“Babe, do we know each other? Have we met before?” is how Lola Young greets me when we log on to a Wednesday night Zoom. I start to wonder. Wait, have we? It turns out we haven’t, but chatting to Young does feel eerily similar to catching up with an old friend. “Oh, you just look really familiar, that’s all…” she trails off.
“It’s a big, ‘Messy’ moment, innit?” she says cheekily. Indeed. Though “moment” doesn’t feel quite right to describe what has been an all-round mega year for the south Londoner. It started off with many tours – UK, Europe, North America and then back to the States again – before the release of This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, her sophomore LP. The album, beautifully vulnerable and masterfully produced, earned resounding acclaim from critics far and wide. And now, her single “Messy” is going stratospheric on TikTok (with nearly 250K videos at the time of writing) thanks to a certain Sofia Richie Grainge dance and Kylie Jenner lip sync. A few hours before our chat, Young found out that the song had entered the Top 40, her first-ever chart entry. Throw a few magazine covers in there for good measure, and I’m surprised the 23-year-old has had time to catch her breath.
Here, Young chats to British Vogue about it all.
Sophie Jones
I’ve got to start by saying congratulations on everything; it’s been crazy to see what’s happening with “Messy”, and I’m sure quite surreal.
Yeah, I’m good. It feels amazing. It doesn’t feel surreal, actually, because I’ve been waiting on this for a very long time, but I’m just taking it in with a lot of gratitude.
Well, it’s long overdue. 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.
And are you a festive person? Are you looking forward to Christmas?
I’m a bit like the Grinch, and I kind of hate Christmas, but I also really love it? I’m a bit like that. Like, “Fuck you lot, I’m going to buy my own gifts and not get you anything!” No, I’m joking. I actually go ham. My favourite thing on the planet is giving gifts.
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
“Fairytale of New York.”
