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Lola Young conquered TikTok with ‘Messy.’ Now she’s looking for more

BBG News

Whenever Lola Young travels to Los Angeles for business (a trip she’s made more often during the past six years since her major label recording contract at age 18), she typically lodges near the vibrant and artistic community of Silver Lake.

“But right now we’re in Bel-Air,” she says with a slightly sheepish expression on a recent morning.

Moving on up?

“Apparently.”

Towards the end of last year, Young’s song “Messy” became incredibly popular on TikTok due to a humorous dance video shared by influencers Jake Shane and Sofia Richie Grainge; roughly five months have passed since then, and “Messy” has amassed over half a billion streams on Spotify and YouTube and continues to rank high on Billboard’s Hot 100. The chart also includes another song by Young titled “Like Him,” which is a dreamy, wistful collaboration with Tyler, the Creator from his “Chromakopia” album.

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The unique appeal of “Messy” – the latest addition to a series of chatty, self-deprecating British pop songs such as Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and Lily Allen’s “Smile” – lies in its focus on not having it all together.

The song ‘Messy’ is what the singer, who’s 24 now, refers to as an anthem for ADHD. She sings about smoking a lot, not being slim, and having occasional struggles (similar to Britney Spears’ experience), all set to a soulful-rock beat. Yet, she asks for understanding, saying ‘Who do you want me to be?’ This song has gained so much attention that she needed more space on this trip for her expanding team.

Jack Siggs, one of Young’s managers, chuckles as he explains, ‘We’re just like English people, constantly arguing and trying to defend our larger house,'” Jack Siggs, one of Young’s managers, humorously states while seated beside his client at an Italian restaurant in Brentwood. Accompanied by a pink striped blouse and her hair neatly tucked into a bun, Young is in L.A. for this month’s Coachella festival and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Occasionally she discreetly vapes when the server is absent, her phone lies screen down on the table, though her desire to view her notifications occasionally overcomes her.

Would she say she’s brain-damaged because of phones?

Affirmatively, she responds promptly. In fact, she also has other types of brain injuries. Young is impressed by musicians like Matty Healy from The 1975 who temporarily halt concerts to encourage the audience to disconnect from their phones and focus on the moment. However, she acknowledges that such a request wouldn’t be feasible for her because a significant part of her identity and success stems from social media. Therefore, asking everyone to switch off their phones entirely would be too extreme.

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I’m eagerly counting down the days until I find myself at Coachella from April 11th to 13th, and again from April 18th to 20th! My team and I are beyond excited about the performances we can’t wait to witness in Indio.

Nevertheless, her current aim is to show she’s not just another temporary sensation on TikTok. Coachella could potentially serve as a powerful stepping stone, similar to Chappell Roan’s performance last year at Coachella, which garnered significant attention and propelled her towards winning the Best New Artist award at this February’s Grammy Awards.

Louis Bloom, president of Island EMI Label Group, praises Solange Knowles as an exceptional talent and tells The Times that she’s embarking on a remarkable career. Similarly, SZA is also highly regarded, with Solange acknowledging her as a fan and singling out SZA as a significant inspiration for the candid songwriting style featured in Solange’s sophomore album, “This Wasn’t Made for You Anyway,” which was released last summer.

In his own words, Young expresses that he was deeply inspired by the way SZA’s 2017 album, ‘CTRL’, moved and varied in melody, with its winding tunes. He also emphasizes that it was significant to him that her music validated him.

Prior to SZA, Young was inspired by Avril Lavigne and Eminem, but later developed an appreciation for Prince and Joni Mitchell. Her great-aunt Julia Donaldson is known for penning the beloved children’s book “The Gruffalo.” As a child, her parents nurtured her singing talent, and she eventually attended London’s Brit School, which has produced stars like Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Rex Orange County. Reflecting on her past, Young acknowledges that she gained valuable musical knowledge at the Brit School, although she also admits to finding herself in trouble by smoking weed in secluded areas, as she shared during a late breakfast of spaghetti carbonara.

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29-year-old artist, both vocalist and composer, is all set to debut ‘Forever Is a Feeling’, her initial solo album following her emergence as a part of the band, Boygenius.

Following her graduation, she encountered Nick Shymansky, who had previously managed the career of Winehouse. Over time, she honed her skills with a succession of singles and EPs. Her first album was released in the year 2023. It’s worth mentioning that Nick Shymansky’s cousin, Elliot Grainge (CEO of Atlantic Records), is married to Sofia Richie Grainge, whose TikTok post contributed significantly to “Messy’s” rise.

Initially, Young’s first album seems overly polished; however, “This Wasn’t Made for You Anyway,” a significant portion of which was recorded in L.A., possesses a raw, appealing grittiness – reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys combined with Mary J. Blige. This style complements her rough, gravelly voice more effectively. Additionally, her lyrics are more incisive now, not just “Messy,” but also songs like “Wish You Were Dead” and “Conceited.” In “Conceited,” she skillfully skewers a lover who’s hot-and-cold: “I heard that you tell the guys I’m the worst / You come ’round on Monday and goddamn, you stink like you’ve missed me.

Despite the success she’s experienced with the album, “This Wasn’t Made for You Anyway” has begun to feel a bit stale to Young; instead, she’s eagerly anticipating her upcoming record, which she’s hesitant to discuss extensively other than mentioning that it includes a track with a somewhat country flavor. A challenge she’s now facing as a songwriter is the increasing number of people inquiring about her personal life.

In simpler terms, “Young” states, “I can come off as quite self-assured, so it’s natural that I’d like to discuss myself. However, I also value listening to others and learning about their experiences. It’s an unusual mix.” Young is set to perform at the Fonda Theatre between Coachella weekends on April 15.

In a casual, conversational tone: “Hey there! So, I noticed that unique tattoo on your left ear. Mind shedding some light on it? She replied with a shrug, “Honestly, I can’t say for sure.” She chuckled slightly. “I guess I was worried about not having a tattoo before I died and looking like a square.

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2025-04-10 21:01

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