Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray Admit They’re Known for Giving Each Other the Worst Advice on Picking Singles
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Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Rodrigo shared in an Interview magazine discussion that Gray had suggested she shouldn’t put out “Vampire” as a single.
Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray share undeniable chemistry — though their advice to each other isn’t always spot on.
In a joint conversation with Interview magazine, the two admitted that they nearly discouraged one another from releasing what would become some of their biggest singles.
“We’re kind of infamous for giving each other bad feedback sometimes,” Rodrigo, 22, confessed.
She recalled when Gray played her Memories from his Superache album: “It ended up being the standout track, and everyone loved it. But when I first heard it, I remember telling you, ‘I think you’ve got stronger songs.’”
Gray, 26, had a similar reaction when Rodrigo was preparing to launch her Guts era. “When I showed him ‘Vampire,’ I was so excited, and he just went, ‘Not as a lead single,’” Rodrigo said with a laugh. “We’re usually wrong about each other’s music. We’re just too close to it and can’t see the big picture.”
Despite their off-target advice, Gray pointed out that Rodrigo’s family has always been supportive. “My mom adored ‘Vodka Cranberry,’” Rodrigo added. “She’s such a huge Conan fan — honestly, my whole family is. They’ll travel just to see him perform.”
The chat followed the release of Gray’s latest album, Wishbone, on August 15. Back in May, he reflected on the project in an Instagram post, calling it a reminder of “who I am, at an experimental stage in my twenties.”
Rodrigo and Gray’s friendship goes back years, initially forming over their shared love of music and producer Dan Nigro. “We’re just friends, and I think he’s incredible,” Rodrigo told Capital FM in 2021.
Gray echoed the sentiment in a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, praising Rodrigo as “a wonderful person and an incredibly talented songwriter” and noting how important it is to have peers he can relate to.
When Rodrigo dropped “Vampire” in 2023, Gray joined in the celebration, posting a set of photos on Instagram — including one of himself standing in front of the single’s cover art. After Rodrigo announced the track online, he jokingly commented, “Edward and Bella would be so proud,” nodding to the Twilight characters.
