Olivia Rodrigo in Los Angeles in February 2023.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Olivia Rodrigois ready to hit the road.
Despite the fact that Rodrigo’s been a massive star for over two years now, the tour will mark her first time headlining arenas. Before playing her first concerts for her2021 debutSour, she made a conscious decision to perform in theaters rather than jumping to the big leagues, tellingThe Los Angeles Timesat the time, “I don’t think I should skip any steps.”
Olivia Rodrigo.Mark Von Holden/AP Images
Mark Von Holden/AP Images
Earlier this week, Rodrigo took the stage for what could be her final intimate show for quite some time, an acoustic set with collaborator Dan Nigro at The Theatre at Ace Hotel DTLA in Los Angeles. Held in partnership withAmerican Expressas part of the company’s third annual Member Week, she told PEOPLE it’d be “a very special night.”
“We’re going to talk about their creation, what inspired us and all the fun stories that we collected while making this album,” she teased of the show.
Rodrigo recently spoke to PEOPLE about the upcomingGutsWorld Tour, how she stays healthy while performing nearly every night and drawing inspiration from fellow artists likeTate McRaeandLorde.
Mike Coppola/Getty
What are you looking forward to the most when it comes to bringing this album to the stage?
I’m so excited for theGutsWorld Tour. It’s going to be so much fun. I’m playing arenas this time, so it’s significantly more people in every show. The energy’s just going to be fantastic, and I’m going to all these countries I’ve never been before, so I’m just excited to travel and get to meet new people that I didn’t get a chance to do last time. I made this albumGutswith this show in mind. I think I wrote some songs that are going to be really fun and exciting to play loud in front of the crowd.
You previously spoke about making a conscious decision to perform in theaters instead of arenas fortheSourWorld Tour. How do you feel about performing to these huge crowds for your first time as a headliner?
It’s every artist’s dream to get to play these iconic venues, like Madison Square Garden, The Forum and all these awesome places. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for the opportunity. The energy of a show of that size is so infectious, and it’s just so cool how music can unite a group of people for a few hours like that. It’s really special.
Especially when it’s 20,000 people.
I know. 20,000 people sharing one experience is just pretty magical when you think about it. A live show is just so supernatural.
What did you learn from touringSourthat affected the way that you want to approach these shows?
TheSourTour was my first time ever playing shows with my own music, so it was informative in so many ways. I really love my band, and I want to play with them forever. I think most of [what I learned] was just personally, how I can best take care of myself on tour and how I can stay rested, keep my voice healthy and stuff like that.
TheGutsWorld Tour currently has 77 shows planned over six months, which sounds grueling. How do you plan to keep yourself sane and healthy while you’re on the road?
I sleep so much when I’m on tour, it’s kind of crazy. There were some nights where I was just so exhausted from playing a show that I would sleep for 14 hours. Eating healthy is important and also having people that you really love come on the road with you helps a lot — people who can replenish your energy and nurture you.
Olivia Rodrigo.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Do you bring friends or family along?
Yeah, I brought my mom along last time and my best friend came along for a lot of the dates, so that was really helpful. It’s nice to have a little piece of home with you wherever you go, because the people are what’s really important.
In preparation for this tour, have you either seen any recent shows or looked to any other artist’s tours for inspiration?
I have been trying to go to as many shows as I can. I went to my friend Tate McRae’s show last night, and it was so much fun. She’s such an incredible dancer, such an incredible singer/songwriter. It got me very excited to start playing my songs for crowds. But every concert is different, and I’m trying to collect as much information as I can.
Do you have a favorite concert you’ve ever seen that inspires you?
Oh, man. I remember going to see Lorde when I was so young. She is someone I look up to so much. It was right whenPure Heroinecame out, and I got to see her in this small venue. It was incredible. I remember those moments very fondly. She always put on such a great live show. I went and saw theMelodramaTour too, and it was amazing.
Olivia Rodrigo.Chris Polk/Penske Media via Getty
Chris Polk/Penske Media via Getty
Throughout theSourTour, you performed fun covers of ‘90s and ‘00s hits like Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,” Veruca Salt’s “Seether” and No Doubt’s “Just a Girl.” Do you have any similar surprises up your sleeve for these shows?
Yeah! Doing covers of people’s songs is so much fun. It just makes each show so special and unique, so I’m definitely planning on doing that. I haven’t chosen all my covers yet, but maybe I need to get the wheels turning. But it’s so funny, last time, I feel like I had to do a bunch of covers because I [only] had one album to play. It’s going to be so fun to have more music to choose from this time round.
Your list of opening acts is super stacked — The Breeders,PinkPantheress,Chappell Roanand Remi Wolf. How did you choose these artists?
Olivia Rodrigo.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
Chappell Roan has background vocals on your song “Lacy,” right?
Yeah, she did background vocals on a few of my songs. She’s so talented, such a great vocalist. My producer Dan [Nigro] produced her album that just came out a few weeks ago. We’re very close. and I’m really excited to have a friend come on tour with me.
Do you think you two will harmonize at all on stage?
Oh my God, that’s a great idea. I have been thinking about that. Honestly, selfishly, I’m just like, “She has to come on tour with me because I just want to watch her every night.” I get a free concert every night. I’m so stoked.
source: people.com
