Emerging as one of the UK's most exciting musical talents, Lola Young has captured hearts with her soulful voice and poignant songwriting. Young first gained attention with her debut single 6 Feet Under in 2019. She’s continued to garner excitement in the music industry thanks to her personal and relatable lyrics. Her single Woman, released in 2021, was another significant milestone. The song was a powerful anthem of empowerment and self-acceptance, resonating with a broad audience. She’s only continued to rise in popularity and charm her audience with each new release.
Young spoke to us about the emotions and experiences that fuelled her songwriting and how she manages to stay true to herself in an industry that often pressures artists to conform. From the infectious energy of tracks like Messy to the heartfelt vulnerability of You Noticed, Lola's music offers an honesty that is both captivating and relatable. In her own words, the album is not just a collection of songs, but a journey of healing and self-expression.
Your new album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway has been doing really well since its release a few weeks ago. Have you done anything specific to celebrate?
I haven’t been doing anything specific, no, just been chilling. It's been so nice reading messages from people who have been enjoying and listening though.
The earlier-released singles are also the first three tracks on the album. It looks like you released those first in order to give people the introduction they would have, listening all the way through. Was there another reason you chose those three?
The three songs I chose as singles just felt right to give a taste of the overall sound of the album, but I didn't want to give too much away at the same time. This album is quite different from anything I've previously released, so I wanted to make sure the singles felt like a good taster as to what was to come.
You’ve said that this album is a "fuck you" to all your exes. How do you balance the need to vent and release pent-up emotions through your music and also eventually forgive or let go of the past?
I definitely forgive anyone who’s hurt me, letting go however is something I struggle with, but I am learning slowly but surely that time heals most wounds. This has been a massive healing process, and writing and recording these songs has been very cathartic, and I'm sure I’ll look back on this album in a couple of years and laugh like — “Was I really writing songs for that silly boy?” But having an album that's based around love felt super relevant for me when I wrote it.
Can you talk about what it was like to collaborate with producer Solomonophonic? How much influence does your team have when it comes to your sound?
My team is incredible, the producers around me always help bring my vision to life. Solomonophonic and Conor and Will of Manuka are just absolutely insane musicians and it's always a joy getting in the studio with them. I feel confident, safe and I can be as vulnerable as I want to be around them. They always give me the space to write and then they help where they feel it's necessary. I am so proud of this album, and I wouldn't have chosen anyone else to work with on it.
Messy has been described as an '80s-inspired pop-rock song and is a standout track on the album. It follows several impactful songs like Good Books and Wish You Were Dead. How do these tie into the overall narrative of the album?
Messy is an ADHD anthem, it really showcases everything I felt during my last relationship, but also it is deeper than that, as it talks about how I feel about myself in general — being too messy one day and too clean another, struggling to find that balance in myself. Both Good Books and Wish You Were Dead talk about a toxic relationship and depict how it feels to be in one, the different sides of it almost, Good Books being the sad and hopeless side, and Wish You Were Dead is more the angry, raged fed up side of a toxic relationship.
A lot of the raucous, edgy songs on this album have become favourites, including your singles. But You Noticed stood out to me as a lovely softer one with a more gentle, though still strong, undercurrent of emotion. You’ve said you were proud of the lyrics on this song, and I can see why. Do you try to find the right energy level based on a balance of the mood of the lyrics and the melody?
I always try to balance lyric and melody, but I usually favour a good lyric. For me, lyrics are so important, music is poetry to me. I always find myself reading lyrics and dissecting the meaning, so yes, lyrics are very important to me.
Did you approach songwriting differently on This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway compared to your previous projects or has your process been consistent?
My process has always been consistent in terms of how I feel and how vulnerable I choose to be but of course as I've grown as an artist, the way I work has evolved. I found that during this writing process, I knew exactly what I wanted to say, I didn’t second guess myself as much, and it was clear that each song had to evoke a completely different feeling, without sounding too different.
You’ve gained popularity really quickly in the last few years. Do you struggle to keep up with the changes and feel like this is your new normal?
It's been a gradual build in terms of my success, so fortunately it hasn’t been a major shock to the system. I am super grateful for the way things have progressed, but I feel like this is just the beginning.
Your lyrics are known for their honesty and relatability. Was there a song on the album that was the most challenging to write and why?
You Noticed was probably the most challenging because it was about me letting go, which again, I find hard to do. It was an emotional rollercoaster writing it and it was also very painful to sing; loving someone so deeply can be painful!
The music industry notoriously pressures artists into conforming in many ways. How do you work to maintain your own sound and stay honest in that environment?
It’s hard but I have managed to stay pretty solid in terms of not being boxed in or conforming to a certain look or sound. I think I just am what I am, I make what I want to make in the moment, and if you don’t like it, this wasn’t meant for you anyway! (Laughs)!
Your live performances are highly praised for being energetic and engaging. Is there a specific routine you have to prepare for performing?
I warm up my voice before going on stage and then I try and preserve my energy, so I'll sit in a room with my band members and just hang out. Nothing crazy.
Why did you decide to add Outro, a short spoken word track, to this album?
The outro for me sums up what the whole album is about, I am very glad I put it at the end. It just gives a glimpse into my world, and what this album is for me. It's for me to figure out some shit, and look at love in a different way.