Pop princess, Olivia Rodrigo, has finally returned with brand new music two years after releasing her debut album, SOUR. The musician stepped into her new era with the unveiling of “vampire,” on June 30; the first single off her upcoming sophomore album GUTS, officially out September 8.

“For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life,” Olivia said according to a press release. “I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20 — it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.”

Produced by Daniel Nigro, one of the main creatives behind SOUR, “vampire” is just a step into the artist’s sophomore album. Olivia has the ability to convey raw feelings and emotions through her lyricism. With her poetic pen shining through lyrics such as, “the way you sold me for parts as you sunk your teeth into me, oh bloodsucker, famef*cker… bleedin’ me dry like a goddamn vampire,” Rodrigo continues sharing stories on the human experience. The lyrics sit over the soft piano, strong strings and pounding percussion, describing her memories of a guy taking advantage of her and using her, hence “famef*cker.”

The piano-rock track eventually allows Rodrigo to free herself from this toxic relationship, metaphorically shown with her slowly racing past security into the windy, open sky in the music video directed by Petra Collins. In a newsletter note to fans, Olivia states that she wrote this song while sorting through her feelings of anger, regret and heartache; “It helped me verbalize so many uncomfortable feelings that I had been bottling up for so long and thus, it holds a very special place in my heart.” “vampire” is just a taste of what Olivia has planned for the album.

“I was upset about a certain situation and went to the studio alone and sat down at the grand piano, and the chords and melody and lyrics just poured out of me — almost like an out-of-body experience,” Rodrigo said in a press statement. “It’s a song about feeling confused and hurt, and at first I thought it was meant to be a piano ballad. But when Dan and I started working on it, we juxtaposed the lyrics with these big drums and crazy tempo changes. So now it’s like a heartbreak song you can dance to.”

Interested in more Olivia Rodrigo? Check out our Olivia Core style analysis here!