Lola Young (singer)
Lola Emily Mary Young[1] (born 4 January 2001)[2] is a British singer and songwriter from London. She is best known for her viral 2024 hit "Messy", her first charting song, which topped the UK Singles Chart. In 2024, Young collaborated with Tyler, the Creator on his album Chromakopia.
Young has received several award nominations. She was nominated for the Brit Award for Rising Star in 2021, for Best Pop Act in 2025, and placed fourth in the BBC Sound of 2022 poll. She won the Ivor Novello Award for rising star in 2025.[3]
Early life and education
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Young grew up in the Beckenham area of London to a Jamaican-Chinese father and English mother.[4] She attended Balgowan Primary School in Beckenham, Kingsdale Foundation School and later attended the BRIT School in Croydon (south London).[citation needed] Her stepfather, a bass player, and her mother nurtured her musical talents. Her great-aunt, Julia Donaldson,[5] author of The Gruffalo, also influenced her creative development.[6] At six years old, she began piano, guitar, and singing lessons, developing a deep love for songwriting by the age of 11.
Career
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2013–2017: Career beginnings
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Young attended the BRIT School, where she honed her skills and was chosen by the Open Mic UK singing competition as the winner at 15 with her song "Never Enough".[7][8] In 2016, Young appeared on CBBC's Got What It Takes?, finishing as a runner-up.[9] After graduating from the BRIT School in 2018, she continued performing at local gigs and open mic events, eventually catching the attention of industry figures Nick Shymansky, Amy Winehouse's former manager, and Nick Huggett, who first signed Adele.[10] The two soon became her managers.[11]
2018–2023: Breakthrough and My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely
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In 2019, Young signed with Island Records and released her debut single, "6 Feet Under", followed by the EP Intro.[12] Her next EP, Renaissance, was released on 28 April 2020.[13] Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, she maintained her presence through virtual performances and continued to release music, including the single "Woman".[14][15] In 2021, Young gained wider recognition with her performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden and her rendition of "Together in Electric Dreams" for the John Lewis Christmas advert.[16] She was nominated for the Brit Award for Rising Star.[17] Young's lead single for her debut album, "Stream of Consciousness", was released on 25 November 2022 and a successful European tour followed.[18] The album, My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely, was released in 2023.[19]
2024–present: This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway
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Young's second album, This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway, was released on 21 June 2024[20] and includes singles "Wish You Were Dead", "Conceited", "Big Brown Eyes" and the platinum-certified[21] number 1 single "Messy". Messy gained viral traction through TikTok, significantly boosting her international profile.[22]
"Messy" topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks,[23] marking Young as one of only two British female artists to reach number 1 on the chart within the last year (Charli XCX being the other[24]). Young is also the youngest British artist to have a UK chart-topping single since Dave's ‘Starlight’ in 2022.[25] The track also marked Young as the youngest British female solo artist to reach number 1 since Dua Lipa's 2017 single ‘New Rules’.[25][26] In April 2025, "Messy" became the biggest streaming single from a British artist globally.[25] Internationally, "Messy" hit the #1 spot in Australia,[27] Ireland[27] and Belgium and topped the US + Canada alternative radio airplay chart.[28] It reached Top 10 positions in New Zealand (4), The Netherlands (5), Switzerland (5), Norway (5), France (6), Germany (7), Canada (7), Austria (7), Poland (8), Sweden (8), Denmark (8).[29]
In October 2024, Young was featured on "Like Him", a track from the album Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator.[30]
On 21 January 2025, Young performed "Messy" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,[31] before she made her debut appearance at Coachella on 11 April 2025.[32]
Personal life
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Young has spoken openly about her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder at age 17.[6] She experiences recurring vocal cord cysts which has caused issues with her singing, resulting in having to cancel shows.[33] In 2025, she came out as bisexual.[34]
Discography [edit]
Studio albums [edit]
Title: My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely
Album details: Released: 26 May 2023
Label: Island
Format: CD, LP, digital download
Peak chart positions:
My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely
Released: 26 May 2023
Label: Island
Format: CD, LP, digital download
——————————This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway
Released: 21 June 2024
Label: Island
Format: CD, LP, digital download
16432538284112125364"—" denotes album did not chart in that territory.
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