Olivia Rodrigo Talks With Linda Perry, Sings Fan Favorite ‘Lacy’ in Grammy Museum Appearance
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The process of guts-spilling was the focus of a conversation between Olivia Rodrigo and veteran songwriter-producer Linda Perry at the Grammy Museum Wednesday night, before the young pop champion took to piano and acoustic guitar to sing solo versions of three hits and/or fan favorites from her new album, “Vampire,” “Making the Bed” and “Lacy.” Although the conversation inevitably skewed more toward the mechanics and philosophy of writing than personal details, Rodrigo kept the fan base on hand in the intimate auditorium rapt with mentions of how she came to write several of the new songs. There were passing revelations, too, like the fact that she took a poetry class at USC last year, which helped generate one of the most talked-about songs on the new “Guts” release, or that St. Vincent is a previously unmentioned collaborator on the bonus track “Obsessed.” “In this time of music where we’re getting fed a lot of different styles, I’m not buying a lot of it,” said Perry — famous as part of 4 Non Blondes and for her work with Pink, Christina Aguilera and Dolly Parton — in kicking off her questioning of Rodrigo.