Olivia Rodrigo Releases ‘Handmaid’s Tale’-Inspired CD Single ‘Serena Joy’ at Indie Record Stores

Ahead of her highly anticipated Daisy Chain Fields festival, Olivia Rodrigo treated local fans to an unexpected musical drop. On Friday (August 21), the 23-year-old pop powerhouse unveiled a physical-only release of her unreleased cut “Serena Joy,” pressed onto a limited run of 500 collector’s CDs and made available exclusively at Analog Music Shop in Tustin, California.

The indie brick-and-mortar storefront sits just eight miles from Irvine’s Great Park, the designated venue for Rodrigo’s forthcoming festival scheduled for August 29.

The record shop announced the surprise drop via social media, revealing that Rodrigo had personally entrusted them with the scarce inventory of the Handmaid’s Tale-referencing track. Unsurprisingly, avid collectors and dedicated listeners cleared the shelves in record time, prompting the store to confirm a rapid complete sellout.

“When word reached us that Olivia Rodrigo was organizing an all-female festival in Orange County, we were thrilled to see an event of this caliber taking root in our community,” the retailer shared online. “Being one of the closest independent record shops, we were eager to champion Daisy Chain Fields in any way we could.”

Analog Music Shop highlighted their gratitude for Rodrigo’s enduring commitment to grassroots, independent music retailers:

“Above all, we cherish the ethos behind this endeavor: an artist carving out an empowering stage for women in music while generating support for women and girls; a superstar bolstering local commerce; and our community getting to share in a rare cultural moment.”

Originally tracked during the creative sessions for Rodrigo’s chart-topping third LP, You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, “Serena Joy” was ultimately sidelined to preserve the record’s cohesive conceptual narrative.

In a previous interview with Etalk, Rodrigo reflected on the omission: “I hold ‘Serena Joy’ very close to my heart. The record was meticulously sequenced to chart the distinct phases of a romantic relationship—start to finish—and the song simply didn’t align with that thematic arc. I always hoped it would find its home somewhere down the line.”

While the singer-songwriter has maintained radio silence regarding the surprise boutique release, the store indicated that a wider global streaming rollout is slated for Monday, August 24.

An Empowering Gathering at Daisy Chain Fields

Rodrigo is set to headline the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields on August 29. The female-centric bill boasts an eclectic array of talent, featuring performances by Chappell Roan, Mitski, Bikini Kill, Doechii, Garbage, The Breeders, and KATSEYE, with marquee guest appearances by Stevie Nicks, Karen O, and Sarah McLachlan.

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