Lola Young | |
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Background information | |
Born | Croydon, London, England | 4 January 2001
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2019–present |
Labels | Island |
Website | www |
Lola Young (born 4 January 2001) is an English singer and songwriter from Beckenham, South London. She is best known for covering the 1980s hit "Together in Electric Dreams" for the John Lewis Christmas advert, with a slowed down arrangement, and for her 2024 song "Messy", which became her first song to top the UK Singles Chart. In 2024, Young was featured on the song "Like Him" on Tyler, the Creator's album Chromakopia .
Young has been recognised by multiple awards, with a nomination for the Brit Award for Rising Star in 2021 and placing fourth in the BBC Sound of 2022.
Young grew up in Beckenham, South London, to a Jamaican-Chinese father and English mother. [1] She attended Balgowan Primary School and later attended the BRIT school. She was introduced to music at an early age. Raised in a musical home by her stepdad, a bass player, and her mother, who nurtured her musical talents. Her aunt, Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo (1999), also influenced her creative development. [2] At six years old, she began piano, guitar, and singing lessons, developing a deep love for songwriting by the age of 11.
Young's early foray into music saw her participating in Open Mic UK singing competitions. [3] At 15, she won the competition with her song "Never Enough", which led to a consultation package with Future Music and £5,000 for music development. [4] This victory opened the doors to the BRIT School, where she honed her skills. [5] In 2016, Young appeared on CBBC's Got What It Takes? , finishing as a runner-up. [6] 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. [7] The two soon became her managers. [8]
In 2019, Young signed with Island Records and released her debut single, "6 Feet Under", followed by the EP Intro. [9] Her next EP, Renaissance, was released on 28 April 2020. [10] 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". [11] [12] 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. [13] She was also nominated for the Brit Award for Rising Star. [14] Young's lead single for her debut album, "Stream of Consciousness", was released on 25 November 2022, followed by a successful European tour. [15] The album, My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely, was released in 2023. [16]
Young's second album, This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway , was released on 21 June 2024. [17] Singles such as "Messy" gained popularity through TikTok, leading to a rise in her international popularity. [18] In 2024, Young collaborated with Tyler, the Creator on his album Chromakopia and continued to release singles such as "Wish You Were Dead" and "Big Brown Eyes". [19] On 21 January 2025, Young performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [20]
Young has spoken openly about her diagnosis with schizoaffective disorder at age 17. [2] Young has faced recurring vocal cord cysts, making it hard for her to sing and causing her to cancel shows. She has also struggled with mental health issues. [21]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
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CAN [22] | US [23] | ||
My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely |
| — | — |
This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway |
| 52 | 88 |
Title | Album details |
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Intro |
|
Title | EP details |
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Renaissance |
|
After Midnight |
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Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [24] | AUS [25] | CAN [26] | IRE [27] | NZ [28] | SWE [29] | US [30] | US Rock [31] | WW [32] | ||||
"6 Feet Under" [33] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Intro | |
"Pick Me Up" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Renaissance | |
"Woman" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
"Ruin My Make Up" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Bad Tattoo" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Blue (2AM)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | After Midnight | ||
"FAKE" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
"Together in Electric Dreams" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"So Sorry" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Stream of Consciousness" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely | ||
"Annabel's House" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Don't Hate Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"What Is It About Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Money" [34] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Conceited" [35] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway | ||
"Wish You Were Dead" [36] | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Intrusive Thoughts" [37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Big Brown Eyes" [38] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Fuck" [39] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Messy" | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 [40] | 4 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 5 | |||
"Flicker of Light" [44] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | ||
"Charlie" (featuring Lil Yachty) [45] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [46] | AUS [47] | CAN [48] | IRE [49] | NZ [50] | SWE Heat. [51] | US [52] | US R&B/HH [53] | WW [54] | ||||
"Like Him" (Tyler, the Creator featuring Lola Young) | 2024 | 33 | 55 | 43 | 28 | 28 | 16 | 29 | 6 | 37 | Chromakopia |
Organization | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BBC | 2021 | Sound of 2022 | Herself | 4th | [56] |
BRIT Awards | Rising Star | Nominated | [57] | ||
Ticketmaster | 2022 | Breakthrough Artists for 2022 | [58] |
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