't have a Carol King record

considering I see a Carole King book right there.

Yeah, this thing.

This is one of the first records I actually ever bought.

Me and my mom bought it from the thrift store.

It's a little thrift store tag.

Yeah, I love her.

She's incredible.

[Interviewer] All right, now can you name me

your favorite songs by the following artist, rapid fire?

Yes. Let's do it.

Lord.

Liability.

[Interviewer] Carly Simon.

You're So Vain.

[Interviewer] Alanis.

Not The Doctor.

[Interviewer] Olivia Rodrigo.

I don't know.

Here, wait, I got this for you though.

[Interviewer] What?

Yeah, you can tell me your favorite.

How about that?

What? I'd like that better.

That's incredible.

I just get to walk away with a free Olivia Rodrigo album.

It's shameless self-promotion.

[Interviewer] It works.

What album have you listened

to the most in your entire life?

Probably this one, Elephant by The White Stripes.

[Interviewer] Oh, that's cool.

What's a song that can always make you cry?

Valentine by Fiona Apple.

[Interviewer] What's the best piano ballad ever written?

Someone Like You.

[Interviewer] And when you play piano,

do you prefer playing alone or for people?

I prefer playing alone.

But since you're here I might make an exception.

Come here. No!

Yeah, come here.

[Interviewer] What is going on right now?

Are you...

This is where I hang out all the time.

I do everything here.

[Interviewer] This is incredible.

Olivia, what are you gonna play?

Let's see.

[Olivia playing piano]

See if you can recognize this, this is the new, new.

[Interviewer] New material. [Olivia playing piano]

[Olivia playing piano]

[Olivia laughing]

Oh, bravo!

Oh, you should play something with me.

[Interviewer] How about something totally spontaneous

and not rehearsed?

Totally spontaneous.

[Interviewer] Let's do it, Olivia Rodrigo.

Ready? Yep.

One, two, three, four.

[both playing piano]

[Olivia] Killing it!

[Interviewer] You gotta take me on tour, come on!

[both playing piano]

Oh, that's how you do it.

[Olivia] Oh, I love it.

Oh my gosh, we make a great team!

[Interviewer] I'm really serious about you

taking me on tour if you need a dueter.

Say the word, you're there.

[Interviewer] All right, amazing.

When you think about songs, Olivia,

what did you call the first song that you ever wrote?

I've been writing songs for a long time,

but I think the first song that I wrote on the piano

was called Superman.

[Interviewer] And what was the first song

that you felt really connected to?

I wrote this song called Astronaut when I was 14

and it made me believe

that I could like really pursue songwriting.

[Interviewer] Does being a self-identified perfectionist

make songwriting a lot harder?

I actually don't think I'm a perfectionist.

I think as I get older, I realize that

if I were only to make things that were perfect,

I would literally never make anything at all.

So I think I kind of had to get outta that mindset.

[Interviewer] That's a good philosophy.

Yeah.

[Interviewer] And to anyone out there who wants

to write a song for the first time ever,

what three steps should they consider?

Hmm.

Coming up with a good title

and a good concept is important,

a melody that moves you

and other than that, just believe in yourself

and keep trying because, I don't know,

I've written so many bad songs in my life

and that's how you get to the good ones.

[Interviewer] Who is the most important music teacher

that you've ever had and what did they teach you?

My piano teacher, Kate,

she taught me how to listen to music like a songwriter.

[Interviewer] And it's really, really special

to watch how you and your producer Dan work together.

What is the most important quality in a good producer?

Good taste and honesty.

[Interviewer] Now, Driver's License,

let's talk about Driver's License.

Lets.

[Interviewer] Everyone wants to talk about that.

How has your relationship to that song changed

over the past couple of years?

Honestly, I'm just still in such a state of disbelief.

I just wrote that song in my living room

and it was just a little piece of my heart

and I can't believe all of the doors that's opened for me.

I'm just so eternally grateful.

[Interviewer] And all that has led to this,

a new album coming out.

Yeah.

[Interviewer] Now I heard that you recorded

and wrote some of this new album in New York City.

Why did you wanna write it there?

I think New York is so inspiring

and every day of my life I just try to be

more and more like Carrie Bradshaw.

[Interviewer] Well perfect transition

into the next question.

I know that you are a big fan of Sex in the City.

Love.

[Interviewer] But what else have you been

binge watching these days?

I watched all of The Walking Dead.

Love it.

Watched The Last Of Us and The Sopranos, very good.

[Interviewer] Now your second live performance ever

was on SNL.

What did you say to yourself before taking the stage?

I was so nervous before SNL,

I actually cried in my dressing room.

I was so scared, but thankfully it turned out okay.

[Interviewer] Now you said that your pre-con rituals

are vocal warmups and having tea.

What's the best meal to eat before going on stage?

Almost every night before a show,

I'd have a Turkey sandwich.

Oh, speaking of, I have the best meal

for a 73 questions interview, come here.

[Interviewer] I don't even know this.

There's a best meal?

Pulling out all the stops, come on.

[Interviewer] Oh my gosh.

What have I done to deserve this?

What's an app that you use that's not very popular?

It's very popular, but I love going on Zillow and Redfin.

I use it like Instagram.

It's very entertaining.

[Interviewer] What is a simple pleasure

that you couldn't live without?

I love a bubble bath.

[Interviewer] What is something that you are surprisingly

good at?

Ice skating.

[Interviewer] What's something you do

that you probably shouldn't?

Listen to true crime podcasts alone in my house at night.

That's pretty scary. Yeah.

