SOUR

Sour (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, released on May 21, 2021, via Geffen Records. Rodrigo stated that the album explores her perils and discoveries as a 17-year-old, with its title referring to the uncomfortable "sour" emotions youngsters experience but are often shamed for, such as anger, jealousy and heartache. The musical style of Sour was inspired by Rodrigo's favorite genres and singer-songwriters.
Written and produced by Rodrigo and Daniel Nigro alongside few other collaborators, Sour is primarily an alt pop record that juxtaposes upbeat alternative rock and pop-punk songs aside bedroom pop ballads, driven by guitars, piano and synths. Its subject matter deals with topics centered on adolescence, failed romance and heartache told from Rodrigo's various perspectives. Sour received universal acclaim from music critics, who regarded it a solid debut, and praised Rodrigo's musical versatility, honest lyricism, and Gen Z appeal.
Three singles preceded Sour's release: Rodrigo's debut single and the album's lead single, "Drivers License", achieved global success and acclaim, debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100, and propelled Rodrigo to mainstream prominence. It was followed by "Deja Vu", which reached number 8 on the chart, making her the first artist in the Hot 100 history to debut their first two singles inside the top 10. "Good 4 U" was released a week before the album.
Background
Olivia Rodrigo is an American singer-songwriter and actress who was best known for her lead acting roles in Disney Channel's comedy series Bizaardvark (2016-2019) and the 2019 Disney+ mockumentary series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She recorded songs for the latter's soundtrack, including "All I Want", which received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. In 2020, Rodrigo signed to Geffen Records in intention of releasing her debut EP in 2021. American songwriter and producer Dan Nigro was suggested by a friend to listen to Rodrigo's songs on the soundtrack. Nigro was "just completely blown away" and reached out to Rodrigo via Instagram, offering to work with her. The pair had a meeting to get to know one another, shortly after which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the United States. They started collaborating after figuring ways to work safely in isolation. She released her debut single "Drivers License", produced by Nigro, on January 8, 2021, to unprecedented commercial and critical success. Billboard declared the single one of the most dominant number-one songs in Hot 100 history.
Rodrigo began teasing a follow-up single by archiving her past Instagram posts and posting cryptic teasers of it on her social media accounts in late March 2021; on March 29, she announced that it would be titled "Deja Vu", and set a release date of three days later, reassuring fans that the announcement was not an April Fools' Day joke. Rodrigo unveiled the song's artwork in the same post. Following her rise to prominence, Rodrigo stated that she will be releasing a studio album instead of an EP, after she felt unsatisfied with the scope of a shorter project when only a full-length album can be "truly reflective of what  can do."