Olivia Rodrigo has released a new song, Serena Joy, beginning with a limited-edition CD run sold through an independent record store in Tustin, California.
The release was announced with just 500 physical copies available, and the small batch quickly sold out. Serena Joy was recorded during sessions for Rodrigo’s third studio album but ultimately did not make the album’s final tracklist.
The song takes its title from Serena Joy Waterford, a character from Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale and its television adaptation. Rodrigo has previously drawn on literary and cultural references in her songwriting, making the title another notable detail for listeners.
The release also arrives shortly before Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival, set for August 29 in Irvine, California. The event is taking place near the record store that carried the exclusive CD.
After the physical edition sold out, Serena Joy was also made available on streaming services, giving a wider audience access to the previously unreleased track.