Olivia Rodrigo's 'Vampire' was inspired by an ice cream trip 🧛♀️🍦
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Last updated 4th Sep 2023
Olivia Rodrigo released her epic comeback song 'Vampire' in June, much to the delight of fans. And now she has revealed that the song was inspired by an ice cream trip with friends!
Opening up in a For The Record interview, Olivia explained how it was an ice cream trip with friends which inspired the song. "I was getting ice cream with my friends in Santa Monica," Olivia recollected.
"I was feeling a 'type of way' and I was like, I have to get something to get off my chest. I need to like, get into studio instead of piano and write a song."
She continued: "I had that like feeling inside of me, and so I went to the studio and I sat down at the piano and I wrote the first iteration of this song. It's gone through many iterations, and my producer Dan (Nigro) helped me a lot, and help me and make it what it is today.
"Yeah, it all started from an ice cream trip that went awry!"
However, when it came to the sound of her song, Olivia revealed it was influenced by 90s music. "I was listening to a lot of like 90s singer songwriters at the time. I love like 90s girls who aren't afraid to be angry and remorseful and like spiteful and snarling," Olivia told us. "I was listening to a lot of those girls at the time as I am always I just love that music."
How did Olivia reveal the release of 'Vampire'?
Taking to Twitter back in June, Olivia said: 'vampire song and video out now. I made it with my very talented wonderful friend @TheDanielNigro last winter and created the video with the incredible Petra Collins.
'writing this song helped me sort through lots of feelings of regret, anger, and heartache. it's one of my favourite songs on the album and it felt very cathartic to finish. im so happy it's in your hands now and I hope it helps you deal with any bloodsuckers in your life. all my thanks 4ever.' (sic)
The official music video for 'Vampire' has also been released, which was shot in downtown LA at night.
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
Is 'Vampire' about Taylor Swift?
Despite many rumours surrounding Olivia's song 'Vampire' being about fellow singer Taylor Swift, Olivia has now put the rumours to rest. The singer opened up in an interview with The Guardian, saying: "I never want to say who any of my songs are about. I’ve never done that before in my career and probably won’t."
How did Olivia announce her comeback song 'Vampire'?
Announcing 'Vampire', Olivia took to her socials to share a black and white, side profile photo of herself, with a couple of purple plasters on her neck, accompanied by the caption: 'my new song vampire is out june 30th! you can presave now. so excited for this ahhhhh!!!!!!! 🖤🩸💜🫀❤️'. (sic)
When Olivia first announced her new single, she was met with thousands of excited messages from fans and celebrities alike. Camila Cabello wrote: '😍😍😍' with Tate McRae commenting: '🩸🩸🩸it’s happeningggggg'. (sic)
Kim Petras also left a purple heart emoji: '💜', with a fan writing: 'THE OLIVIA DROUGHT IS OVER'. (sic)
Olivia previously took to her Instagram Stories to share a screengrab of her new song in production. The filename was called 'bloood sucker', (sic) and it was linked to page where you could pre-save the track.
It had been quite some time since Olivia released any new music. The singer's most recent songs were released two years ago when she had hits such as 'Drivers License', 'Deja Vu', 'Good 4 U', and 'Traitor'.
It's also been two years since she released her debut album 'Sour', which she celebrated by taking to Instagram, sharing a photo of herself wearing a party hat.
She told fans in the caption that her new music was almost finished, writing: 'oh man oh man oh man. SOUR turns 2 years old today. no words could ever describe how much this album means to me and how insanely grateful I feel for every blessing it has brought into my life. the new stuff is so so so so so close to being done I pinky promise 💓'. (sic)
The 20-year-old singer will release her highly-anticipated second album 'Guts' on 8th September.
When is Olivia Rodrigo's new song out?
'Vampire' is out now. It was released on 30th June.
Take a look through Olivia Rodrigo's fantastic career:
2016 - Olivia played Paige Olvera in Bizaardvark
Disney Channel series Bizaardvark starred Olivia as Paige Olvera, one of two best friends who post funny songs and videos on the internet. Olivia appeared in three series of the TV show between 2016 and 2018.
2019 - Olivia stars in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Back in 2019, Olivia took on the main role of Nini Salazar-Roberts, a musical theatre enthusiast, in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Olivia also wrote the song 'All I Want' for the TV show.