[Interviewer] And what's something you don't do

that you probably should do?

Read all my emails.

Wait, come here. What?

I baked to a little banana bread.

[Interviewer] No, you did not.

Hopefully you like it.

I kind of ran outta butter, but it should be good.

[Interviewer] Oh my God,

I'm having Olivia Rodrigo's banana bread.

This is the best day I've ever had.

You're sweet.

[Interviewer] Oh, besides banana bread, what is a meal

you can cook really well from scratch?

Mmm, I can make good Cacio e Pepe.

Here. Okay, oh really?

This is amazing. Try it.

[Interviewer] Thank you so much, appreciate it.

Tell me if it's good.

[Interviewer] Okay, here we go.

That is pretty damn good.

Yay!

I'm happy you like it.

[Interviewer] But I don't know if it's as good for you

as McDonald's oatmeal.

Is that still your favorite fast food?

I love a good McDonald's oatmeal.

I also love an In-N-Out Double Double Cheeseburger

with a neapolitan shake.

[Interviewer] We are so happy you did

your first Vogue cover shoot.

Me too.

[Interviewer] What was that like,

shooting your first Vogue cover?

So surreal.

[Interviewer] What was your favorite look from the shoot?

There's this little sparkly mini dress that I really loved

and it reflected the light really pretty.

[Interviewer] Who makes your favorite jeans?

Levi's.

[Interviewer] And what's the best tip for winged eyeliner?

Practice and yeah, that's just it.

I still feel like I'm really bad at it to this day.

[Interviewer] What was your first big fashion purchase

that you made?

My Chanel bag that I was just wearing.

I think it's the only big fashion purchase that I made.

I bought it when I finished my first album

as a celebration gift to myself.

[Interviewer] What era of fashion

are you most inspired by?

The nineties.

[Interviewer] What's your favorite vintage find?

Okay, so this dress used to be Chloe's Sevigny's

and she had a sample sale where she sold a bunch

of her clothes and I've had this dress,

the picture of her wearing this dress

saved on my Pinterest for years

and I was actually able to get my hands on it

and I am so lucky.

It's my most prized possession.

It looks incredible. Thank you.

[Interviewer] Top three tips for vintage shopping, go.

Have patience and go with your friends

and get stuff altered.

[Interviewer] Now I see you have some family photos

on your fridge.

Oh, yeah.

[Interviewer] Tell me some stories.

What do you have?

These are two of my friends, Maddie and Conan

and I took them to where I grew up, Temecula,

and we went to the mall and we took this at the mall.

I love this picture.

[Interviewer] Cool!

And this is my parents.

We went to New York for Christmas

and we had to take a picture by the Rockefeller Center tree.

[Interviewer] Oh, how cute is that?

Classic.

[Interviewer] What's your favorite family tradition?

Not this year, but usually my family

and I go to the beach on Christmas day.

[Interviewer] Are your parents musical?

Not at all, I'm the Black sheep.

[Interviewer] And what's the most trouble you ever got in

with your parents?

I am such a goody two-shoes.

I really don't think I got into too much trouble.

The one thing I remember is when I was in like first grade,

I bought hamburger at school at the cafeteria

with my parents' money and I didn't eat the lunch

that my mom packed me and I cried about it for a week.

I felt so guilty. Aw.

Yeah, anyway, let's go outside.

[Interviewer] Okay.

What's a phrase that you just say way too much?

Slay, it's a little cringe.

Oh, wait.

Here, lemme get your tea.

[Interviewer] All right.

What's a quote that you live by?

What it all comes down to

is everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine.

[Interviewer] Oh, that is a great outlook.

Now I'm amazed at how you started your career so young.

Thank you so much. Yeah.

[Interviewer] Do you remember how old you were

when you did your first ever audition?

Oh, I was probably like six.

I was so young.

[Interviewer] Can you describe

how this first audition went?

Well, it was for Parenthood and I obviously didn't get it

so I guess it didn't go that well.

[Interviewer] Things worked out for you end, I think.

Yeah.

[Interviewer] What posters did you have on your wall

when you were a kid?

Oof, I had Twilight posters on the wall.

Team Edwards since day one.

[Interviewer] I was gonna say the same thing.

Go team Edward.

And since you were spending so much time

acting as a teenager, what was it like

to go to high school on set?

It was very strange,

but I feel lucky to have gotten good tutoring.

[Interviewer] And what's the best thing

about being an only child?

I'm best friends with my parents

and I got so much attention growing up.

[Interviewer] And what's the most stressful thing

about being an only child?

Sometimes I really wish I had an older sister

to give me advice.

[Interviewer] What values do you hope you'll still

hold onto when you're 35 years old?

I hope I still have my gratitude.

[Interviewer] I'm pretty sure you will.

Why was it important for you to make a statement

on Roe v Wade at Glastonbury?

Yeah, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade

the day before I was supposed to perform at Glastonbury

and I just think forcing women to give birth

is really horrifying.

[Interviewer] We got a dog over here, barking.

I know, he feels the same.

[Interviewer] The dog agrees now.

Now, Olivia, I am devastated.

I'll tell you why.

There's only two more questions left at this interview.

It's been 728 days since you released Sour.

Wow.

[Interviewer] And that dog is upset about it.

What is one word to describe Sour?

Angsty.

[Interviewer] And what's one word to describe

your new album?

Gutsy.

[Interviewer] Well, you were gutsy to do this interview,

Olivia Rodrigo.

Thank you so much for having me.

[Interviewer] Amazing job.

We did it! I had so much fun.