Olivia Rodrigo has released her new song “Serena Joy” on streaming platforms, giving fans a surprise while donating part of the track’s proceeds to organizations supporting women and girls.
The 23-year-old pop singer shared the song as part of her growing efforts to use music to support important causes through her Daisy Chain Fields Fund.
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Olivia Rodrigo announced the release on Instagram, sharing an image featuring the song’s lyrics. She told fans she was excited to finally make the track available online and said a portion of the song’s net proceeds would benefit the fund.
The Daisy Chain Fields Fund supports non-profit organizations, including Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Through the new release, Rodrigo is combining her music with a wider effort to raise awareness and financial support for causes affecting women and girls.
The surprise release comes shortly before Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival, which is scheduled to take place Saturday at Great Park in Irvine, California.
Last week, the Analog Record Shop in Orange County revealed that Rodrigo had provided 500 CDs of “Serena Joy” ahead of the festival. The independent record store praised the singer for supporting local businesses while creating a platform for women in music.
The song’s title is widely believed to refer to Serena Joy, a character from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Rodrigo previously explained in June why “Serena Joy” did not appear on her third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.” She said she loved the song but felt it did not match the album’s central story, which followed the beginning, middle and end of a relationship.
One social media user praised the Handmaid’s Tale-inspired song, writing, “she’s never afraid to stand up.”