2021 - Olivia released 'Drivers License'
'Drivers License' was Olivia's first single and it went to Number 1 around the world. The song, which was written by Olivia and Dan Nigro, has been nominated for many awards including two MTV Video Music Awards which it won for Song of the Year and Push Performance of the Year. The song has also been nominated for three Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
2021 - Olivia released 'Deja Vu'
Olivia's second single 'Deja Vu' was another commercial success. Again, the song was written by Olivia along with Dan Nigro. Taylor Swift and two other songwriters also get a songwriting credit as it interpolates Taylor's song 'Cruel Summer'. In September 2024, the single was certified 2x Platinum.
2021 - Olivia released 'Good 4 U'
Once again, a song co-written by Olivia had commercial success. 'Good 4 U' was nominated for several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
2021 - Olivia meets Presient Joe Biden
Olivia Rodrigo met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The singer was involved with efforts to promote Covid-19 vaccinations with young people in the US.
2021 - Olivia is nominated for seven Grammy awards
Olivia Rodrigo received seven Grammy nominations including four in the big categories, best album, best new artist, record of the year and song of the year, for 'Drivers License'.
In response to her nominations, Olivia took to Instagram saying: 'woke up this morning to 7 Grammy nominations. when I was younger, my family lived a few blocks from the staples center, where the Grammys took place every year. I would always walk outside the arena and look at the plaques on the ground with all the winners names in wide eyed wonder. i went to the Grammy museum so many of my free weekends bc I was so fascinated by the history of the show and all of the incredible musicians that made it up. many dreams have come true for me this year but this one is probably the most meaningful. thank you to everyone who has believed in me and supported the songs I write. and thank you to @recordingacademy for the recognition. I'm beyond humbled. truly a day I will never forget. so grateful aghhh❤️💜❤️💜' (sic)
2022 - Olivia wins her first BRIT Award
A year after making her debut UK performance at The BRIT Awards 2021, Olivia picked up her very first BRIT win! At The BRIT Awards 2022 with Mastercard, Olivia bagged herself the award for International Song of the Year, for her track 'Good 4 U'.
2022 - Olivia Rodrigo won three Grammys
In 2022, Olivia also won three Grammy awards, Best Pop Vocal Album for 'Sour', Best New Artist and Best Pop Solo Performance for 'driver's license'.
The singer also performed at the prestigious awards ceremony.
2022 - Olivia reflects on one year since 'Sour' release
Olivia Rodrigo took to Instagram one year on from the release of her debut album 'Sour' to reflect on her amazing achievements and thank fans for their support. She also shared a video, where she said: "This past year, it's been a lot of career milestones, but I'm freshly 19 and there's so many things that I'm learning and just normal teenage milestones that I'm going through."
2022 - High School Musical TV series confirms Olivia's exit
In July 2022, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator and showrunner Tim Federle confirmed that season three would be Olivia's last on the show, saying: "I think she's ready to explore the world outside the halls of East High."
He continued: "And Olivia herself was having such a monumental explosion in the music industry that it felt like the right thing to, frankly, work with Olivia to say, 'How do we get you out there into the world with us taking a little bit more of a backseat?', which we were all proud to do to support her."
Olivia's role will be phased out throughout the third season of the Disney+ show, with Tim adding: "This season it's about trying to give her character a proper send-off while also leaving room for other characters to really step into the fray and step into the spotlight."
2022 - The 'Sour Tour' comes to the UK
Olivia set out on her 'Sour Tour' in April 2022, with shows coming to the UK in July. First heading to Glasgow on 2nd, she then went to Manchester on 3rd and Birmingham on 4th, before rounding up her tour with two shows at London's Eventim Apollo on 6th and 7th.
2023 - Comeback song 'Vampire'
Olivia Rodrigo announced her comeback song 'Vampire' would be released on 30th June. Teasing the date on her socials, with a countdown on her website, the song was a certified hit upon it's release. Peaking at Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, the song was also certified Silver in August 2023.
2023 - Olivia Rodrigo releases a song from The Hunger Games soundtrack
Olivia Rodrigo has now released her song 'Can't Catch Me Now', which features on the soundtrack for the upcoming prequel of The Hunger Games titled: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
2024 - Olivia Rodrigo receives two BRIT Award nominations
Olivia Rodrigo received two BRIT Award nominations when they were announced on Wednesday 24th January, she is up for International Artist of the Year, and International Song of The Year ('Vampire').
Now read:
Olivia Rodrigo: Everything you need to know about her second album
Olivia Rodrigo's rise to fame: From Disney Channel to Grammy Awards
Olivia Rodrigo sends fans wild with a cryptic countdown on her website