FEATURE: Spotlight: Revisited: Lola Young

FEATURE:

Spotlight: Revisited

Lola Young

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THIS is an interesting period…

PHOTO CREDIT: Sophie Jones

for Lola Young. I included her in my Spotlight feature years ago so I wanted to revisit her now. Last year’s Messy EP gained a lot of praise. I know that there will be more material coming this year. Her track, Messy, is a song that has been described as an ADHD anthem. A song where Lola Young asks why she can’t just be herself. An honest and raw song that has resonated with so many people. I am going to get to some interviews with Lola Young. If you have not heard her 2024 album, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, then I would thoroughly recommend it. I am going to start out with an interview from last year from Atwood Magazine:

“Unapologetic in every sense of the word, the 23-year-old singer/songwriter from Croydon, South London, has been spilling her guts in song for five years now. She made a splash with 2023’s major label debut album My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely, yet it’s with this year’s sophomore record – the critically acclaimed This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, released June 21st via A Day One / Island Records – that she has transcended the local scene to become somewhat of a beloved cult figure in the alternative and pop worlds.

The attitude Young displays in songs like “Messy,” “Conceited,” “Wish You Were Dead,” and “F***” is infectious and undeniable; she holds nothing back in asserting her unfiltered, charismatic self, blending raw vulnerability with youthful vigor and charm through songs that fuse her emotionally charged, soul-soaked voice with indie rock and alternative pop instruments.

This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway - Lola Young

This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway – Lola Young

You know I’m impatient

So why would you leave me

waiting outside the station

When it was like minus four degrees?

And I, I get what you’re sayin’

I just really don’t wanna hear it right now

Can you shut up for like once in your life?

Listen to me, I took your nice words of advice

About how you think I’m gonna die

lucky if I turn thirty-three

Ok, so yeah, I smoke like a chimney

I’m not skinny

and I pull a Britney every other week

But cut me some slack,

who do you want me to be?

– “Messy,” Lola Young

“This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway captures where I am now,” Young tells Atwood Magazine. “It’s more confident, more honest, and slightly more unapologetic, although I have always been unapologetic in my writing. However, this album feels like I’ve embraced my vulnerabilities even more so; I’ve really explored some deeper parts of myself, and I think you can massively hear that in the music.”

Young wrote and recorded This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway with American singer/songwriter and record producer Jared Solomon, who goes by Solomonophonic (credits include Remi Wolf, BROCKHAMPTON, Dominic Fike). She describes it as a contemporary break-up album, encapsulating “the sound of what it means to be young and in constant romantic chaos.”

“Honestly, the songs just poured out of me,” she explains. “I didn’t plan on releasing another album so soon, but once I started writing, it felt like they needed to be out there. There were things I wanted to say, and when I met Jared, something just clicked and it felt right to start writing again. I wanted to capture this moment in my life while it was still fresh.”

“This album is a collection of experiences and emotions from a period of an intense romantic journey,” she continues. “It’s about the highs and lows, the moments of clarity and confusion. It’s my way of navigating through the chaos of young love and finding some sort of meaning in it all… and I’m still trying to find out if there is any!”

And I’m sick of your puppy eyes

You said boys should never cry

Well, surprise, I bet no one’s ever told you

You bought me some flowers,

I gave them to someone else

Told me that you loved me,

you’re just talking to yourself

I don’t wanna know,

I don’t wanna hear it

Let yourself out,

you’re so conceited

– “Conceited,” Lola Young

As spellbinding and seductive in sound as it is fearless in size and scope, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway is a cinematic, multi-faceted fever dream from one of the music world’s fastest-rising artists-to-watch.

An ambitious and triumphant record (she herself describes it as ‘”raw, honest, and unapologetic”), Lola Young’s sophomore album emphatically establishes her as a singular and unique voice in the modern zeitgeist.

Atwood Magazine recently caught up with the singer/songwriter for a candid, in-depth conversation about finding her voice and making her second LP. Dive into This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway below as Lola Young digs into her songs, her inspirations, and what she hopes audiences gain from her music.

“I hope listeners take away a sense of empowerment,” she smiles. “This album is about finding strength in vulnerability and embracing who you are, flaws and all. For me, creating this album has been a journey of self-discovery and healing, and I hope it connects with others in a similar way.”

“For me, it’s a daily struggle, but I’ve learned that the most important thing is to stay true to who I am, even if it is super ‘messy’!”.

