Olivia Rodrigo Credits Lana Del Ray As A Huge Inspiration Of Femininity In Her Music: "She Defies Any Stereotypes"

Lana Del Ray's influence reaches far and wide within the music industry. Bruce Springsteen called her one of the greatest American songwriters. Billie Eilish said she changed music for women. Elton John likened her to Prince, and now 19-year-old Olivia Rodrigo pays homage to her in her songs. Del Rey has nine albums and a book of poetry to her name, and in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she talked about what's coming up for her in the future. Rodrigo also gave some insight into how Del Ray has been an influence on her music.

Olivia Rodrigo Credits Lana Del Ray As a Huge Inspiration in Her Music

Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Grant, has carved a unique niche in the modern music landscape since her major label debut, Born to Die, in 2012. Her ethereal, melancholic music marries nostalgia for a bygone America with often dark thematic underpinnings, like failed romance and disillusionment. While her music and cinematic music videos have garnered her a massive and fiercely loyal fan base, they have also generated their share of controversy. She has been criticized for her romanticization of themes like sadness and existential despair, and even for her aesthetic choices, which some critics feel appropriate vintage American culture.

Del Rey came under scrutiny in 2020 when she questioned why she faced more backlash for singing about submissive or passive roles in relationships than other female artists who explore more sexually explicit themes. Many interpreted her comments as a criticism of primarily black female artists, although she later clarified that was not her intent. Despite these controversies, her influence is unmistakable.

Rodrigo told the Hollywood Reporter that Del Ray's music taught her "how effective sentimentality can be in songwriting." She said her recent music actually pays homage to Del Ray. “She defies any stereotypes of what a woman writing pop songs should or shouldn’t be. She’s constantly pushing boundaries and making work that is fresh, adventurous and unabashedly feminine," Rodrigo said.

Rodrigo's sophomore album came out on September 8, and it's called Guts. The lead singles "Vampire" and "Bad Idea Right" have been climbing the charts, which isn't a surprise after her great success with her first album in 2021 called SOUR. Del Ray is thrilled to know that she has been such a good influence on Rodrigo, saying that Rodrigo is a good person.

"It’s not like you have to be nice to be good [in music]. But, if you happen to be nice and a great singer, it makes me happy for the culture," Del Ray said. "I always had girls telling me [things like] that. Maybe not the critics or anybody else—but singers I knew, no matter how big or small, would write me letters. I always felt like the older sister to pretty much everyone I ever met."

As for her latest musical offering, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, it continues her legacy of defying mainstream pop conventions. Although specific details might vary, her albums often serve as haunting reflections of American life, tapping into the zeitgeist with her unique blend of vintage and modern styles. This album also comes at a time when America faces deep divisions, making her work especially resonant. Whether serving as the subject of viral internet speculation or navigating contentious debates about her work's themes, Lana Del Rey remains a compelling figure in the music industry—constantly pushing boundaries and challenging expectations, all while staying true to her unique artistic vision.

Del Ray has also become the poster child for the return to femininity in the music industry. Her lyrics and persona have always been more of a convention of Old Hollywood and classic femininity. Even Rodrigo noticed that and allowed it to influence her own music. In a world where femininity is often squelched and encouraged to disappear and make way for gender-neutral efforts, Del Ray makes sure she maintains her feminine persona, encouraging other artists and women to do the same. Her take on femininity can sometimes be dark and mysterious (and even considered underground at times), but it's a commitment to femininity and its imperfections nonetheless.

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