Olivia Rodrigo has officially begun her new era and this time she invited her fans to live it with her.
To celebrate the release of her latest album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” Rodrigo collaborated with American Express to recreate the set from her music video for “The Cure.” The pop-up event, which opened last Thursday and ran through Sunday at Mica Studios, featured props from the video, storyboards, exclusive merchandise and various photo ops for fans.
With a beating felt heart and lab beakers for posing, the pop-up transformed an industrial studio space in the Arts District into a pastel-painted cardboard hospital. Before opening to the public, Rodrigo surprised a small group of AMEX cardholders and select fans.
“I have an album coming out today in about an hour, which is crazy,” Rodrigo said, wearing a blue baby T-shirt that said “Nurses Do It Better.” “I thought since we're all here, maybe we should listen to some of them together? Would that be cool?”
A little over an hour before the album's release, Rodrigo played four songs from the album as the room filled with excitement. It started with “Maggots for Brains,” a song about being so in love that you can't concentrate when your partner is away. Although it was the first time they heard it, the song's catchy chorus already had fans dancing.
Banner for Rodridgo's pop-up event on Mica Studios
(American Express)
Rodrigo explained that his next song, “Purple,” paid homage to the aesthetics of his previous albums, “Guts” and “Sour.”
“Obviously, this is my first album that isn't purple, but I had to shout it out somehow,” Rodrigo joked. “This song started out as a love song and kind of developed from there, so I'll let you be the judges.”
Building on the somber vibes of “Purple,” Rodrigo performed “Less” next. The piano ballad follows the dissolution of a relationship as the couple separates.
“I've been going back and forth about what the saddest song on the album is, but I think this might be the only one,” Rodrigo said.
In a room full of fans, the song struck a chord with many listeners. To get the mood back, Rodrigo ended the night by playing his new single, “Stupid Song.”
“The next one is happy and actually has a music video coming out tonight,” Rodrigo said. “I love this song. It's basically about being so in love with someone that it drives you completely crazy. I feel like we've all been there at some point in our lives.”
Rodrigo was all smiles at his event to celebrate his latest album full of heartbreak and romance.
(American Express)
After Rodrigo previewed his music, the music video showcase for “The Cure” opened to fans. The exhibit ranged from interactive photography to gallery walls with behind-the-scenes photos from the video shoot and Rodrigo's nurse costume on display. The video props, which were designed primarily from cardboard and felt, were displayed in glass cases for visitors to admire.
Dressed in fun fashions, including light pink and polka-dot outfits, fans posed throughout the set, recreating scenes from the music video as “The Cure” played overhead. Many had donned a piece of the exclusive Los Angeles merchandise for sale at the pop-up, wearing T-shirts and hats that read “You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl in Los Angeles.”
So while some fans cried at his lyrics and others smiled with emotion, everyone was excited to experience Rodrigo's new album.
“I really hope you enjoy this little exhibit. It's so beautiful and I'm so proud of it,” Rodrigo said. “Thank you all for being here and I really hope you like 'You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl So In Love' as much as I do.”
