Olivia Rodrigo recalls attending rave with ‘ultimate party girl’ Charli XCX

By Pierra Willix, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter

Olivia Rodrigo has admitted she was “a little out of my element” when she attended a rave with Charli XCX.

The American singer, 23, appeared on BBC Radio One’s Live Lounge on Tuesday and was asked if there are any “pop girlies” in the music industry who she feels supported by.

She singled out Charli XCX, saying she is “wonderful and lovely, and couldn’t be more supportive”.

Rodrigo described the 33-year-old British singer – real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison – as a “girl’s girl”, before recounting a recent night out they had together.

“I actually went to a rave with her. I don’t even know if it’s a rave,” she said.

“I’m not like a party girl, she’s the ultimate party girl, obviously.

“I was a little out of my element, but I had the best time, and she was very lovely.”

During her appearance on Radio One, Rodrigo covered CMAT’s song When A Good Man Cries, which she said had been “so much fun”.

She added: “I think that song is epic, and me and my dad had so much fun putting it together too. It’s kind of twangy and country, and the lyrics are super, super awesome and unique.”

Posting a video on Instagram soon afterwards, Irish singer CMAT – real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson – joked “she sang it better than me so now I’m toast”, before inviting Rodrigo for some “pints”.

After performing her cover, Rodrigo was asked about having English rock bands Wolf Alice and The Last Dinner Party supporting her on tour, and she said she had personally selected them.

“I think that they’re amazing, and all of them are kind of my friends too,” she said.

“I think they’re really incredible girls, and I just love surrounding myself with musicians who inspire me, and all of those artists totally inspire me and push me to want to be better.”

Speaking about her love for London, she praised the UK’s “amazing pub culture” – which she said she misses when not in the country – and added she is also a fan of the parks and “swimming in ponds”.

Rodrigo is currently promoting her third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love, which is set to be released on June 12th.

Speaking on Radio One, the singer said she felt “really lucky that I get to do what I do” and that she “couldn’t comprehend” how many people want to come to her shows.

“I just love writing songs, and writing music helps me feel less alone, and so the fact that it maybe can make someone else that I’ve never met feel less alone is just a really beautiful feeling, and that’s why music’s so magical,” she said.

Rodrigo released her debut album Sour in 2021 which climbed to the top of the UK charts and won the best pop vocal album and best new artist Grammy in 2022.

Her second album Guts was released in 2023, with her upcoming third album coming nearly a year after she headlined Glastonbury Festival.