stayc main image

Meet NewJeans: The K-Pop Group Taking the World by Storm

March 22, 2023

Even if you haven't heard of NewJeans yet, there's a good chance you'll soon be humming along to their infectious tunes. The Korean pop group is quickly gaining international attention and breaking..

Read more
stayc main image

Max Martin: Why a Pop-Hit Songwriter and Producer Created a Musical

March 31, 2023

Even if you don’t know who Max Martin is, you’ve definitely heard his songs. Hit-pop songs are kind of his thing after all. Martin first stepped into the music world in 1985 as a frontman for....

Read more
stayc main image

MANILA GREY: Vancouver's Rising R&B Duo

March 18, 2023

The Filipino-Canadian duo from Vancouver has been releasing new tracks left and right, and they are known for their most streamed songs on Spotify, “Timezones,” and “Silver Skies.” Previously .......

Read more
stayc main image

How did Miley Cyrus’ Heartbreak Song “Flowers” Break the Spotify Record?

March 17, 2023

The singer, songwriter, and actress Miley Cyrus has recently released a record-breaking song called “Flowers” in January 2023. This song recites her 10-year long relationship with her ex-husband....

Read more
stayc main image

Men I Trust: Canada’s DIY Indie Band That Could Be Your New Favourite

March 4, 2023

Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is

Read more
stayc main image

Basics For Building an At-Home Recording Studio

March 3, 2023

Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve

Read more
stayc main image

Facing the Music: Legal Challenges With AI and Copyright Laws

February 25, 2023

People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and

Read more
stayc main image

Tobias Jesso Jr.: GRAMMY-Winning Canadian Sells His Song Rights

February 23, 2023

Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece

Read more
stayc main image

How Popular TV Shows and Movies Resurrect Classic Songs

February 23, 2023

HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.

Read more
stayc main image

Ginalina: Bringing Her Taiwan Roots Into Her Latest Album

February 21, 2023

Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe

Read more
stayc main image

Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance - What Does This Mean for Her Next Album?

February 21, 2023

Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...

Read more
stayc main image

How do Streaming Platforms Pay Artists - Is It Fair?

February 20, 2023

Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im

Read more

Olivia Rodrigo's Journey: One Year Since her First Album Release

stayc main image

Photo: Olivia Rodrigo Sour Album Cover

It’s been one year since the young pop-star, Olivia Rodrigo, released her first music album “Sour”. Since her debut, Olivia Rodrigo has won 3 Grammy Awards and named Women of the Year in 2022. In two years her fame has skyrocketed, and she’s now one of the top pop singers in the decade.

She began learning music when she was in kindergarten, and began acting on TV when she became twelve. She played lead roles in Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series where she started to gain recognition before her formal music debut.

In January 2021, Olivia released her first single “Driver’s License”, which became one of the best selling singles that year. “Driver’s License” is a break-up song about a teenage girl who looks back at her memories while driving down the suburbs after getting her driver’s license. The song was believed to be a representation of Olivia’s personal love life and gained a lot of attention in the media. However, that is not the only reason for her sudden popularity. The song had very relatable prospects to the teenage demographic, and her musical talent was embedded in people’s hearts. The song currently has 380M views on YouTube, and was awarded Song of the Year by MTV Video Music Awards.

The songs in her Sour album highlight emotions from heartbreak to jealousy to self-assurance, all emotions that we face. She has explained that songwriting is how she organizes her feelings, and writing sad songs in her room is her favorite thing in the world. Now, her songs are streamed and played on many radio stations across the world.

Photo: Ben Madden (Cool Accidents)

Currently, she has been on her Sour Tour around North America and Europe. She’s just finishing her last weeks in the US and then heads to Europe for the end of her journey. She has also invited other artists like Gracie Abrams and Holly Humberstone on her tour to perform. Olivia’s been taking this opportunity to meet fans around the world and provide unforgettable experiences for them. Her growth is unpredictable and we’re excited to see where her musical journey will lead her in the future.