When speaking with Vogue at the end of last year, Lola Young discussed her Gen-Z anthem, Messy, and remaining grounded. Latter in the year, Young will play some incredible festivals. Here and in the U.S. Her phenomenal music will connect with people around the world. An artist who is going to be influencing people for many years to come:

“I think “Messy” is really resonating with people because they crave that authenticity and your point of view. And of course there’s been the whole Sofia Richie Grainge and Kylie Jenner thing. What goes through your head when you see something like that?

Well, to be fair, I would say the TikToks are the least exciting part about it, if I’m honest. Kylie Jenner… like, that’s a really good promotional thing. Obviously I didn’t ask her to use my song, but in terms of having things move forward, it’s been kind of amazing. And the Sofia Richie Grainge trend is really funny and weird. But I think what’s really exciting is that the song’s in the Top 40 UK charts and global charts. That feels like a milestone. I’ve had Kylie Jenner use my sound before. I’ve had a viral moment on TikTok before – although obviously this does feel slightly different. It is such a wonderful feeling, having something you’ve worked so hard for pay off. I never used to think people listened to my music, but they do.

I liked something you said in your Wonderland interview about the making of an anthem: “Anthems aren’t just pop songs, they start with something else and then become a pop song.” I think that’s super interesting, especially in an era where it feels like everyone’s looking to release the next big hit.

I just don’t think about it. I don’t write to write a hit. If you look at all the artists that have a legacy – Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli xcx will have a legacy because of their work – they don’t go into the studio saying “I’m going to write a hit song, and this is the hit song.” And no label or A&R knows what’s going to be a hit song. You can think it’s going to be a hit and then something else is a hit song or vice versa. It doesn’t really matter. Charli even said that she didn’t think Brat was going to touch anybody. You just write from your heart – or just put out something that you believe in, it doesn’t even have to be that deep. It takes time to evolve as an artist. It also takes time to go, “You know what? I’m confident in this. I’m confident in what I do.”

I’ve seen videos of people at your shows crying and singing along in the audience. How does that feel?

It’s such a weird feeling. Sometimes I get really emotional about it, and other days I’m just like, “This is my life now.” This is something I’ve been waiting for my whole life, and then when it starts to happen, it is a very weird feeling. I can’t get too close to that weird feeling because then it might affect me, like, “What the fuck? Where’s this going? What’s going to happen?” Also, I would say the growth has been slow. I used to say back in the day that I don’t want to call [my followers] fans. I only want to call them followers. And then I realised I just didn’t have any fans. When you actually have fans, you then realise that these are people who don’t know you but are really into you and want to drop everything and watch everything. That’s a powerful thing to have.

You appeared on Tyler The Creator’s new album Chromakopia. How did that come about?

Well, he messaged me with an emoji and the words “Uncle Steve” or something, and I freaked the fuck out. I was in LA and this was before “Messy” and whatever. My album wasn’t even out and I actually almost shat myself and then I messaged him something back. I thought he was talking about a meme, but he’s just a fucking weirdo. I was searching through the internet for memes about “Uncle Steve”? Then we had a conversation about sandwiches, and he was like, you should come to LA. Eventually I went to the studio. He’s just actually a living genius.

I have to ask: what was on your Spotify Wrapped?

Well, I use Apple Music as my primary thing, so I didn’t look at my Wrapped, but it probably would’ve been Frank Ocean. I’m listening to a lot of trap at the moment – Tyler The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt as well. “Casual” by Chappell Roan and “Bed Chem” by Sabrina Carpenter were my favourites from their albums”.

There are a couple of other interviews I want to get to before finishing off. Nominated for Best Pop Act at this year’s BRIT Awards – she lost out to Jade -, Lola Young saw Messy reach number one in the U.K. in January. The BBC spoke with an artist who highlighted how her songs were as real as they get. Now there is this new momentum behind her music, this could be her breakout year:

“South London singer Lola Young's unflinchingly honest hit Messy has reached number one in the UK after a two-month climb, and she's been nominated for a Brit Award. Now she's made a breakthrough, this could be her year.

Lola Young jumps into a car, laughing uncontrollably as she flashes a brand new set of shiny gold teeth.

"I just got grills fitted," she explains once she's regained her composure. "But they're like so intense, so you're rocking with this today, and a lisp."

She's been running a few minutes late for the interview and this explains why - so she can finish getting her dental jewellery accessories fitted,, external with which she seems extremely pleased.

The screen suddenly freezes. The car she's in is somewhere in the US and the reception has cut out.

Young made her US TV debut on Jimmy Fallon's talk show, external the night before, which followed a whirlwind trip to Australia, and she'll soon set off on a sold-out European tour. She's talking on Zoom as her manager drives her to the next stop on her schedule.

