Olivia Rodrigo has revealed that Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “HUMBLE.” inspired her approach to writing “Expectations”, a track from her latest album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.
The 23-year-old singer discussed the song’s creative process during an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, alongside fellow pop star Chappell Roan. Rodrigo explained that she wanted to challenge herself to create something different from her usual songwriting style.
Rather than simply expressing her emotions, she wanted to write a song that listeners could repeatedly sing and use as a personal mantra.
“When I wrote ‘Expectations’, initially, it was kind of like a challenge to myself; I wanted to write a mantra song,” Rodrigo explained.
She compared her goal to Lamar’s 2017 track “HUMBLE.”, particularly its memorable message about humility, which she said stays in listeners’ minds.
Rodrigo also credited Roan as an important influence on the song, praising the singer’s attitude, confidence and distinctive songwriting style.
“When I made the song, I was really inspired by Chappell and the attitude and swagger that she had,” Rodrigo said, adding that the track had always felt influenced by Roan’s approach to music.
The revelation came as Rodrigo and Roan released a remix of “Expectations” on October 16, marking their first official musical collaboration. The updated version features a new contribution from Roan, bringing their distinct styles together.
The accompanying music video adopts a retro game-show concept, with Talking Heads frontman David Byrne appearing as the host. The video also features Rodrigo and Roan competing in a playful segment inspired by Family Feud.
“Expectations” appears on Rodrigo’s third studio album, released in June 2026. The record explores romantic relationships and emotional vulnerability while showcasing the singer’s continued development as a songwriter.
Lamar’s influence highlights how Rodrigo draws inspiration from artists across different genres, adapting their creative approaches to develop music that reflects her own artistic identity.
