Chappell Roan seemingly had one goal when joining forces with Olivia Rodrigo for an “Expectations” remix, and that was to spice things up in her own way.
In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the pop stars disclosed their creative process behind the collaboration, with Roan revealing how her perspective helped define the new verse in the song.
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“I love making things a little gay,” Roan said during the interview. “It was fun to just be like, they’re all wives.”
The singer, who is known for celebrating queer experiences in her music, said contributing to the track felt special because it was her first-ever feature.
“This is obviously [the] first feature I’ve ever done before,” she said. “It feels like the perfect [fit] for me.”
Roan also praised Rodrigo’s original songwriting, explaining that she appreciated how the song explored a relatable subject through pop music.
“I was like, wow, it’s so cool that she is putting a pretty difficult concept within a pop song,” she said. “I was like, this is so real.”
The inspiration for Roan’s verse also came from a conversation about dating gone wrong. Rodrigo recalled being in the studio with Roan while they worked on the song’s second verse, sharing stories about some of the experiences she had while dating men.
“I have a vivid memory of being in the studio with you, Chappell, and we were trying to write the second verse, and I was telling you all of the crazy stuff that boys have done to me,” Rodrigo said. “And you’re like, ‘Oh my god, you need to start dating girls. This is crazy.’”
Roan’s contribution decidedly gave the song a brand-new perspective, turning Rodrigo’s original track into a collaboration that showcases the way both artists seem to approach love, dating and expectations.
The new version also builds on the creative influences behind Rodrigo’s original song. The singer explained that she initially wrote “Expectations” as a mantra song, hoping to create something listeners could repeat to themselves. She cited Kendrick Lamar‘s smash hit “HUMBLE.” as an example of the kind of track that could get stuck in someone’s head.
Rodrigo also shared that Roan’s “attitude and swagger” influenced her while making the song, which brings the collaboration incredibly full-circle now that Roan has contributed her bold, attitudinal lyrics to a song that Rodrigo said already drew inspiration from her.
“Expectations” has already had its individual moment on the charts, debuting at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2026. The track is part of Rodrigo’s third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Roan, meanwhile, has also had an impressive chart history, with hits including “Good Luck, Babe!” and “The Subway” making their way in the top 10 of the Hot 100 during the years of their release, with both tracks also exploring themes of the queer experience and rocky relationships.
Watch the full interview below.
