What Avril Lavigne Thinks of Olivia Rodrigo, Who Names the ‘Sk8er Boi’ Singer as an Inspiration
Avril Lavigne is famous for making pop-punk anthems that celebrated girl power. Twenty years after her debut album, artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Willow are naming Lavigne as a major influence on their music. But how does Lavigne feel about the singers who’ve come after her?
New artists like Olivia Rodrigo point to Avril Lavigne as an inspiration
In an interview with The Forty-Five, Lavigne talked about her long career, and what it’s like now to be seen as an icon and musical influence.
“I feel very lucky that so many of these younger artists have mentioned me as someone that they were inspired by. It’s really cool,” she shared. “A lot of people say that to me when I meet them now at this point in my career, and it’s really flattering. It’s not something I ever expected when I started making music, so to hear that now is really rewarding.”
Rodrigo, one of the biggest stars on the music scene today, is one of the many artists who point to Lavigne as an inspiration. Her album SOUR, which includes hit singles like “drivers license” and “good 4 u,” sounds distinctly Lavigne-like.
What does Avril Lavigne think about Olivia Rodrigo?
The two singers got the chance to meet last year when Lavigne presented Rodrigo with an award for Songwriter of the Year at the Variety Hitmaker’s Brunch.
“She’s a total sweetheart and she’s such a great songwriter. Her music has really resonated with a lot of younger and older audiences. It’s really exciting because she’s so young and she gets to evolve so much from here, too,” Lavigne said.
“It’s so crazy. This is the very beginning for her,” she continued. “It’s exciting to see a female doing so well in that lane and just getting started out. I’m excited to see where she goes from here.”
Rodrigo is currently performing sold-out shows on her very first headlining tour, and Lavigne’s influence has even reached her setlist. The Disney star sings a cover of Lavigne’s 2002 hit, “Complicated” every night.
Avril Lavigne’s influence on female pop-punk artists is big
Lavigne’s influence on the younger generation, especially female artists, is undeniable. However, the singer remains humble, preferring to celebrate the return of the pop-punk genre as a whole, not just her own accomplishments.
“It’s nice to see people enjoying the genre and having fun with it. Seeing the newer generation discovering OG bands and seeing people work together and link up and collaborate. It’s great,” Lavigne said.
“It’s so great to hear this kind of music coming back and it was the soundtrack to our youth,” she continued. “It really brings a nostalgic feeling and it’s so cool to see some great bands being rediscovered and getting the credit they may not have gotten before. It’s nice to see other younger female artists leading in this lane.”
Artists like Rodrigo and Chloe Moriondo have been influenced by Lavigne’s sound, continuing the singer’s legacy of female-fronted pop-punk songs, and Lavigne is ready to cheer them on as they rise to the top.
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