Olivia Rodrigo recently opened up about the mechanics and philosophy of writing her songs. Last year, she took a poetry class at USC that helped her write some of her most iconic songs.

During an interview with Linda Perry at the Grammy Museum, the young pop sensation discussed how she writes her songs. 

In an interview with Variety, she said, “I don’t feel like myself if I don’t write songs,” adding that it’s her way of coping.

It’s everything to me as it determines my feelings about the world. It’s everything to me as it makes me happy, sad, or angry.”

According to the hitmaker, writing melodies, lyrics, and hooks is an easy way to express oneself in a way that cannot be expressed in everyday life.

As a kid, I loved songwriting because it was a way to express the inexpressible.” Adding that songwriting also helped her figure out how she felt about the world, she said.

As well as revealing her love for poetry, she added that the poetry class she attended at USC was of great help to her. 

In an interview with Olivia, she revealed that she wrote Lacy as part of her poetry class assignment.