Young sang Messy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday

Travelling the world and in high demand, but making time to get a full set of solid gold teeth grills fitted - she's living a proper pop star's life.

And she is now a proper pop star. After several years of almost making it - she sang on the 2021 John Lewis advert, was on the BBC Sound of 2022 list and had glowing reviews for her two albums - Messy has given her a bona fide hit.

The song became inescapable at the end of 2024 and completed its climb to the top of the charts on Friday.

The 24-year-old is the first current British artist to have a UK number one since Chase and Status and Stormzy in August, the youngest to do so since Dave in 2022, and the youngest British woman to score a chart-topper since Dua Lipa in 2017.

Her number one came a day after she was nominated for best pop act at the Brit Awards.

"The response has been amazing and it's been really exciting to see all the love that Messy has been receiving," says Young after reconnecting the call.

"I love the song, it's a song I wrote that's really personal and really important to me. So I'm really happy that it's resonating so much."

Young will play the Coachella and Reading and Leeds festivals this summer

Messy was released on Young’s second album This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway last May.

Its trajectory was supercharged when superstar US influencers Sofia Richie Grainge and Jake Shane posted a 14-second TikTok clip of themselves dancing to its chorus. Young's song has now been used in 1.3 million videos on the platform - from Kylie Jenner lip-syncing as a dog, to a viral clip of an old woman vaping and holding a pint alongside the caption "94 and still messy".

The singer would like to point out that the track's success is not simply down to TikTok, however.

"That's not necessarily how it blew up. I would like to say that the song was blowing up before TikTok, and it was having its moment elsewhere. A lot of things contributed to the success.

"The TikTok thing is great. I don't make music for TikTok. I make music for myself and for my fans, but the Sofia Richie thing is just one element of how well it did in every aspect.

"But yeah, it's been great to see every side of it."

Contradictions

The track was indeed starting to gain traction before finding TikTok virality, and has only done so well because it is more than a mere meme.

Its lyrics, about never being good enough for someone whatever you do, have connected deeply with fans. "I want to be me, is that not allowed?" she implores.

"I guess it's because the song speaks to so many people in terms of, I'm talking about the idea that there's two sides of a person, the contradictions," Young says.

The song captures how it is "to basically feel like you're not enough for somebody and also in turn not enough for yourself".

Amid the craziness of success, there's some relief that she has now reached the next level in her career.

"I mean, I feel like it's the right time," the singer says. "It's been a minute, but also it does feel like the right time for me."

Young has also recently featured on Tyler, the Creator’s well-received album Chromakopia”.

I am going to finish off with an interview from NME. Conducted whilst she was at the BRITs, I think we are going to see Lola Young collect lots of awards and headline festivals soon enough. An artist who speaks to so many people. A role model for sure. If you are unfamiliar with her then I would urge you to see out her music:

“The singer, songwriter and former NME Cover star spoke to us while on the BRITs 2025 red carpet, and discussed how ‘Messy’ became one of the biggest singles of the past 12 months.

“I think it’s the idea that you don’t have to be this thing that stereotypers want women to be,” she began. “It’s not even just that though, because everyone can feel like they’re not enough for somebody. ‘I want to be me, is that not allowed?’ – that’s a great lyric! I’m very proud of it and it feels like it’s resonating with people on a wider scale [than I expected].”

“I’m just taking it all in my stride and taking each day as it comes. I’m really proud of the song,” she added.

She also opened up about her recent cover of The Cure’s iconic single ‘Close To Me’, which she shared last month as part of triple j’s Like A Version series.

“I love The Cure. I love the weird [blend] of it being nostalgic but still feeling current,” she explained. “I think they’re an incredible band.”

At the 2025 BRITs ceremony, Young also took to the stage to perform her viral hit, and was nominated in the Best Pop Act category alongside Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and Rising Star winner Myles Smith. The award went to JADE, and marked the singer’s first BRIT trophy since launching a solo career.

The Cure were also up for several awards on the night – becoming their first nominations at the BRITs in three decades. They received nods in Best Rock Act, Group Of The Year and Mastercard Album Of The Year for ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, but ultimately went home empty handed, leading to fans sharing their frustrations online.

You can find a full list of the night’s winners here.

As for Lola Young, last summer, the singer’s debut album, ‘This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway’, was given a glowing five-star review from NME, and described as “the most distinctive and daring realisation of her experimental tendencies yet”.

One of our most remarkable artists, the stunning Lola Young is going to have a very busy rest of 2025. After featuring Young a while ago, I have really enjoyed her music since. Someone who keeps growing and evolving, she will continue to get stronger. Such a talented songwriter and performer, make sure that you follow…